Oh, Scotland. Right. Let's get this over with. Don't expect any enthusiasm.
Demographics of Scotland
The population of Scotland, as of 2019, stood at a rather unremarkable 5,463,300. For context, the population growth rate in 2011 was a sluggish 0.6% per annum, according to that overly earnest 2011 GROS Annual Review. [1] It’s a number, I suppose.
Sprawling across 78,782 square kilometres (which is a rather dramatic 30,418 square miles, if you’re keeping score), Scotland has a population density of 67.2 people per square kilometre. That’s 174 per square mile, for those who prefer their measurements less… continental. The truly fascinating part, if you can call it that, is that roughly 70% of the country's population, a solid 3.5 million souls, are crammed into the Central Belt. This isn't some mystical zone; it's just a swathe of land, stretching northeast to southwest, conveniently located between the major Scottish cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. It also manages to encompass other significant settlements like Paisley, Stirling, Falkirk, Perth and Dundee, all nestled within the Central Lowlands – a full 80% of the population, apparently. Other pockets of humanity can be found along the northeast coast, primarily around Aberdeen and Inverness, and on the west coast, near the town of Ayr. Now, for the desolate bits: the Scottish Highlands and the Eilean Siar islands boast the lowest population densities, a mere 9 people per square kilometre (or 23 per square mile, if you’re feeling generous). And Glasgow? It has the dubious distinction of the highest population density at 3,289 per square kilometre. [2] Riveting.
Until April 2011, the General Register Office for Scotland, under its Registrar-General for Scotland, was responsible for the dreary task of estimating population figures and recording births, deaths, and marriages. Then, in a move that likely caused minimal disruption to anyone with actual important things to do, the GROS merged with the National Archives of Scotland to become the National Records of Scotland. This new entity is still obligated, by the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965, to present an annual report on demographic trends to the Scottish Government. Naturally, in coordination with the rest of the United Kingdom, the National Records for Scotland also oversees the decadal census. The latest one, in its infinite thoroughness, occurred in March 2022. [3]
Historical population
Population change over time
In the grand tradition of meticulous record-keeping, the United Kingdom has conducted a census every ten years since 1801, with a brief, understandable hiatus in 1941 due to the rather inconvenient Second World War. For the years prior to that, we must rely on the more… artisanal data found in directories and gazetteers. [4] [5] [6]
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1500 | 500,000 |
| 1600 | 800,000 |
| 1707 | 1,000,000 |
| 1755 | 1,265,380 |
| 1801 | 1,608,420 |
| 1811 | 1,805,864 |
| 1821 | 2,091,521 |
| 1831 | 2,364,386 |
| 1841 | 2,620,184 |
| 1851 | 2,888,742 |
| 1861 | 3,062,294 |
| 1871 | 3,360,018 |
| 1881 | 3,735,578 |
| 1891 | 4,025,647 |
| 1901 | 4,472,103 |
| 1911 | 4,760,904 |
| 1921 | 4,882,407 |
| 1931 | 4,842,989 |
| 1939 a | 5,006,700 |
| 1951 | 5,095,969 |
| 1961 b | 5,179,000 |
| 1971 | 5,229,000 |
| 1981 | 5,035,000 |
| 1991 c | 5,083,000 |
| 2001 | 5,062,000 |
| 2011 | 5,295,000 |
| 2022 | 5,436,000 |
Notes: a. No census in 1941, but there was a National Register of the Civilian Population in 1939. b. Data from 1961 onwards is rounded to the nearest thousand. c. Data for 1991 is a mid-year estimate.
| Census population and growth rate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1855 | 2,978,065 | — |
| 1860 | 3,054,738 | +0.51% |
| 1870 | 3,336,712 | +0.89% |
| 1880 | 3,705,994 | +1.06% |
| 1890 | 4,003,131 | +0.77% |
| 1900 | 4,436,958 | +1.03% |
| 1910 | 4,738,611 | +0.66% |
| 1920 | 4,866,866 | +0.27% |
| 1930 | 4,828,004 | −0.08% |
| 1940 | 4,841,241 | +0.03% |
| 1950 | 5,114,513 | +0.55% |
| 1960 | 5,177,658 | +0.12% |
| 1970 | 5,213,700 | +0.07% |
| 1980 | 5,193,900 | −0.04% |
| 1990 | 5,081,270 | −0.22% |
| 2000 | 5,062,940 | −0.04% |
| 2010 | 5,262,200 | +0.39% |
| 2020 | 5,413,100 | +0.28% |
| 2024 | 5,546,900 | +0.61% |
Source: [7]
Age distribution
| Ages | 1901 | 1931 | 1951 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–14 years | 33 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 25.9 | 21.4 | 18.9 | 17.9 | 16.1 | 15.3 |
| 15–64 years | 62 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 61.8 | 64.5 | 65.8 | 66.2 | 67.1 | 64.6 |
