National and subnational mid-year population estimates for the UK and its constituent countries by administrative area, age and sex (including components of population change, median age and population density).

In 2024, 30.7 percent of Higher level exam entries in Scotland were awarded an A grade, compared with 23.3 percent being awarded a B grade, and 21.1 percent a C grade. Although 2021 had the highest share of A grades being awarded, the conditions in which the 2020 and 2021 exams were assessed were significantly different from previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Population estimates are based on the 2022 Census and were updated by taking account of births, deaths and migration up to30 June 2024.A quality assurance report for Scotland’s Census 2022 has been published in the Scotland’s Census website. Births and deaths are estimated using data from the civil registration system, which is considered to be virtually complete. Migration is more difficult to estimate because there is no comprehensive registration system in the UK, so the figures are estimated using the sources of data described. The estimated population of an area includes all those usually resident there, whatever their nationality. Students are treatedas being resident at their term-time address. Members of UK and non-UK armed forces stationed in Scotland are included inthe estimated population. UK forces stationed outside Scotland are excluded. Short-term international migrants are excluded.Population estimates for Scotland are comparable with population estimates from the rest of the UK and most countries around the world.

In 2024, the pass rate for the higher level qualification in Scotland was 75.1 percent, compared with 77.4 percent in the previous year. The conditions in which the 2020 and 2021 exams were assessed were significantly different from previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The dataset within this group contains the National Records of Scotland (NRS) mid-year population density estimates for the Perth and Kinross Council area for the years 2000 to 2020.

This dataset contains the National Records of Scotland mid-year population density estimates for the Stirling Council area from 2000 onwards.

In 2024, 38.1 percent of National 5 entries in Scotland were awarded an A grade, compared with 21.7 percent being awarded a B grade, and 17.5 percent a C grade. Although 2021had the highest share of A grades being awarded, the conditions in which the 2020 and 2021 exams were assessed were significantly different from previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This dataset contains gridded human population with a spatial resolution of 1 km x 1 km for the UK based on Census 2021 (Census 2022 for Scotland) and Land Cover Map 2021 input data. Data on population distribution for the United Kingdom is available from statistical offices in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland and provided to the public e.g. via the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Population data is typically provided in tabular form or, based on a range of different geographical units, in file types for geographical information systems (GIS), for instance as ESRI Shapefiles. The geographical units reflect administrative boundaries at different levels of detail, from Devolved Administration to Output Areas (OA), wards or intermediate geographies. While the presentation of data on the level of these geographical units is useful for statistical purposes, accounting for spatial variability for instance of environmental determinants of public health requires a more spatially homogeneous population distribution. For this purpose, the dataset presented here combines 2021/2022 UK Census population data on Output Area level with Land Cover Map 2021 land-use classes 'urban' and 'suburban' to create a consistent and comprehensive gridded population data product at 1 km x 1 km spatial resolution. The mapping product is based on British National Grid (OSGB36 datum).

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify usual residents in England and Wales by population density (number of usual residents per square kilometre). The estimates are as at Census Day, 21 March 2021.

Area type

Census 2021 statistics are published for a number of different geographies. These can be large, for example the whole of England, or small, for example an output area (OA), the lowest level of geography for which statistics are produced.

For higher levels of geography, more detailed statistics can be produced. When a lower level of geography is used, such as output areas (which have a minimum of 100 persons), the statistics produced have less detail. This is to protect the confidentiality of people and ensure that individuals or their characteristics cannot be identified.

Lower Tier Local Authorities

Lower tier local authorities provide a range of local services. In England there are 309 lower tier local authorities. These are made up of non-metropolitan districts (181), unitary authorities (59), metropolitan districts (36) and London boroughs (33, including City of London). In Wales there are 22 local authorities made up of 22 unitary authorities. Of these local authority types, only non-metropolitan districts are not additionally classified as upper tier local authorities.

As of 2023, the population density in London was by far the highest number of people per square km in the UK, at *****. Of the other regions and countries which constitute the United Kingdom, North West England was the next most densely populated area at *** people per square kilometer. Scotland, by contrast, is the most sparsely populated country or region in the United Kingdom, with only ** people per square kilometer. Countries, regions, and cities According to the official mid-year population estimate, the population of the United Kingdom was just almost **** million in 2022. Most of the population lived in England, where an estimated **** million people resided, followed by Scotland at **** million, Wales at **** million and finally Northern Ireland at just over *** million. Within England, the South East was the region with the highest population at almost **** million, followed by the London region at around *** million. In terms of urban areas, Greater London is the largest city in the United Kingdom, followed by Greater Manchester and Birmingham in the North West and West Midlands regions of England. London calling London's huge size in relation to other UK cities is also reflected by its economic performance. In 2021, London's GDP was approximately *** billion British pounds, almost a quarter of UK GDP overall. In terms of GDP per capita, Londoners had a GDP per head of ****** pounds, compared with an average of ****** for the country as a whole. Productivity, expressed as by output per hour worked, was also far higher in London than the rest of the country. In 2021, London was around **** percent more productive than the rest of the country, with South East England the only other region where productivity was higher than the national average.

