North Ayrshire: local statistics
North Ayrshire is a council area in Scotland, home to an estimated 133,660 people (mid-2025). This page brings together 8 official figures for the area, each with its period, publisher and the address it was read from. See also who has power over North Ayrshire, from the council up to the G20.
Key figures
What the figures show
In August 2026, 3,395 people in North Ayrshire were on the claimant count, 4.2% of residents aged 16 to 64; the rate for Scotland was 3.2%. That compares with 4.0% a year before. Over the last five years it peaked at 6.7% in August 2021 and was lowest at 3.8% in November 2025.
A typical home in North Ayrshire cost £143,560 in July 2026, on the UK House Price Index, a rise of 5.2% in twelve months. Among council areas that puts it the 27th highest of 32 in Scotland (average for Scotland: £196,349). Prices are 53% above July 2016 and at their highest July level in the series. Dividing the average price by the median annual pay of full-time employees living in North Ayrshire (£40,312) gives a ratio of 3.6. That ratio is the 29th highest ratio of 32 in Scotland.
133,660 people lived in North Ayrshire in mid-2025, according to the ONS, down 0.1% on mid-2024. Over ten years, since mid-2015, it has fallen by 1.9%; Scotland grew by 3.6% over the same years. That is the 27th fastest growth of 32 in Scotland. The series peaked at 136,220 in mid-2015.
In 2022 to 2024, women in North Ayrshire had a life expectancy at birth of 79.7 years; for men it was 75.0, compared with 81.1 and 77.2 years across Scotland. For women that is 1.3 years less than in 2012 to 2014; for men, 1.5 less. It is 26th of 32 in Scotland, counting from the highest for women.
Full-time employees living in North Ayrshire earned a median £791.20 a week in April 2025, or £40,312 over a year. It is the 10th highest of 32 in Scotland, and 2.0% more than across Scotland. For full-time jobs located in North Ayrshire the median is £798.60 a week (+£7.40 on the residents' figure). In 2015 the residents' median was £480.80, so it has risen 65% before inflation.
3,885 businesses were registered for VAT or PAYE in North Ayrshire in March 2026, 15% fewer than in 2016. That is 29 for every 1,000 residents, the 28th highest of 32 in Scotland.
The Annual Population Survey estimates that 73.6% of North Ayrshire residents aged 16 to 64 were in work in April 2025 to March 2026 (give or take 4.7 points); the figure for Scotland was 74.6%. Over the 11 years shown it ranged from 64.4% to 73.6%.
History
Population (mid-year)
| 2015 | 136,220 |
| 2016 | 135,950 |
| 2017 | 135,810 |
| 2018 | 135,130 |
| 2019 | 134,570 |
| 2020 | 134,040 |
| 2021 | 133,860 |
| 2022 | 133,490 |
| 2023 | 133,750 |
| 2024 | 133,830 |
| 2025 | 133,660 |
Average house price (same month each year)
| July 2016 | £93,968 |
| July 2017 | £97,187 |
| July 2018 | £101,785 |
| July 2019 | £102,678 |
| July 2020 | £102,618 |
| July 2021 | £112,784 |
| July 2022 | £128,073 |
| July 2023 | £121,543 |
| July 2024 | £128,743 |
| July 2025 | £136,483 |
| July 2026 | £143,560 |
Median weekly pay, residents
| 2015 | £480.80 a week |
| 2016 | £521.90 a week |
| 2017 | £564.20 a week |
| 2018 | £563.20 a week |
| 2019 | £552.10 a week |
| 2020 | £598.10 a week |
| 2021 | £624.50 a week |
| 2022 | £635.90 a week |
| 2023 | £705.90 a week |
| 2024 | £742.40 a week |
| 2025 | £791.20 a week |
Employment rate
| 2015/16 | 64.4% |
| 2016/17 | 64.7% |
| 2017/18 | 70.4% |
| 2018/19 | 70.4% |
| 2019/20 | 70.0% |
| 2020/21 | 66.4% |
| 2021/22 | 67.3% |
| 2022/23 | 71.3% |
| 2023/24 | 67.3% |
| 2024/25 | 65.6% |
| 2025/26 | 73.6% |
Life expectancy, women
| 2012 to 2014 | 81.0 years |
| 2013 to 2015 | 80.8 years |
| 2014 to 2016 | 80.5 years |
| 2015 to 2017 | 80.2 years |
| 2016 to 2018 | 79.9 years |
| 2017 to 2019 | 80.0 years |
| 2018 to 2020 | 80.1 years |
| 2019 to 2021 | 79.7 years |
| 2020 to 2022 | 79.4 years |
| 2021 to 2023 | 79.3 years |
| 2022 to 2024 | 79.7 years |
Registered businesses
| 2016 | 4,570 |
| 2017 | 4,705 |
| 2018 | 4,205 |
| 2019 | 4,195 |
| 2020 | 4,210 |
| 2021 | 4,160 |
| 2022 | 4,005 |
| 2023 | 3,915 |
| 2024 | 3,900 |
| 2025 | 3,855 |
| 2026 | 3,885 |
Questions about North Ayrshire
How many people claim unemployment-related benefits in North Ayrshire?