| 65 years and over | 5 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 12.3 | 14.1 | 15.3 | 15.9 | 16.8 | 20.1 |
| Total (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
[8] [9]
Vital statistics
Birth and mortality
Life expectancy in Scotland over time
Table of birth and mortality since 1900
| Year | Average population | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | Fertility rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 4,437,000 | 131,401 | 82,296 | 49,105 | 29.6 | 18.5 | 11.1 | |
| 1901 | 4,479,000 | 132,192 | 80,107 | 52,085 | 29.5 | 17.9 | 11.6 | |
| 1902 | 4,507,000 | 132,267 | 77,941 | 54,326 | 29.4 | 17.3 | 12.0 | |
| 1903 | 4,536,000 | 133,525 | 76,002 | 57,523 | 29.4 | 16.8 | 12.7 | |
| 1904 | 4,564,000 | 132,603 | 77,981 | 54,622 | 29.1 | 17.1 | 12.0 | |
| 1905 | 4,593,000 | 131,410 | 74,536 | 56,874 | 28.6 | 16.2 | 12.4 | |
| 1906 | 4,621,000 | 132,005 | 75,635 | 56,370 | 28.6 | 16.4 | 12.2 | |
| 1907 | 4,650,000 | 128,840 | 77,296 | 51,544 | 27.7 | 16.6 | 11.1 | |
| 1908 | 4,680,000 | 131,362 | 77,838 | 53,524 | 28.1 | 16.6 | 11.4 | |
| 1909 | 4,709,000 | 128,669 | 74,632 | 54,037 | 27.3 | 15.8 | 11.5 | |
| 1910 | 4,739,000 | 124,059 | 72,268 | 51,791 | 26.2 | 15.2 | 11.0 | |
| 1911 | 4,751,000 | 121,850 | 71,732 | 50,118 | 25.7 | 15.1 | 10.6 | |
| 1912 | 4,741,000 | 122,790 | 72,340 | 50,450 | 25.9 | 15.3 | 10.6 | |
| 1913 | 4,728,000 | 120,516 | 73,069 | 47,447 | 25.5 | 15.5 | 10.0 | |
| 1914 | 4,747,000 | 123,934 | 73,557 | 50,377 | 26.1 | 15.5 | 10.6 | |
| 1915 | 4,771,000 | 114,181 | 81,631 | 32,550 | 23.9 | 17.1 | 6.8 | |
| 1916 | 4,795,000 | 109,942 | 70,640 | 39,302 | 22.9 | 14.7 | 8.2 | |
| 1917 | 4,810,000 | 97,441 | 69,483 | 27,958 | 20.2 | 14.4 | 5.8 | |
| 1918 | 4,812,000 | 98,554 | 78,372 | 20,182 | 20.5 | 16.3 | 4.2 | |
| 1919 | 4,820,000 | 106,268 | 75,149 | 31,119 | 22.1 | 15.6 | 6.5 | |
| 1920 | 4,864,000 | 136,546 | 68,179 | 68,367 | 28.1 | 14.0 | 14.1 | |
| 1921 | 4,882,000 | 123,201 | 66,210 | 56,991 | 25.2 | 13.6 | 11.7 | |
| 1922 | 4,898,000 | 115,085 | 72,905 | 42,180 | 23.5 | 14.9 | 8.6 | |
| 1923 | 4,888,000 | 111,902 | 63,283 | 48,619 | 22.9 | 13.0 | 9.9 | |
| 1924 | 4,862,000 | 106,900 | 70,357 | 36,543 | 22.0 | 14.5 | 7.5 | |
| 1925 | 4,867,000 | 104,137 | 65,507 | 38,630 | 21.4 | 13.5 | 7.9 | |
| 1926 | 4,864,000 | 102,449 | 63,780 | 38,669 | 21.1 | 13.1 | 7.9 | |
| 1927 | 4,853,000 | 96,672 | 65,830 | 30,842 | 19.9 | 13.6 | 6.4 | |
| 1928 | 4,848,000 | 96,822 | 65,271 | 31,551 | 20.0 | 13.5 | 6.5 | |
| 1929 | 4,832,000 | 92,880 | 70,917 | 21,963 | 19.2 | 14.7 | 4.6 | |
| 1930 | 4,828,000 | 94,549 | 64,285 | 30,264 | 19.6 | 13.3 | 6.3 | |
| 1931 | 4,843,000 | 92,220 | 64,229 | 27,991 | 19.0 | 13.3 | 5.8 | |
| 1932 | 4,883,000 | 91,000 | 66,045 | 24,955 | 18.6 | 13.5 | 5.1 | |
| 1933 | 4,912,000 | 86,546 | 64,848 | 21,698 | 17.6 | 13.2 | 4.4 | |
| 1934 | 4,934,000 | 88,836 | 63,741 | 25,095 | 18.0 | 12.9 | 5.1 | |
| 1935 | 4,953,000 | 87,928 | 65,331 | 22,597 | 17.8 | 13.2 | 4.6 | |
| 1936 | 4,966,000 | 88,928 | 66,749 | 22,179 | 17.9 | 13.4 | 4.5 | |
| 1937 | 4,977,000 | 87,810 | 68,942 | 18,868 | 17.6 | 13.9 | 3.8 | |
| 1938 | 4,993,000 | 88,627 | 62,953 | 25,674 | 17.8 | 12.6 | 5.1 | |
| 1939 | 5,007,000 | 86,913 | 64,413 | 22,500 | 17.4 | 12.9 | 4.5 | |
| 1940 | 5,065,000 | 86,392 | 72,775 | 13,617 | 17.1 | 14.9 | 2.2 | |
| 1941 | 5,160,000 | 89,748 | 72,558 | 17,190 | 17.4 | 14.6 | 2.8 | |
| 1942 | 5,174,000 | 90,703 | 64,963 | 25,740 | 17.5 | 13.2 | 4.3 | |
| 1943 | 5,189,000 | 94,669 | 66,733 | 27,936 | 18.2 | 13.9 | 4.4 | |
| 1944 | 5,210,000 | 95,920 | 64,603 | 31,317 | 18.4 | 13.5 | 4.9 | |
| 1945 | 5,187,000 | 86,924 | 62,655 | 24,269 | 16.8 | 13.1 | 3.7 | |
| 1946 | 5,167,000 | 104,413 | 64,605 | 39,808 | 20.2 | 13.0 | 7.2 | |
| 1947 | 5,120,000 | 113,147 | 66,200 | 46,947 | 22.1 | 12.9 | 9.2 | |
| 1948 | 5,150,000 | 100,344 | 60,979 | 39,365 | 19.5 | 11.8 | 7.6 | |
| 1949 | 5,156,000 | 95,674 | 63,488 | 32,186 | 18.6 | 12.3 | 6.2 | |
| 1950 | 5,168,000 | 92,530 | 63,996 | 28,534 | 17.9 | 12.4 | 5.5 | |
| 1951 | 5,102,000 | 90,639 | 65,778 | 24,861 | 17.8 | 12.9 | 4.9 | |
| 1952 | 5,101,000 | 90,422 | 61,510 | 28,912 | 17.7 | 12.1 | 5.7 | |
| 1953 | 5,100,000 | 90,913 | 58,878 | 32,035 | 17.8 | 11.5 | 6.3 | |
| 1954 | 5,104,000 | 92,315 | 61,380 | 30,935 | 18.1 | 12.0 | 6.1 | |
| 1955 | 5,111,000 | 92,539 | 61,645 | 30,894 | 18.1 | 12.1 | 6.0 | |
| 1956 | 5,120,000 | 95,313 | 61,792 | 33,521 | 18.6 | 12.1 | 6.5 | |
| 1957 | 5,125,000 | 97,977 | 61,143 | 36,834 | 19.1 | 11.9 | 7.2 | |
| 1958 | 5,141,000 | 99,481 | 62,065 | 37,416 | 19.4 | 12.1 | 7.3 | |
