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Who winters on the islands: census figures behind the postcard

The island postcard and the census tell different stories. The census counts those who stay when the last guest leaves, and on that number depend the school, the clinic and a frequent boat.

1 min read2 sources

What the census says

The statistics series track population by island and settlement, showing which islands hold a stable population and which age and empty.1

That demography is not abstract: with it go the school, the clinic and the shop that work all year, or do not.1

The boat as bloodstream

Ferry lines are a public service and keep a link to every inhabited island, but the density of departures follows the number of people actually travelling on them.2

That is why census figures and the sailing schedule go together: an island with more permanent residents as a rule also has a denser winter timetable.1,2

How to use these data

Before deciding on an island look at both sources: how many people winter there and how many boats run in winter, because the two together describe winter daily life better than any summer visit.1,2

  • Census data by island: in the national statistics series.1
  • The winter sailing schedule: on the operator's pages.2