In 2024 the pass rate (a grade between A and C) for Scotland's National 5 qualification was 77.7 percent, compared with 78.8 percent in 2023. The conditions in which the 2020 and 2021 exams were assessed were significantly different from previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This dataset portrays the boundaries of 'Settlements' in Scotland as at 2001 Census. There is widespread interest in statistics for the built-up areas in Scotland as most of the population lives in a built-up environment. When the former two-tier local government structure of regions and districts came into being in May 1975, the small local authorities known as large and small burghs were lost. However, Census users stated that there was a need to know the population (and characteristics) of built-up areas. There are 2 datasets which are designed to show the boundaries of 'urban areas' in Scotland: 'Localities' and 'Settlements'. While 'Settlements' can go a long way in defining the towns and cities in Scotland, some are very extensive and have grouped together some very large populations. For example the settlement of 'Greater Glasgow' has a large population but no breakdown was given of the settlement into any constituent towns or cities such as Airdrie or Paisley. Accordingly, since 2001, the larger 'Settlements' have been divided into 'Localities' using as a basis the areas so designated in the 1991 Census report 'Key statistics for 'localities' in Scotland (ISBN 0-11-495736-3)'. For the 2001 Census, NRS had developed a new process to identify 'Settlements' which were defined as: 'A collection of contiguous high population density postcodes whose total population was 500 or more, bounded by low density postcodes (or water).'

These statistics provide population estimates for the settlements and localities of Scotland as at mid-2020. Settlements and localities are groups of adjacent, high-density postcodes whose combined population rounds to 500 people or more

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates for the number of usual residents in Northern Ireland. The dataset also shows the population density, as well as the size of the geographical area. The estimates and area boundaries are as at census day, 21 March 2021.

The census collected information on the usually resident population of Northern Ireland on census day (21 March 2021). Initial contact letters or questionnaire packs were delivered to every household and communal establishment, and residents were asked to complete online or return the questionnaire with information as correct on census day. Special arrangements were made to enumerate special groups such as students, members of the Travellers Community, HM Forces personnel etc. The Census Coverage Survey (an independent doorstep survey) followed between 12 May and 29 June 2021 and was used to adjust the census counts for under-enumeration.

To find out how Data Zones and Super Data Zones have been developed, and how other Northern Ireland geographies can be approximated, please read the notes here

The quality assurance report can be found here

This dataset portrays the boundaries of ‘Settlements’ in Scotland as at 2001 Census.

There is widespread interest in statistics for the built-up areas in Scotland as most of the population lives in a built-up environment. When the former two-tier local government structure of regions and districts came into being in May 1975, the small local authorities known as large and small burghs were lost. However, Census users stated that there was a need to know the population (and characteristics) of built-up areas.

There are 2 datasets which are designed to show the boundaries of ‘urban areas’ in Scotland: ‘Localities’ and ‘Settlements’. While “Settlements’ can go a long way in defining the towns and cities in Scotland, some are very extensive and have grouped together some very large populations. For example the settlement of ‘Greater Glasgow’ has a large population but no breakdown was given of the settlement into any constituent towns or cities such as Airdrie or Paisley. Accordingly, since 2001, the larger ‘Settlements’ have been divided into ‘Localities’ using as a basis the areas so designated in the 1991 Census report ‘Key statistics for ‘localities’ in Scotland (ISBN 0-11-495736-3)’.

For the 2001 Census, NRS had developed a new process to identify ‘Settlements’ which were defined as:

‘A collection of contiguous high population density postcodes whose total population was 500 or more, bounded by low density postcodes (or water).’

In 2023, there were approximately 631,970 people living in Glasgow, with a further 523,250 people living in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, the first and second most-populated Scottish council areas respectively. The region of Fife is also heavily populated, with approximately 373,210 people living there. The least populated areas are the islands of Scotland such as Orkney, estimated to have only 22,000 people there.

This dataset portrays the boundaries of 'Localities' in Scotland as at the 2001 Census.. There is widespread interest in statistics for the built-up areas in Scotland as most of the population lives in a built-up environment. When the former two-tier local government structure of regions and districts came into being in May 1975, the small local authorities known as large and small burghs were lost. However, Census users stated that there was a need to know the population (and characteristics) of built-up areas. For the 2001 Census the method used to identify Localities was very similar to that used in 1991 in that it was based on identifying groups of high density postcodes.