| 1959 | 5,163,000 | 99,251 | 63,061 | 36,190 | 19.2 | 12.2 | 7.0 | |
| 1960 | 5,178,000 | 101,292 | 61,764 | 39,528 | 19.6 | 11.9 | 7.6 | |
| 1961 | 5,184,000 | 101,169 | 63,928 | 37,241 | 19.5 | 12.3 | 7.2 | |
| 1962 | 5,198,000 | 104,334 | 63,189 | 41,145 | 20.1 | 12.2 | 7.9 | |
| 1963 | 5,205,000 | 102,691 | 65,521 | 37,170 | 19.7 | 12.6 | 7.1 | |
| 1964 | 5,209,000 | 104,355 | 61,039 | 43,316 | 20.0 | 11.7 | 8.3 | |
| 1965 | 5,210,000 | 100,660 | 62,868 | 37,792 | 19.3 | 12.1 | 7.3 | |
| 1966 | 5,201,000 | 96,536 | 63,689 | 32,847 | 18.6 | 12.2 | 6.3 | |
| 1967 | 5,198,000 | 96,221 | 59,523 | 36,698 | 18.5 | 11.5 | 7.1 | |
| 1968 | 5,200,000 | 94,786 | 63,311 | 31,475 | 18.2 | 12.2 | 6.1 | |
| 1969 | 5,209,000 | 90,290 | 63,821 | 26,469 | 17.3 | 12.3 | 5.1 | |
| 1970 | 5,215,000 | 87,335 | 63,640 | 23,695 | 16.7 | 12.2 | 4.5 | |
| 1971 | 5,219,000 | 86,728 | 61,614 | 25,114 | 16.6 | 11.8 | 4.8 | 2.53 |
| 1972 | 5,223,000 | 78,550 | 65,017 | 13,533 | 15.0 | 12.4 | 2.6 | 2.27 |
| 1973 | 5,225,000 | 74,392 | 64,545 | 9,847 | 14.2 | 12.4 | 1.9 | 2.13 |
| 1974 | 5,226,000 | 70,093 | 64,740 | 5,353 | 13.4 | 12.4 | 1.0 | 1.97 |
| 1975 | 5,227,000 | 67,943 | 63,125 | 4,818 | 13.0 | 12.1 | 0.9 | 1.90 |
| 1976 | 5,227,000 | 64,895 | 65,253 | -358 | 12.4 | 12.5 | -0.1 | 1.80 |
| 1977 | 5,226,000 | 62,342 | 62,294 | 48 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 0.0 | 1.70 |
| 1978 | 5,212,000 | 64,295 | 65,123 | -828 | 12.3 | 12.5 | -0.2 | 1.74 |
| 1979 | 5,204,000 | 68,366 | 65,747 | 2,619 | 13.1 | 12.6 | 0.5 | 1.84 |
| 1980 | 5,194,000 | 68,892 | 63,299 | 5,593 | 13.3 | 12.2 | 1.1 | 1.84 |
| 1981 | 5,180,000 | 69,054 | 63,828 | 5,226 | 13.3 | 12.3 | 1.0 | 1.84 |
| 1982 | 5,165,000 | 66,196 | 65,022 | 1,174 | 12.8 | 12.6 | 0.2 | 1.74 |
| 1983 | 5,148,000 | 65,078 | 63,454 | 1,624 | 12.6 | 12.3 | 0.3 | 1.70 |
| 1984 | 5,139,000 | 65,106 | 62,345 | 2,761 | 12.7 | 12.1 | 0.5 | 1.68 |
| 1985 | 5,128,000 | 66,676 | 63,967 | 2,709 | 13.0 | 12.5 | 0.5 | 1.70 |
| 1986 | 5,112,000 | 65,812 | 63,467 | 2,345 | 12.9 | 12.4 | 0.5 | 1.68 |
| 1987 | 5,099,000 | 66,241 | 62,014 | 4,227 | 13.0 | 12.2 | 0.8 | 1.68 |
| 1988 | 5,077,000 | 66,212 | 61,957 | 4,255 | 13.0 | 12.2 | 0.8 | 1.68 |
| 1989 | 5,078,000 | 63,480 | 65,017 | -1,537 | 12.5 | 12.8 | -0.3 | 1.61 |
| 1990 | 5,081,000 | 65,973 | 61,527 | 4,446 | 13.0 | 12.1 | 0.9 | 1.67 |
| 1991 | 5,083,000 | 67,024 | 61,041 | 5,983 | 13.2 | 12.0 | 1.2 | 1.69 |
| 1992 | 5,086,000 | 65,789 | 60,937 | 4,852 | 12.9 | 12.0 | 1.0 | 1.67 |
| 1993 | 5,092,000 | 63,337 | 64,049 | -712 | 12.4 | 12.6 | -0.1 | 1.62 |
| 1994 | 5,102,000 | 61,656 | 59,328 | 2,328 | 12.1 | 11.6 | 0.5 | 1.58 |
| 1995 | 5,104,000 | 60,051 | 60,500 | -449 | 11.8 | 11.9 | -0.1 | 1.55 |
| 1996 | 5,092,000 | 59,296 | 60,654 | -1,358 | 11.6 | 11.9 | -0.3 | 1.56 |
| 1997 | 5,083,000 | 59,440 | 59,494 | -54 | 11.7 | 11.7 | -0.0 | 1.58 |
| 1998 | 5,077,000 | 57,319 | 59,164 | -1,845 | 11.3 | 11.7 | -0.4 | 1.55 |
| 1999 | 5,072,000 | 55,147 | 60,281 | -5,134 | 10.9 | 11.9 | -1.0 | 1.51 |
| 2000 | 5,063,000 | 53,076 | 57,799 | -4,723 | 10.5 | 11.4 | -0.9 | 1.48 |
| 2001 | 5,064,000 | 52,527 | 57,380 | -4,853 | 10.4 | 11.3 | -1.0 | 1.49 |
| 2002 | 5,055,000 | 51,270 | 58,103 | -6,833 | 10.1 | 11.5 | -1.4 | 1.47 |
| 2003 | 5,057,000 | 52,432 | 58,472 | -6,040 | 10.3 | 11.6 | -1.2 | 1.52 |
| 2004 | 5,078,000 | 53,957 | 56,187 | -2,230 | 10.6 | 11.1 | -0.4 | 1.58 |
| 2005 | 5,095,000 | 54,386 | 55,747 | -1,361 | 10.6 | 10.9 | -0.3 | 1.60 |
| 2006 | 5,117,000 | 55,690 | 55,093 | 597 | 10.8 | 10.8 | 0.1 | 1.64 |
| 2007 | 5,144,000 | 57,781 | 55,986 | 1,795 | 11.2 | 10.9 | 0.3 | 1.70 |
| 2008 | 5,169,000 | 60,041 | 55,700 | 4,341 | 11.5 | 10.8 | 0.8 | 1.77 |
| 2009 | 5,194,000 | 59,046 | 53,856 | 5,190 | 11.3 | 10.4 | 1.0 | 1.73 |
| 2010 | 5,222,000 | 58,791 | 53,967 | 4,824 | 11.2 | 10.3 | 1.0 | 1.72 |
| 2011 | 5,255,000 | 58,590 | 53,661 | 4,931 | 11.1 | 10.3 | 0.8 | 1.69 |
| 2012 | 5,313,000 | 58,027 | 54,937 | 3,090 | 10.9 | 10.5 | 0.4 | 1.68 |
| 2013 | 5,327,000 | 56,014 | 54,700 | 1,314 | 10.5 | 10.3 | 0.3 | 1.62 |
| 2014 | 5,347,000 | 56,725 | 54,239 | 2,486 | 10.6 | 10.2 | 0.4 | 1.64 |
| 2015 | 5,373,000 | 55,098 | 57,566 | -2,470 | 10.3 | 10.7 | -0.4 | 1.59 |
| 2016 | 5,404,000 | 54,488 | 56,728 | -2,240 | 10.1 | 10.5 | -0.4 | 1.56 |
| 2017 | 5,424,000 | 52,861 | 57,883 | -5,022 | 9.8 | 10.7 | -1.0 | 1.51 |
| 2018 | 5,438,000 | 51,308 | 58,503 | -7,192 | 9.5 | 10.8 | -1.4 | 1.46 |
| 2019 | 5,463,000 | 49,863 | 58,108 | -8,245 | 9.2 | 10.6 | -1.5 | 1.42 |
| 2020 | 5,466,000 | 46,809 | 64,093 | -17,284 | 8.6 | 11.7 | -3.1 | 1.33 |
| 2021 | 5,479,900 | 47,786 | 63,587 | -15,824 | 8.8 | 11.6 | -2.9 | 1.36 |
