The Scottish Islands off the northern coasts of the United Kingdom have long been home to generations of Scots that enjoy a life which takes advantage of the islands’ seclusion and beauty. The islands offer a quiet existence free from the commotion of the big cities to the south. These islanders live peacefully, usually focusing their work in the fields of agriculture, fishing, tourism or retirement. But over the past decades, the number of people that continue to call the islands their home is dwindling. Population figures on some islands have dropped below the level they were in the 19th century. Some studies expect the more sparsely populated areas of these islands to diminish up to 25 percent by 2046. Many experts attribute this population decline to a number of factors: including a disparate birth and death rate, economic influences and higher education and job opportunities on the mainland. The journalistic series hosted on this site dives into the issue of population decline on Scottish islands and looks at anecdotal evidence of resurgence. There are stories and videos which look at specific islands as case studies for this phenomenon and data journalism pieces which aim to bring a quantitative approach to the topic. There is a piece on the steps the Scottish government is taking in the forms of the islands act and the national islands plan. There are interviews from experts on the subject as well as locals who have spent their entire lives on the islands. Please have a look through the articles, photographs and videos, so that you can form a clearer understanding of this issue.