Source Tables 1 and 2 : GROS Scotland's Census 2001 Census Gaelic Report, Tables 4, 29; GROS Occasional Paper 11: Migration, Tables 3A, 4. * Note Tables 1 and 2 : Estimates of migrant Gaelic speakers to rest of UK are based on percentages of Gaelic speakers in each area, and therefore the column does not exactly total.

Table 3: Total Population Scotland and main Gaelic areas 1991 – All Migrants

Table 4: Gaelic Speakers Scotland and main Gaelic areas 1991 – All Migrant Gaels

Source, Tables 6, 7 and 8: Scotland’s Census 2001 Gaelic Report, Table 29.Note, Tables 1 – 8 : Values in cells which are asterisked * are based in part or whole upon estimation.References: Fleming, Alan D. (2005) Occasional Paper No. 11 Scotland’s Census 2001 - Statistics on Migration Edinburgh: GROS (Published on 25 January 2005) Online at:- http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/library/occpapers/scotlands-census-2001-statistics-on-migration/index.htmlGROS (2005) Scotland’s Census 2001, Gaelic Report, Edinburgh: HMSO ( ISBN 1-874451-74-5. )
GROS (1994) 1991 Census Gaelic Language, Edinburgh: HMSO ( ISBN 0 11 495255 8 )

TOTAL MIGRANTS AND GAELIC SPEAKERS 1990 –2001: SOME OBSERVATIONS

• In 1990-91 annual migration rates within Scotland were 10.37% representing 518,413 persons on the move between all addresses.
• In contrast 2000-21 rates had risen to 11.60 % representing 587,042 persons on the move between all addresses.
• The corresponding figures for Gaelic speakers were 8.85% (5,860) and 11.14% (6,568).
• Policy-making is now in the context of an increasingly mobile society in which Gaelic speakers are now virtually as mobile as any others.
• Although movements between Gaidhealtachd areas are small – especially for Gaelic speakers, movements from the rest of Scotland and from outwith Scotland are comparatively greater, and thus act as a rapidly diluting factor for the indigenous and Gaelic speaking populations.
• This is noticeably so in the residual Gaelic-speaking “heartlands”, especially the Western Isles, and Skye & Lochalsh. Population flows between these local areas and elsewhere are detailed in Tables 5, 6 and 7 above, and summarised below:-
• The Western Isles were losing population at an annual 228 to other Gaidhealtachd areas, 529 to the rest of Scotland, and 230 to the rest of the UK, totalling 987.
• Incoming population to the Western Isles comprised 148 with no usual address in 2000, 129 from other Gaidhealtachd areas, 337 from elsewhere in Scotland, and 298 from elsewhere outwith Scotland, totalling 912. The annual net loss was - 75.
• The comparable figures for outgoing Gaelic-speakers were: 81, 244, and an estimated 137, totalling 462. *
• The comparable figures for incoming Gaelic speakers were 43, 57, 107, and 45, totalling 252. The annual net loss was 210.
• These figures represent an annual outflow of 987 (amongst whom were 462 Gaelic-speakers*), and a less than matching annual inflow of 912 ( amongst whom were 252 Gaelic-speakers.): a total on the move annually of 1,899 ( amongst whom were 714 Gaelic-speakers*.)
• Skye & Lochalsh was losing population at an annual 180 to other Gaidhealtachd areas, 294 to the rest of Scotland, and an estimated 112 to the rest of the UK, totalling 586. §
• Incoming population to Skye & Lochlash comprised 95 with no usual address in 2000, 123 from other Gaidhealtachd areas, 202 from elsewhere in Scotland, and 263 from elsewhere outwith Scotland, totalling 683. The annual net gain was + 97. §
• The comparable figures for outgoing Gaelic-speakers were: 46, 89, and an estimated 361 totalling 172.
• The comparable figures for incoming Gaelic speakers were 25, 22, 47, and 24, totalling 118. The annual net loss was - 53. §
• These figures represent an annual outflow of 586 (amongst whom were 171 Gaelic-speakers) ¶ and a more than matching annual inflow of 683 ( amongst whom were 118 Gaelic-speakers.): a total on the move annually of 1,269 ( amongst whom were 289 Gaelic-speakers.) Skye & Lochalsh were thus gaining total population by a net + 97 annually, and losing Gaelic speakers at a rate of – 53 annually. ¶
• These processes are rapidly removing indigenous population and Gaelic speakers from the “heartland” areas, and replacing them with non-Gaelic-speaking incomers.
• The problem for Gaelic development policies is acutely how will the Gaelic character of these areas be maintained?