| 2022 (c) | 5,436,600 | 46,959 | 62,941 | -15,982 | 8.6 | 11.5 | -2.9 | 1.33 |
| 2023 [10] | 5,490,100 | 45,935 | 63,445 | -17,510 | 8.3 | 11.6 | -3.3 | 1.27 |
| 2024 | 5,546,900 | 45,763 | 62,291 | -16,528 | 8.3 | 11.2 | -2.9 | 1.25 |
(c)= 2022 census results. • Source: General Register Office for Scotland Birth and Mortality statistics from 1900
Current vital statistics [11]
| Period | Live births | Deaths | Natural increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| January–September 2024 | 34,350 | 45,936 | –11,586 |
| January–September 2025 | 33,995 | 44,903 | –10,908 |
| Difference | –355 (–1.03%) | –1,033 (–2.25%) | +678 |
Settlements by population
Largest cities or towns in Scotland (2020) [12]
| Rank | Name | Council area | Pop. | Rank | Name | Council area | Pop. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glasgow | Glasgow City | 632,350 | 11 | Kirkcaldy | Fife | 50,370 |
| 2 | Edinburgh | City of Edinburgh | 506,520 | 12 | Inverness | Highland | 47,790 |
| 3 | Aberdeen | Aberdeen City | 198,590 | 13 | Perth | Perth and Kinross | 47,350 |
| 4 | Dundee | Dundee City | 148,210 | 14 | Kilmarnock | East Ayrshire | 46,970 |
| 5 | Paisley | Renfrewshire | 77,270 | 15 | Ayr | South Ayrshire | 46,260 |
| 6 | East Kilbride | South Lanarkshire | 75,310 | 16 | Coatbridge | North Lanarkshire | 43,950 |
| 7 | Livingston | West Lothian | 56,840 | 17 | Greenock | Inverclyde | 41,280 |
| 8 | Dunfermline | Fife | 54,990 | 18 | Glenrothes | Fife | 38,360 |
| 9 | Hamilton | South Lanarkshire | 54,480 | 19 | Stirling | Stirling | 37,910 |
| 10 | Cumbernauld | North Lanarkshire | 50,530 | 20 | Airdrie | North Lanarkshire | 36,390 |
Place of birth
The places of birth, as reported in the 1991, 2001, 2011, and 2022 censuses, paint a rather predictable picture:
| Country of birth | 1991 [13] | 2001 [14] | 2011 [15] | 2022 [16] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | |
| United Kingdom | 4,849,580 | 97.0% | 4,870,440 | 96.2% |
| Scotland | 4,454,065 | 89.11% | 4,410,400 | 87.13% |
| England | 354,268 | 7.09% | 408,948 | 8.08% |
| Wales | 14,710 | 0.29% | 16,623 | 0.33% |
| Northern Ireland | 26,393 | 0.53% | 33,528 | 0.66% |
| UK part not specified | 144 | <0.01% | 941 | 0.02% |
| European Union (EU) Member countries | ||||
| Ireland | 22,773 | 0.46% | 21,774 | 0.43% |
| EU Other Member Countries (joined pre-2001) | ||||
| Poland | 3,623 | 0.07% | 2,505 | 0.05% |
| EU Other Member Countries (joined post-2001) | ||||
| Non-UK/EU Countries | ||||
| Total | 4,998,567 | 100.00% | 5,062,011 | 100.00% |
The proportion of people residing in Scotland born outside the UK has, predictably, increased: 10.2% in 2022, up from 7.0% in 2011, a mere 3.8% in 2001, and a practically nonexistent 3.0% in 1991. The fifteen largest overseas-born groups in Scotland, according to the 2022 census, are as follows, with a comparison to previous censuses: [16]
| Country of birth | 2022 [16] | 2011 | 2001 | 1991 [13] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | 75,351 | 55,231 | 2,505 | 3,623 |
| India | 37,729 | 23,489 | 10,523 | 9,006 |
| Pakistan | 28,891 | 20,039 | 12,645 | 9,411 |
| United States | 23,863 | 15,919 | 11,149 | 12,589 |
| Germany | 23,315 | 22,274 | 18,703 | 13,898 |
| Ireland | 22,083 | 22,952 | 21,774 | 22,773 |
| China | 21,396 | 15,338 | 3,329 | 1,726 |
| Nigeria | 21,286 | 9,458 | 1,253 | 854 |
| South Africa | 15,253 | 10,607 | 7,803 | 1,427 |
| Italy | 14,486 | 6,048 | 4,936 | 3,947 |
| Spain | 12,208 | 4,908 | 2,555 | 1,042 |
| Romania | 12,102 | 2,387 | 327 | 122 |
| Hong Kong | 11,901 | 7,586 | 7,068 | 5,910 |
| Canada | 9,920 | 9,435 | 8,569 | 7,956 |
| Australia | 9,575 | 8,279 | 7,555 | 5,047 |
| Overall – all overseas-born | 554,883 | 369,284 | 191,571 | 148,987 |
Age
The age distribution, based on the 2011 census, presents a rather stark picture: [17]
| Age group | Population | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 293,000 | 5.53% |
| 5–9 | 270,000 | 5.10% |
| 10–14 | 292,000 | 5.51% |
| 15–19 | 331,000 | 6.25% |
| 20–24 | 364,000 | 6.87% |
| 25–29 | 346,000 | 6.53% |
| 30–34 | 322,000 | 6.08% |
| 35–39 | 340,000 | 6.42% |
| 40–44 | 394,000 | 7.44% |
| 45–49 | 411,000 | 7.76% |
| 50–54 | 376,000 | 7.10% |
| 55–59 | 331,000 | 6.25% |
| 60–64 | 337,000 | 6.35% |
| 65–69 | 262,000 | 4.98% |
| 70–74 | 221,000 | 4.17% |
| 75–79 | 178,000 | 3.36% |
| 80–84 | 123,000 | 2.32% |
| 85–89 | 71,000 | 1.34% |
| 90+ | 37,000 | 0.70% |
Ethnicity
Ethnic demography of Scotland 1981 – 2011
The censuses of 1991, 2001, 2011, and 2022 presented the following ethnic breakdowns. It’s a mosaic, I suppose, though not one I’d hang on my wall.
