Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 18 h 4 min4:29 am – 10:33 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 6 h 34 min9:11 am – 3:45 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People2,864 residentsin the Benbecula and North Uist census areaMedian age 51.81,387 households75% of homes owner-occupied55% owned outright16% social rented, 7% private rentedSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Work and commuting2.0% unemployment rate62% of adults are economically active, 1,482 in work, 28% retiredMain industries: health and social work 13%, public administration and defence 11%, farming, forestry and fishing 10%Getting to work: 30% work from home, 62% go by car, 1% take public transport, 5% walk or cycle54% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Education and languages31% of adults hold a degree or higher18% have no qualifications, 9% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 89%, Gaelic 9%, other languages 2%Source: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
ClimateWarmest month August: highs 17°C, lows 11°CColdest month February: highs 8°C, lows 3°C1,601 mm of rain a year, 50 days with 10 mm or morewettest month October13 days of air frost, no summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Earthquakes1 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 2.0 on 29 Oct 201847 mi away, Skye, HighlandMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 29 Oct 201847 mi away, Skye, HighlandSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 0.7 · PM2.5 2.9 · PM10 4.6 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within the WHO guidelines for all threeSource: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband11% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband69% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)3.4% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)1,803 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation7 m23 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from -2 to 30 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalUist & Barra Hospital11 miGP surgeryOut Of Hours Centre (Uist)11 miPharmacyBenbecula Medical Practice13 miDentistUist & Barra Dental Hub13 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service; Public Health Scotland
Getting aroundAirportBenbecula Airport BEB10 miFerryLochmaddy North Uist Ferry Terminal13 miBus stops7 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the HS6 postcode district.