The ONS claimant count was 3,395 in August 2026, 4.2% of 16 to 64-year-olds. It counts benefit claims, not unemployment.
What is the average house price in North Ayrshire?
£143,560 in July 2026, on HM Land Registry's UK House Price Index (+5.2% on a year).
What is the population of North Ayrshire?
133,660 in mid-2025, the latest ONS mid-year estimate.
What is life expectancy in North Ayrshire?
79.7 years for women and 75.0 for men (2022 to 2024, ONS).
What is the average salary in North Ayrshire?
Median pay for full-time employees living in North Ayrshire was £791.20 a week in April 2025 (£40,312 a year), from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.
Who has power over North Ayrshire
Every body that makes decisions for North Ayrshire, from the street up to the G20. Each one links to its page on the official record. How the ten levels work.
Level 1: Neighbourhood and community power
Residents' and tenants' groups, neighbourhood forums and local policing panels.
Level 2: Parish, town and community councils
Community councils, where the area has them, sit below the council.
Level 3: Local councils
- North Ayrshire council spending, reserves, debt and council tax
- North Ayrshire in official figures this page
Level 5: Devolved and state governments
- Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government makes law for Scotland on devolved subjects
Level 6: National government
- Central Ayrshire: Alan Gemmell (Labour) MP
- North Ayrshire and Arran: Irene Campbell (Labour) MP
- All 650 MPs votes, interests and costs
- UK government and Parliament official figures and sources
Level 7: Regional blocs and supranational bodies
- Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights (CoE / ECtHR) The UK Government says the United Kingdom was one of the Council of Europe's founding members.
Level 8: The UN and global treaty bodies
- United Nations (General Assembly and Security Council) The UN lists the United Kingdom as a member admitted on 24 October 1945.
- United Nations Security Council (UNSC) The UK is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council and holds the veto, according to the UN.
- NATO NATO lists the United Kingdom among its 12 founding members, which signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, D.C.
- World Health Organization (WHO) WHO's list of member states includes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
- World Trade Organization (WTO) The WTO says the United Kingdom has been a WTO member since 1 January 1995 and a member of GATT since 1 January 1948.
- Commonwealth of Nations The UK is one of the 56 members, one of three European members with Cyprus and Malta, and the Commonwealth Secretariat is headquartered at Marlborough House in London.
Level 9: The IMF, World Bank and global finance
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) The UK has been a member since 27 December 1945 and has a quota of SDR 20,155.1 million (IMF country page for the United Kingdom).
- World Bank Group (WBG) The UK holds 3.75% of voting power in the IBRD (data as of 30 June 2026) and 6.92% in IDA (as of 30 June 2026), according to the World Bank's voting tables.
Level 10: G7, G20, Davos and global forums
Sources
Each value above links to the official file or query it was read from, on 14 October 2026. What each figure measures.
- Average house price: Scottish figures come from Registers of Scotland.
More on this area and these figures
- Council money: spending, reserves and debt
- Figures for Scotland
- UK figures: UK unemployment rate · UK average house price · UK population
- Other council areas in Scotland: Angus · Dumfries and Galloway · Dundee City · East Ayrshire · East Lothian · Scottish Borders
Related questions
- What is the unemployment rate in my area?
- What is the average house price in my area?
- What is the population of my area?
- How healthy is my area?
- Who are my local councillors?
Figures checked 14 October 2026. Link moved or figure out of date? Tell us.