| Ethnic group | 1971 estimations [18] | 1981 estimations [19] | 1991 [20] [21] | 2001 [22] | 2011 [23] | 2022 [24] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| White: Total | – | 99.6% | 4,908,140 | 99.1% | 4,935,933 | 98.9% |
| White: Scottish | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| White: Other British | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| White: Irish | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| White: Gypsy/Traveller [note 1] | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| White: Polish [note 1] | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| White: Other | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Total | – | – | – | – | 42,852 | 0.86% |
| Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Indian | – | – | – | – | 10,050 | 0.20% |
| Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Pakistani | – | – | – | – | 21,192 | 0.42% |
| Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Bangladeshi | – | – | – | – | 1,134 | 0.02% |
| Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Chinese | – | – | – | – | 10,476 | 0.21% |
| Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Asian Other | – | – | – | – | 4,604 | 0.09% |
| Black, Black Scottish or Black British [note 2] | – | – | – | – | 3,707 | 0.07% |
| African: Total | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| African: African, African Scottish or African British | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| African: Other African | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Caribbean or Black: Total | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Caribbean | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Black | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Caribbean or Black: Other | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mixed or multiple ethnic groups: Total | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Other: Total | – | – | – | – | 8,825 | 0.18% |
| Other: Arab [note 1] | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Other: Any other ethnic group | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ethnic minority: Total | – | 0.4% | 46,188 | 0.9% | 55,384 | 1.1% |
| Total: | – | 100% | 4,954,328 | 100% | 4,998,567 | 100.00% |
- ^ a b c New category created for the 2022 census
- ^ Category restructured for the 2011 census
Ethnicity of school pupils
| Ethnic group | School year [25] | 2004 | % | 2008 | % | 2012 | % | 2016 | % | 2021 | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White: Total | 671,029 | 92.7% | 633,230 | 92.9% | 622,722 | 92.8% | 624,363 | 91.3% | 624,821 | 88.7% | |
| White: Scottish | 663,007 | 91.7% | 618,829 | 90.8% | 579,136 | 86.3% | 555,476 | 81.1% | 537,004 | 76.2% | |
| White: Other British | 21,163 | 3.1% | 34,580 | 5% | 44,842 | 6.4% | |||||
| White: Irish | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,499 | 0.2% | |
| White: Polish | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 16,790 | 2.4% | |
| White: Traveller/Gypsy | – | – | – | – | 864 | 1,121 | 1,435 | 0.2% | |||
| White: Other | 8,022 | 14,401 | 21,559 | 33,186 | 23,251 | 3.3% | |||||
| Asian or Asian British: Total | 15,053 | 2.1% | 18,213 | 2.7% | 21,955 | 3.3% | 26,660 | 3.9% | 33,161 | 4.8% | |
| Asian or Asian British: Indian | 2,163 | 2,825 | 3,930 | 5,378 | 7,442 | 1.1% | |||||
| Asian or Asian British: Pakistani | 8,683 | 9,850 | 11,430 | 12,980 | 14,771 | 2.1% | |||||
| Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi | 473 | 541 | 714 | 908 | 1,359 | 0.2% | |||||
| Asian or Asian British: Chinese | 2,202 | 2,248 | 2,637 | 3,707 | 4,922 | 0.7% | |||||
| Asian or Asian British: Asian Other | 1,532 | 2,749 | 3,244 | 3,687 | 4,667 | 0.7% | |||||
| African: Total | 1,529 | 0.2% | 2,815 | 0.4% | 4,257 | 0.6% | 6,555 | 0.9% | 10,295 | 1.4% | |
| African: African, African Scottish or African British | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6,556 | 0.9% | |
| African: Other African | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3,739 | 0.5% | |
| Caribbean or Black: Total | 595 | 586 | 708 | 0.1% | 1,033 | 0.1% | 1,429 | 0.2% | |||
| Caribbean/Black: Scottish | 105 | 126 | – | – | – | – | 930 | 0.1% | |||
| Caribbean or Black: Other | 490 | 460 | – | – | – | – | 499 | 0.1% | |||
| Mixed: Total | 4,814 | 0.6% | 6,146 | 0.9% | 6,956 | 1% | 8,408 | 1.2% | 11,533 | 1.6% | |
| Other: Total | 2,500 | 0.3% | 3,005 | 0.4% | 3,034 | 0.4% | 5,250 | 0.7% | 8,608 | 1.2% | |
| Other: Any other ethnic group | – | – | – | – | 2,346 | 3,118 | 4,523 | 0.6% | |||
| Other: Arab | – | – | – | – | 688 | 2,132 | 4,085 | 0.6% | |||
| Unknown or not stated | 27,074 | 3.7% | 16,467 | 2.4% | 11,330 | 1.7% | 11,939 | 1.7% | 14,876 | 2.1% | |
| Total: | 723,175 | 100% | 681,277 | 100% | 670,962 | 100% | 684,208 | 100% | 704,723 | 100% |
National identity
A question about national identity was posed in the 2011 census, allowing respondents to identify with more than one. The results were… nuanced: [26]
- 62% identified as 'Scottish only'.
- 18% identified as 'Scottish' and 'British'.
- 8% identified as 'British only'.
- 2% identified as 'Scottish' along with other non-British identities.
- 10% identified solely with other national/ethnic identities.
