List of islands of the British Isles

Overview of the islands of the British Isles

For the geographical terminology, see Terminology of the British Isles.

For the naming dispute, see British Isles naming.

This article is a list of some of the islands that form the British Isles that have an area of 1 square kilometre (247 acres) or larger, listing area and population data. The total area of the islands is 314,965 km2 (121,609 sq mi).[1] Great Britain accounts for the larger part of this area at 66%,[2] with Ireland accounting for 26%,[3] leaving the remaining 8%—an area of 23,996 km2 (9,265 sq mi)—consisting of thousands of smaller islands. The largest of the other islands are to be found in the Hebrides and the Northern Isles to the north, and Anglesey and the Isle of Man between Great Britain and Ireland. Not included are the Channel Islands which, positioned off the coast of France, are not part of the archipelago.

There are 188 permanently inhabited islands in total:

* Isle of Man: 1
* Republic of Ireland: 62 and a part of Ireland
* United Kingdom: 123 plus Great Britain and a part of Ireland
* England: 19 and a part of Great Britain
* Northern Ireland: 1 and a part of Ireland
* Scotland: 97 and a part of Great Britain
* Wales: 6 and a part of Great Britain

## List of islands by area[edit]

List of islands showing area, population[4] and location  Name  | Area  | Area rank  | Population  | Population
rank  | Location  | Country

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|
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km2 | sq mi
Great Britain | 209,331  | 80,823[2] | 01 | 60,800,000[5] | 01 | — | England, Scotland and Wales, United Kingdom
Ireland | 81,638  | 31,521[3] | 02 | 6,378,000[6] | 02 | — |

* Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Lewis and Harris[7] | 2,179  | 841 | 03 | 19,918 | 09 | Outer Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
Isle of Skye[7] | 1,656  | 639 | 04 | 9,232 | 16 | Inner Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
Mainland (Shetland)[7] | 969  | 374 | 05 | 17,550 | 10 | Shetland Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Isle of Mull[7] | 875  | 338 | 06 | 2,667 | 21 | Inner Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
Anglesey (including Holy Island) | 714  | 276 | 07 | 69,000 | 06 | Irish Sea | Wales, United Kingdom
Islay[7] | 620  | 239 | 08 | 3,457 | 20 | Inner Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
Isle of Man[8] | 572  | 221 | 09 | 80,056 | 05 | Irish Sea | Isle of Man
Mainland (Orkney)[7] | 523  | 202 | 10 | 15,315 | 12 | Orkney Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Isle of Arran[7] | 432  | 167 | 11 | 5,045 | 19 | Firth of Clyde | Scotland, United Kingdom
Isle of Wight[9] | 381  | 147 | 12 | 132,731 | 04 | English Channel | England, United Kingdom
Jura | 367  | 142 | 13 | 188 | 53 | Inner Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
South Uist[7] | 320  | 124 | 14 | 1,818 | 23 | Outer Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
North Uist[7] | 303  | 117 | 15 | 1,271 | 26 | Outer Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
Yell | 212  | 82 | 16 | 957 | 32 | Shetland Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Achill Island[10] | 147  | 57 | 17 | 2,620 | 22 | County Mayo | Republic of Ireland
Hoy | 143  | 55 | 18 | 272 | 46 | Orkney Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Isle of Bute[7] | 122  | 47 | 19 | 7,228 | 17 | Firth of Clyde | Scotland, United Kingdom
Unst | 121  | 47 | 20 | 720 | 35 | Shetland Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Rùm | 105  | 41 | 21 | 22 | 73 | Small Isles | Scotland, United Kingdom
Isle of Sheppey[11] | 94  | 36 | 22 | 37,852 | 07 | Kent | England, United Kingdom
Benbecula[7] | 82  | 32 | 23 | 1,219 | 27 | Outer Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
Tiree | 78  | 30 | 24 | 770 | 34 | Inner Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
Coll | 77  | 30 | 25 | 164 | 58 | Inner Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
Raasay | 64  | 25 | 26 | 192 | 52 | Inner Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
Great Island | 61  | 24 | 27 | >13,000[12] | 13 or 14 | Cork | Republic of Ireland
Barra[7] | 59  | 23 | 28 | 1,078 | 29 | Outer Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
Sanday | 50  | 19 | 29 | 478 | 38 | Orkney Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
South Ronaldsay | 50  | 19 | 29 | 458 | 40 | Orkney Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Rousay | 49  | 19 | 31 | 212 | 50 | Orkney Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Westray | 47  | 18 | 32 | 563 | 37 | Orkney Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Fetlar | 41  | 16 | 33 | 86 | 68 | Shetland Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Colonsay | 41  | 16 | 33 | 108 | 63 | Inner Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
Holy Island | 39  | 15 | 35 | 13,579 | 13 or 14 | Anglesey | Wales, United Kingdom
Stronsay | 33  | 13 | 36 | 343 | 43 | Orkney Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Inishmore | 31  | 12 | 37 | 824 | 33 | Aran Islands | Republic of Ireland
Eigg | 30  | 12 | 38 | 67 | 70 | Small Isles | Scotland, United Kingdom
Shapinsay | 30  | 12 | 38 | 300 | 45 | Orkney Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Bressay | 28  | 11 | 40 | 384 | 42 | Shetland Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Eday | 27  | 10 | 41 | 121 | 62 | Orkney Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Hayling Island[13] | 27  | 10 | 41 | 16,887 | 11 | Hampshire | England, United Kingdom
Foulness Island | 26  | 10 | 43 | 212 | 50 | Essex | England, United Kingdom
Valentia Island | 26  | 10 | 43 | 665 | 36 | County Kerry | Republic of Ireland
Scalpay | 25  | 10 | 45 | 10 | 75 | Inner Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
Gorumna[10] | 24  | 9 | 46 | 1,010 | 31 | County Galway | Republic of Ireland
Portsea Island | 24  | 9 | 46 | 147,088 | 03 | Hampshire | England, United Kingdom
Lismore | 24  | 9 | 46 | 146 | 60 | Inner Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
Great Bernera | 21  | 8 | 49 | 233 | 47 | Outer Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
Ulva | 20  | 8 | 50 | 16 | 74 | Inner Hebrides | Scotland, United Kingdom
Whalsay[7] | 20  | 8 | 50 | 1,034 | 30 | Shetland Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Canvey Island[14] | 19  | 7 | 52 | 37,479 | 08 | Essex | England, United Kingdom
Mersea Island[15] | 18  | 7 | 53 | 7,182 | 18 | Essex | England, United Kingdom
Muckle Roe | 18  | 7 | 53 | 104 | 64 | Shetland Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Bere Island or Bear Island | 17  | 7 | 55 | 218[16] | 48  | Cork | Republic of Ireland
Arranmore or Aran Island | 17  | 7 | 55 | 478[16] | 39  | County Donegal | Republic of Ireland
Rathlin Island | 14  | 5 | 57 | 100 | 65  | Antrim | Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Inch Island | 14  | 5 | 57 | 396[16] | 41  | County Donegal  | Republic of Ireland
Walney Island[17] | 13  | 5 | 59 | 11,388 | 15 | Furness | England, United Kingdom
Foula | 13  | 5 | 59 | 38 | 71 | Shetland Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Inishbofin | 13  | 5 | 59 | 184[16] | 54  | Galway | Republic of Ireland
Great Cumbrae[7] | 12  | 5 | 62 | 1,434 | 25 | Firth of Clyde | Scotland, United Kingdom
Inishmaan | 10  | 4 | 63 | 157 | 59 | Aran Islands | Republic of Ireland
Papa Westray | 9  | 3 | 64 | 90 | 67 | Orkney Islands | Scotland, United Kingdom
Lettermore | 9  | 3 | 64 | 184[16] | 54  | Galway  | Republic of Ireland
St Mary's[18] | 6  | 2 | 66 | 1,666 | 24 | Isles of Scilly | England, United Kingdom
Inisheer or Inishere | 6  | 2 | 66 | 343[16] | 43  | Galway  | Republic of Ireland
Lindisfarne | 4  | 2 | 68 | 180 | 56 | Northumberland | England, United Kingdom
Lundy | 4  | 2 | 68 | 28 | 72 | Devon | England, United Kingdom
Tresco | 3  | 1 | 70 | 180 | 56 | Isles of Scilly | England, United Kingdom
Lambay Island | 3  | 1 | 70 | 7 | 76 | County Dublin | Republic of Ireland
Calf of Man | 3  | 1 | 70 | 2 (seasonal) | 78 | Irish Sea | Isle of Man
Lettermullen or Lettermullan | 3  | 1 | 70 | 214[16] | 49  | Galway  | Republic of Ireland
Thorney Island[19] | 2  | 1 | 74 | 1,079 | 28 | West Sussex | England, United Kingdom
Bardsey Island[20] | 2  | 1 | 74 | 4 | 77 | Gwynedd | Wales, United Kingdom
St Martin's | 2  | 1 | 74 | 142 | 61 | Isles of Scilly | England, United Kingdom
St Agnes | 1  | 0 | 77 | 73 | 69 | Isles of Scilly | England, United Kingdom
Bryher | 1  | 0 | 77 | 92 | 66 | Isles of Scilly | England, United Kingdom

