The Isle of Mingulay was abandoned in 1912 due to a combination of factors. The main reasons were harsh living conditions and difficulties in sustaining livelihoods due to the declining fishing industry which was the primary source of income for the inhabitants. The island is isolated, making it difficult to access basic amenities and services, and there was also a general trend of depopulation in the Scottish islands during the early 1900s as people moved towards mainland Scotland and other countries in search of better opportunities.