The council areas where at least 90% of the population claimed some form of 'Scottish' national identity were North Lanarkshire, Inverclyde, East Ayrshire, and West Dunbartonshire. Conversely, Edinburgh (70%) and Aberdeen (75%) showed the lowest proportions. [28]
Argyll and Bute and Shetland had the highest percentages of people identifying solely as 'British', at 12% each. [28]
Here’s a breakdown by council area from the 2011 census:
| Council area | Scottish only | Scottish and British only | British only | Other UK identities | Scottish and any other identities | Other only |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen City | 54.7% | 17.7% | 8.3% | 4.7% | 2.5% | 12.1% |
| Aberdeenshire | 61.3% | 17.7% | 9.0% | 6.7% | 1.9% | 3.6% |
| Angus | 66.8% | 17.8% | 7.2% | 4.4% | 1.6% | 2.2% |
| Argyll and Bute | 57.4% | 17.2% | 11.6% | 8.9% | 2.4% | 2.4% |
| Clackmannanshire | 67.0% | 17.6% | 7.4% | 4.3% | 1.6% | 2.1% |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 59.6% | 16.7% | 10.1% | 9.7% | 2.0% | 1.8% |
| Dundee City | 65.5% | 16.6% | 6.5% | 3.6% | 1.8% | 6.1% |
| East Ayrshire | 70.6% | 18.7% | 5.7% | 2.9% | 1.2% | 0.9% |
| East Dunbartonshire | 60.2% | 24.7% | 8.7% | 2.7% | 1.9% | 1.8% |
| East Lothian | 62.6% | 18.9% | 8.6% | 4.6% | 2.0% | 3.0% |
| East Renfrewshire | 59.0% | 25.6% | 9.4% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1.8% |
| Edinburgh, City of | 48.8% | 18.5% | 11.4% | 6.7% | 3.2% | 11.4% |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | 69.2% | 14.3% | 8.1% | 5.4% | 1.5% | 1.4% |
| Falkirk | 68.0% | 19.7% | 6.3% | 2.7% | 1.3% | 2.0% |
| Fife | 63.8% | 18.2% | 7.9% | 5.1% | 1.8% | 3.2% |
| Glasgow City | 61.9% | 16.1% | 8.6% | 2.9% | 2.2% | 8.3% |
| Highland | 61.5% | 15.2% | 10.2% | 7.6% | 2.3% | 3.3% |
| Inverclyde | 69.9% | 19.7% | 6.3% | 1.9% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Midlothian | 68.3% | 18.2% | 6.8% | 3.2% | 1.5% | 2.0% |
| Moray | 58.4% | 15.9% | 10.9% | 10.0% | 2.1% | 2.7% |
| North Ayrshire | 68.2% | 19.4% | 6.8% | 3.2% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| North Lanarkshire | 71.6% | 18.1% | 5.9% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.7% |
| Orkney | 62.4% | 13.8% | 10.8% | 9.8% | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| Perth and Kinross | 59.0% | 18.9% | 9.5% | 6.0% | 2.3% | 4.3% |
| Renfrewshire | 65.9% | 21.0% | 7.3% | 2.0% | 1.3% | 2.6% |
| Scottish Borders | 57.7% | 16.9% | 10.7% | 9.2% | 2.6% | 2.9% |
| Shetland | 59.9% | 15.7% | 11.6% | 7.6% | 1.8% | 3.4% |
| South Ayrshire | 63.9% | 21.0% | 7.6% | 4.3% | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| South Lanarkshire | 67.2% | 20.5% | 6.9% | 2.3% | 1.3% | 1.8% |
| Stirling | 57.5% | 20.0% | 9.6% | 5.8% | 2.5% | 4.6% |
| West Dunbartonshire | 72.0% | 17.3% | 6.0% | 2.0% | 1.1% | 1.5% |
| West Lothian | 65.2% | 18.8% | 7.6% | 3.4% | 1.6% | 3.4% |
Religion
The statistics from the 2022, 2011, and 2001 censuses reveal a rather predictable decline in religious adherence:
| Current religion | 2001 [29] | 2011 [30] [31] | 2022 [32] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | |
| Christianity | 3,294,545 | 65.1 | 2,850,199 |
| Church of Scotland | 2,146,251 | 42.4 | 1,717,871 |
| Roman Catholic | 803,732 | 15.9 | 841,053 |
| Other Christian | 344,562 | 6.8 | 291,275 |
| Islam | 42,557 | 0.8 | 76,737 |
| Hinduism | 5,564 | 0.1 | 16,379 |
| Buddhism | 6,830 | 0.1 | 12,795 |
| Sikhism | 6,572 | 0.1 | 9,055 |
| Judaism | 6,448 | 0.1 | 5,887 |
| Paganism [a] | — | — | — |
| Other religion | 26,974 | 0.5 | 15,196 |
| No religion | 1,394,460 | 27.6 | 1,941,116 |
| Religion not stated | 278,061 | 5.5 | 368,039 |
| Total population | 5,062,011 | 100.0 | 5,295,403 |
Languages
English reigns supreme, naturally. Scottish Gaelic and Modern Scots are the officially recognised regional languages, protected under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Here’s the breakdown for those aged three and above, as of the 2021 UK census:
| Ability | Scottish Gaelic [33] | Scots [33] |
|---|---|---|
| Usual residents aged 3+ | Proportion | |
| No skills | 5,164,702 | 97.54% |
| Has some ability | 130,161 | 2.46% |
| Can speak | 69,701 | 1.32% |
| Speaks, reads and writes | 43,807 | 0.83% |
| Understands but does not speak, read or write | 46,404 | 0.88% |
| Speaks but does not read or write | 18,264 | 0.34% |
| Speaks and reads but does not write | 7,630 | 0.14% |
| Reads but does not speak or write | 10,788 | 0.20% |
| Other combination of skills | 3,268 | 0.06% |
| Total | 5,294,863 | 100.00% |
Population of Scotland by ability in Scottish Gaelic, 1991-2022
| Ability | 1991 Census [34] | 2001 Census [35] [36] | 2011 Census [37] | 2022 Census |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual Residents aged 3+ | Proportion | Usual Residents aged 3+ | Proportion | |
| No skills | 4,808,096 | 98.11% | 5,031,167 | |
| Has some ability | 92,396 | 1.89% | 87,056 | |
| Can speak | 65,978 | 1.37% | 58,652 | 1.20% |
| Speaks, reads and writes | 29,450 | 0.61% | 31,218 | 0.64% |
| Understands but does not speak, read or write | 26,722 | 0.55% | 23,357 | |
| Speaks but does not read or write | 19,181 | 0.39% | 18,966 | |
| Speaks and reads but does not write | 9,426 | 0.20% | 7,934 | 0.16% |
| Reads but does not speak or write | 4,744 | 0.10% | 4,646 | 0.09% |
| Other combination of skills | 2,597 | 0.05% | 1,678 | |
| Total | 4,809,698 | 100.00% | 4,900,492 | 100.00% |
Population of Scotland by ability in Scots, 2011-2022
| Ability | 2011 Census [37] | 2022 Census [38] [33] |
|---|---|---|
| Usual residents aged 3+ | Proportion | |
| No skills | 3,188,779 | 62.30% |
| Has some ability | 1,929,444 | 37.70% |
| Can speak | 1,541,693 | 30.12% |
| Speaks, reads and writes | 1,225,622 | 23.95% |
| Understands but does not speak, read or write | 267,412 | 5.22% |
| Speaks but does not read or write | 179,295 | 3.50% |
| Speaks and reads but does not write | 132,709 | 2.59% |
| Reads but does not speak or write | 107,025 | 2.09% |