## See also[edit]

* British Isles
* List of islands in the Atlantic Ocean
* List of islands of England
* List of islands of Ireland
* List of islands of Scotland
* List of Orkney islands
* List of Outer Hebrides
* List of Shetland islands
* List of islands of the Isle of Man
* List of islands of the United Kingdom
* List of islands of Wales

## References[edit]

1. ^ COUNTRY/TERRITORY INDEX, ISLAND DIRECTORY Archived 13 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine, United Nations Environment Programme. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
Island Facts Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Isle of Man Government. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
According to the UNEP, the Republic of Ireland has a land area of 70,282 km2 (27,136 sq mi), and the United Kingdom has a land area of 244,111 km2 (94,252 sq mi). According to the Isle of Man Government, the Isle of Man has a land area of 572 km2 (221 sq mi). Therefore, the overall land area of the British Isles is 315,159 km2 (121,684 sq mi)
2. ^ a b Great Britain, ISLAND DIRECTORY Archived 8 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine, United Nations Environment Programme. Retrieved 9 August 2015. According to the UNEP, Great Britain has an area of 209,331 km2 (80,823 sq mi).
3. ^ a b Ireland, ISLAND DIRECTORY Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, United Nations Environment Programme. Retrieved 9 August 2015. According to the UNEP, Ireland has an area of 81,638 km2 (31,521 sq mi).
4. ^ Population figures are from 2001 Census, except: Great Britain and Ireland both from 2011; Isle of Portland from 2005; Achill, Gorumna, Isle of Man, Jersey all from 2006.
5. ^ 2011 Census: Population Estimates for the United Kingdom. In the 2011 census, the population of England, Wales and Scotland was estimated to be approximately 61,370,000, composed of 60,800,000 on Great Britain and 570,000 on other islands. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
6. ^ "Historical Population Trends – 1841 – 2011, NISRA" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2015. In 2011, the population of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland was 6,399,115, composed of approximately 6,378,000 on Ireland and 21,000 on other islands.[dead link]
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n General Register Office for Scotland – Statistics for Inhabited Islands Archived 21 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
8. ^ Isle of Man Census 2006 Archived 17 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine (excluding the population of 2 living on the Calf of Man)
9. ^ National Statistics – Isle of Wight (Local Authority). Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved on 2012-05-22.
10. ^ a b Census 2006 – Table 11 – Population of Inhabited Islands off the Coast (PDF)
11. ^ National Statistics – Leysdown and Warden (Ward) Archived 15 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Minster Cliffs (Ward) Archived 16 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Queenborough and Halfway (Ward), Sheerness East (Ward) Archived 15 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Sheerness West (Ward) Archived 16 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine and Sheppey Central (Ward)
12. ^ 2011 Census gives 6500 for Cobh Town and 7534 for Cobh Rural ED; most were on Great Island but 148 were on Haulbowline and some on Fota Island.
13. ^ National Statistics – Hayling East (Ward) Archived 16 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine and Hayling West (Ward) Archived 16 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine
14. ^ National Statistics – Canvey Island Central (Ward) Archived 15 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine, East (Ward), North (Ward) Archived 16 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine, South (Ward), West (Ward) and Winter Gardens (Ward) Archived 15 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine
15. ^ National Statistics – West Mersea CP (Parish) Archived 16 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine and East Mersea CP (Parish) Archived 16 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine
16. ^ a b c d e f g Population of Inhabited Islands Off the Coast (Report). Central Statistics Office. 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
17. ^ National Statistics – Walney North (Ward) Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine and Walney South (Ward)
18. ^ National Statistics – St. Mary's (Ward) Archived 6 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved on 2012-05-22.
19. ^ National Statistics – West Thorney CP (Parish). Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved on 2012-05-22.
20. ^ Article on Bardsey Island residents. Guardian. Retrieved on 2012-05-22.