In 2003, the town had an estimated population of 21,964 and a density of 306.20 inhabitants per square kilometre (793.1/sq mi). The total area was 71.73 km2 (27.70 sq mi).
On March 20, 2006, Shiga was merged into the expanded city of Ōtsu.[1]
The original village called Shiga (滋賀 instead of 志賀) was slightly north of Ōtsu and merged with Ōtsu on May 10, 1932. A new town called Shiga was established on October 1, 1955, upon the mergers of Wani (和邇), Kido (木戸), and Komatsu (小松) villages, farther north of Ōtsu.