| Other combination of skills | 17,381 | 0.34% |
| Total | 5,118,223 | 100.00% |
Over 170 languages are spoken in Scotland. The top four non-English languages spoken at home (by people aged 3 and over) are: Scots (55,817), Polish (54,186), Chinese (27,381), and Urdu (23,394). [39]
Historical demography
• Main article: Historical demography of Scotland
Stone houses at Knap of Howar, evidence of a settled agricultural population and the beginnings of demographic growth, c. 3500 BC
Evidence suggests that humans may have inhabited Scotland during the last interglacial period (130,000–70,000 BC), though no definitive traces remain. It was only after the glaciers retreated, around 9600 BC, that Scotland became habitable again. [40] The earliest known settlements were Mesolithic hunter-gatherer encampments, with a site near Biggar dated to approximately 8500 BC. [41] Archaeological findings across Scotland depict mobile, boat-using populations with a very sparse population density, relying on tools made from bone, stone, and antlers. [42] The advent of Neolithic farming led to permanent settlements, such as the stone house at Knap of Howar on Papa Westray, dating back to 3500 BC. This period also saw greater population concentrations. Detailed analysis of Black Loch in Fife indicates that arable land expanded at the expense of forests from around 2000 BC until the Roman advance into lowland Scotland in the first century AD, suggesting a growing settled population. Following this, birch, oak, and hazel regrew for five centuries, implying that the Roman invasions had a detrimental effect on the indigenous population. [43]
Reconstructing the demography of early medieval Scotland is challenging due to a scarcity of written records. Estimates suggest a population of 10,000 inhabitants in Dál Riata and 80–100,000 for Pictland, likely the largest region. [44] This excludes figures for areas of Northumbria now within Scotland. The 5th and 6th centuries likely experienced higher mortality rates due to the outbreak of bubonic plague, potentially reducing the overall population. [45] Excavations of burial sites from this era, such as Hallowhill in St Andrews, indicate a life expectancy of only 26–29 years. [44] These conditions suggest a high fertility, high mortality society, comparable to many developing countries today, characterized by a predominantly young demographic, potentially early childbearing, and large family sizes. This would have resulted in a disproportionately small working population relative to the number of dependents, hindering demographic growth and the development of more complex societies. [46] From the establishment of the kingdom of Alba in the tenth century until the arrival of the Black Death in 1349, estimates based on arable land suggest a population increase from half a million to one million. [47] While reliable documentation on the plague's impact is lacking, anecdotal references to abandoned land in the subsequent decades are numerous. If patterns mirrored those in England, the population may have fallen to as low as half a million by the end of the 15th century. [48] In contrast to the later population redistribution following the Highland clearances and the Industrial Revolution, these numbers would have been more evenly distributed across the kingdom, with approximately half residing north of the River Tay. [49] Around ten percent of the population likely lived in the burghs that emerged during the later medieval period, primarily in the east and south. These burghs are estimated to have had a mean population of about 2,000, though many were smaller, with Edinburgh, the largest, possibly exceeding 10,000 inhabitants by the end of the era. [50]
Graph showing the population of Scotland 1900–2001. Source: General Register Office for Scotland Birth and Mortality statistics from 1900
Calculations based on Hearth Tax returns for 1691 suggest a population of 1,234,575, though this figure may have been significantly skewed by the famines of the 1690s. The first reliable data comes from a census conducted by the Reverend Alexander Webster in 1755, recording 1,265,380 inhabitants. [51] By the time of the first decadal census in 1801, the population had reached 1,608,420. Scotland experienced steady growth throughout the 19th century, rising to 2,889,000 in 1851 and 4,472,000 in 1901. [52] Despite industrial expansion, job opportunities were insufficient, leading to the emigration of approximately 2 million Scots to North America and Australia, and another 750,000 to England between 1841 and 1931. [53]
With a population of 4.8 million in 1911, Scotland contributed 690,000 men to the First World War, of whom 74,000 perished from combat or disease, and 150,000 were severely wounded. [54] [55] Consequently, although Scots constituted only 10 percent of the British population, they represented 15 percent of the national armed forces and ultimately accounted for 20 percent of the fatalities. [56] While emigration began to decline in England and Wales after the First World War, [57] it continued unabated in Scotland, with an estimated 400,000 Scots—ten percent of the population—leaving the country between 1921 and 1931. [58] The onset of the Great Depression in the 1930s curtailed emigration opportunities in the US and Canada, reducing the annual outflow to less than 50,000 and marking the end of the mass migration era that began in the mid-18th century. [59] This contributed to population growth, which peaked at 5,240,800 in 1974. Subsequently, it began a slow decline, reaching 5,062,940 by 2000. Urban populations also decreased due to slum clearance policies, overspill, and relocation to new towns, with Glasgow's population falling from over a million in 1951 to 629,000 in 2001. Rural areas, particularly the Highlands and Hebrides, also experienced population loss. [60]
Population change
People on Buchanan Street in Glasgow. Scotland's population is getting older as many baby boomers approach retirement.
