North Ayrshire

North Ayrshire
Motto(s): 
Sense and Worth
North Ayrshire shown within Scotland
Coordinates: 55°40′N 4°47′W / 55.667°N 4.783°W / 55.667; -4.783
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
Lieutenancy areaAyrshire and Arran
Unitary authority1 April 1996
Administrative HQIrvine
Government
  TypeCouncil
  BodyNorth Ayrshire Council
  ControlNo overall control
  MPs
  MSPs
Area
  Total
342 sq mi (885 km2)
  Rank17th
Population
 (2022)
  Total
133,490
  Rank15th
  Density390/sq mi (151/km2)
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
  Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ISO 3166 codeGB-NAY
GSS codeS12000021
Websitenorth-ayrshire.gov.uk

North Ayrshire (Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Àir a Tuath, pronounced [ˈʃirˠəxk aːɾʲ ə ˈt̪ʰuə]) is one of 32 council areas in Scotland. The council area borders Inverclyde to the north, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire to the northeast, and East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to the east and south respectively. The local authority is North Ayrshire Council, formed in 1996 with the same boundaries as the district of Cunninghame, which existed from 1975 to 1996.

Located in the west central Lowlands with the Firth of Clyde to its west, the council area covers the northern portion of the historic county of Ayrshire, in addition to the islands of Arran and The Cumbraes from the historic county of Buteshire. North Ayrshire had an estimated population of 133,490 in 2022. Its largest towns are Irvine and Kilwinning.