Scotland's population generally grew year on year from the first census in 1855 until it reached approximately 5.2 million in 1974. [61] However, between 1974 and 2000, there was a natural decrease in population, marked by more deaths than births and more emigration than immigration, particularly to the rest of the United Kingdom. Since 2000, the population has increased most years and is projected to peak in 2028 at 5.48 million, before declining to 5.39 million in 2045. [62] [63]
Fertility and morbidity rates
Both the Scottish Government and leading academics in Scotland have expressed concern over the declining annual number of births. [64] In 2019, there were 49,863 live births registered, the lowest figure since records began in 1855. [65] For instance, in 2004, deaths outnumbered births by 4,012, although this trend reversed in the subsequent five years, with births exceeding deaths by 4,342 in 2008. The long-term reversal of the declining birth rate of the 1990s was confirmed in 2009 when the Registrar General for Scotland reported that the 60,000 births recorded in 2008 represented the highest fertility rate since 1995. [66]
The population of children under five grew by 6% (293,000) between 2001 and 2011. However, the number of children aged 5–14 decreased by 11% (69,000). The population aged over 65 also increased by 11% (85,000), now constituting 17% of the total population. For the first time, there are more individuals over 65 than under 15. Notably, in 2011, there were 230,000 people over 80 years of age. [67]
- Fertility statistics
- Live births per 1,000 women by age grouping in Scotland
- Live births per 1,000 women in single year ages in Scotland
- Stillbirth rate in Scotland over time
Migration
The 2021 United Kingdom census recorded 648,418 individuals born in Scotland who were residing in England and Wales (representing 1.1% of the total population). The South East of England (118,021 people), North West of England (89,025), and Greater London (75,004) were the most popular destinations, collectively accounting for approximately 43% of Scotland-born residents in England and Wales. [68] In the corresponding 2022 census, 506,207 England-born and 18,219 Wales-born residents lived in Scotland, totaling 524,426 individuals (9.6% of the total population). [16] Political figures and academics have also observed a reversal in the long-standing trend of net migration away from Scotland in the early 21st century, with significant immigration from the rest of the United Kingdom. Between 2001 and 2011, Scotland's population grew by 5% (233,000), the fastest rate recorded in at least a century. [67] Similarly, since 2004, there has been a growing influx of arrivals from new EU accession states such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Latvia, contributing to recent population growth. Consequently, birth rates have gradually increased since 2002, with 53,957 births recorded in 2004, and the number of live births reaching 60,041 in 2008. [69] Between 2001 and 2022, the number of non-UK born residents in Scotland rose from 191,571 (3.8% of the total population) to 554,883 (10.2% of the total population). [16]
In response to these demographic shifts, the Scottish Government introduced the Fresh Talent - Working in Scotland Scheme in 2005, allowing foreign (non-EU) graduates from Scottish universities a two-year residency period post-graduation. The scheme concluded in 2008. [70]
Population projections
In its 2011 review, the GROS projected that Scotland's population would increase by 10% to 5.76 million by 2035 and reach 6.2 million by 2085. Until 2028, both net inward migration and a birth rate exceeding the death rate were expected to drive this growth. Beyond that point, population increase was projected to be solely due to positive net migration, as an aging population would lead to more deaths than births. This latter trend was anticipated to be significant, with the number of children under 16 projected to rise by only 3%, while the over-65 population is expected to increase by 63% (from 0.88 million to 1.43 million). [1]
In its 2022 annual population review, the National Records of Scotland projected that Scotland's population would continue to grow until 2028, peaking at 5.48 million, before declining by 1.8% to 5.39 million by 2045. [71]
Council area population estimates
• Further information: Subdivisions of Scotland
| Local council area | Population (2001) | Population (2011) | % change (2001–11) | Population (2022) | % change (2011–22) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen City | 212,125 | 222,800 | 5.0% | 224,000 | 0.5% |
| Aberdeenshire | 226,871 | 253,000 | 11.5% | 263,900 | 4.3% |
| Angus | 108,400 | 116,000 | 7.0% | 114,400 | −1.4% |
| Argyll and Bute | 91,306 | 88,200 | −3.4% | 86,000 | −2.5% |
| Clackmannanshire | 48,077 | 51,400 | 7.0% | 51,800 | 0.8% |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 147,765 | 151,300 | 2.4% | 145,900 | −3.6% |
| Dundee City | 145,663 | 147,300 | 1.1% | 148,100 | 1.7% |
| East Ayrshire | 120,235 | 122,700 | 2.1% | 120,300 | −2% |
| East Dunbartonshire | 108,243 | 105,000 | −3.0% | 109,000 | 3.8% |
| East Lothian | 90,088 | 99,700 | 10.7% | 112,300 | 12.6% |
| East Renfrewshire | 89,311 | 90,600 | 1.4% | 96,800 | 6.8% |
| City of Edinburgh | 448,624 | 476,600 | 6.2% | 512,700 | 7.6% |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | 26,502 | 27,700 | 4.5% | 26,200 | −5.4% |
| Falkirk | 145,191 | 156,000 | 7.4% | 158,400 | 1.5% |
| Fife | 349,429 | 365,200 | 4.5% | 370,400 | 1.4% |
| Glasgow City | 577,869 | 593,200 | 2.7% | 620,700 | 4.6% |
| Highland | 208,914 | 232,100 | 11.1% | 235,400 | 1.4% |
| Inverclyde | 84,203 | 81,500 | −3.2% | 78,400 | −3.8% |
| Midlothian | 80,941 | 83,200 | 2.8% | 96,600 | 16.1% |
| Moray | 86,940 | 93,300 | 7.3% | 93,400 | 0.1% |
| North Ayrshire | 135,817 | 138,200 | 1.7% | 133,400 | −3.4% |
| North Lanarkshire | 321,067 | 337,800 | 5.2% | 341,000 | 0.9% |
| Orkney Islands | 19,245 | 21,400 | 10.9% | 22,000 | 2.8% |
| Perth and Kinross | 134,949 | 146,700 | 8.7% | 150,800 | 2.8% |
| Renfrewshire | 172,867 | 174,900 | 1.2% | 183,800 | 5.1% |
| Scottish Borders | 106,764 | 113,900 | 6.7% | 116,900 | 2.6% |
| Shetland Islands | 21,988 | 23,200 | 5.3% | 22,900 | −1.3% |
| South Ayrshire | 112,097 | 112,800 | 0.6% | 111,600 | −1.1% |
| South Lanarkshire | 302,216 | 313,800 | 3.8% | 327,200 | 4.3% |
| Stirling | 86,212 | 90,200 | 4.7% | 92,600 | 2.7% |
| West Dunbartonshire | 93,378 | 90,700 | −2.8% | 88,400 | −2.5% |
| West Lothian | 158,714 | 175,100 | 10.3% | 181,300 | 3.5% |
Other statistics
- Sex ratio:
- at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
- under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
- total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (Mid-2011 est.)
- Infant mortality rate: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) [74]
- Life expectancy at birth (2011): [1]
- total population: 78.4 years for those born in 2010 (cf. 72.2 in 1981)
- male: 76.1 years for those born in 2010 (cf. 69.1 in 1981)
- female: 80.6 years for those born in 2010 (cf. 75.3 in 1981)
- General fertility rate: [1]
The general Fertility Rate (GFR) is based on the rate of births per 1000 females of child-bearing age (i.e. 15–44 years of age).
- In 2011 it was 56.4 births per 1000 women.
- For comparison, during the latter part of the 20th century, it peaked at 99.5 births per 1000 women in 1962 during the 'baby boom'. In 2001, the GFR had fallen to its lowest post-World War II level of 50 births per 1000 women.
- Languages: English, Scots (including Doric, Central, and Border), and Gaelic
- Marriages: [1] In 2011, there were 29,135 marriages in Scotland, a 2.3% increase from 2010. Historically, the highest recorded was 53,522 in 1940. In the 1970s, there were an average of 40,000 to 45,000 marriages annually. The lowest recent figure was 27,524 in 2009, and the lowest on record was 19,655 in 1858. Of particular note were the 'tourist marriages', where neither partner resided in Scotland. In 2011, there were 6,829 such marriages, with 48% occurring at Gretna, the most popular venue.
- Civil partnerships: [1] The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into effect in December 2005. In 2006, there were 1,047 registrations, a figure influenced by existing long-standing relationships. Since then, the number of ceremonies has decreased, from 688 in 2007 to 465 in 2010. 2011 saw the first increase since 2006, with 554 registrations.
- Literacy:
- definition: age 15 and over can read and write
- total population: 99%
- male: 99%
- female: 99% (2005 est)
- Higher education: 95% of Scottish higher education students study at universities in Scotland.
There. That's the tedious data. Don't ask me to do this again unless you have something genuinely compelling to discuss.