This dataset portrays the boundaries of ‘Settlements’ in Scotland. There is widespread interest in statistics for the built-up areas in Scotland as most of the population lives in a built-up environment. When the former two-tier local government structure of regions and districts came into being in May 1975, the small local authorities known as large and small burghs were lost. However, Census users stated that there was a need to know the population (and characteristics) of built-up areas. There are 2 datasets which are designed to show the boundaries of ‘urban areas’ in Scotland: ‘Localities’ and ‘Settlements’. While “Settlements’ can go a long way in defining the towns and cities in Scotland, some are very extensive and have grouped together some very large populations. For example the settlement of ‘Greater Glasgow’ has a large population but no breakdown was given of the settlement into any constituent towns or cities such as Airdrie or Paisley. Accordingly, since 2001, the larger ‘Settlements’ have been divided into ‘Localities’ using as a basis the areas so designated in the 1991 Census report ‘Key statistics for ‘localities’ in Scotland (ISBN 0-11-495736-3)’. For the 2001 Census, NRS had developed a new process to identify ‘Settlements’ which were defined as: ‘A collection of contiguous high population density postcodes whose total population was 500 or more, bounded by low density postcodes (or water).’ After 2001, Geography Branch NRS, created a Settlement boundary dataset for the years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010. The current dataset, created in 2010, will be superseded by 2012 Settlements which will be created from the 2012 small area population estimates which in turn are based on the 2011 Census data.

This dataset is published as Open Data.2022 Census Settlement:The 2022 Census Settlement boundaries have been created using the Census 2022 frozen Postcode boundaries.National Records of Scotland (NRS) create Settlement boundaries by categorising Postcodes as either high or low density. A Postcode was defined as high density if at least one of the following applied:It had more than 2.1 households per hectare.It had more than 0.1 non-residential addresses per hectare; orThe Census population per hectare exceeds five people.The threshold densities were set as they were found to give a good approximation to the built-up areas identified in previous Censuses using traditional methods. The second condition was included such that non-residential parts (e.g. industrial estates) of built-up areas could be identified and included.An additional rule was implemented from the 2016 (non-Census) version, which stated that any Postcodes which fell within the previous version Settlement boundary(based on centroid point in polygon assignment) would automatically be included in the new Settlement.The classified Postcodes were then grouped into areas of neighbouring high-density Postcodes, or ‘Settlements’. Areas of low-density Postcodes completely surrounded by the high-density areas (i.e. ‘holes’) were incorporated into the Settlement.Populations for each area were then calculated, and any settlement with fewer than 500 residents was discarded.2022 Census Settlement and Locality CentroidsEach population weighted centroid was calculated using a median centroid algorithm, the result of which is less influenced by outliers than the result of an algorithm to calculate the mean centroid. The process for creating Census 2022 Settlements centroids was automated usingESRI ArcGIS, but the general method is as follows. The median easting and northing coordinate pair for all Census 2022 frozenPostcodes within the Settlement is calculated, giving a notional centroid of the Settlement. The distance from each of the Postcode centroids to the notional (or median) centroid is calculated using Pythagoras' Theorem. The Postcode coordinate pair with the shortest distance to the median was then chosen to represent the centroid of the Settlement/Locality.

Following the re-organisation of local government in May 1975, smaller local authorities, known as large and small burghs, ceased to exist. There was, however, an ongoing need expressed by census users to know the population (and the characteristics of the population) of such areas.

The National Records of Scotland (NRS), produces 2 datasets biennially which are designed to show the boundaries of urban areas in Scotland: these datasets are Settlements and Localities.

While settlements can go a long way in defining the towns and cities in Scotland, some are very extensive and group together some very large populations.

As an example, the settlement of ‘Greater Glasgow’ has a large population which covers several towns and cities including Clydebank and Paisley as well as Glasgow. Accordingly, since 2001, the larger settlements have been divided into localities.

By the time of the Census in 1991, NRS had digitised the boundaries of postcodes, which made calculation of population densities possible within postcodes.

The method used to identify localities in 1991 was a three stage process: 1. Postcodes were classified as urban or rural. 2. Groups of adjoining urban postcodes were identified. 3. Local authorities were asked to suggest any changes needed to refine the above.

For the 2001 Census, National Records of Scotland (NRS) had developed a new process to identify settlements in Scotland and the definition of a settlement was defined as:

‘A collection of contiguous high density postcodes bounded by low density postcodes whose population was 500 or more.’

A high density postcode had previously been referred to as an urban postcode but with a slightly different definition. Localities were then determined by first creating settlements and then assigning a locality value to each of the postcodes in the settlement based on whether they fell within a previous locality.

Since 2003, a postcode has been defined high density if at least one of the following applied: • It had more than 2.1 residential addresses per hectare; • It had more than 0.1 non-residential addresses per hectare; or • The estimate of the population per hectare exceeds five people.

NRS has created both settlement and locality boundary datasets for 2012.

For the 2012 datasets, Councils were consulted for their views on the proposed settlement and locality boundaries. Some, but not all, responded and their suggestions were taken into account, where possible, in the formation of the final datasets.

The current datasets, dated 2012, are based on the mid-2012 small area population estimates published in December 2013 which were themselves based on results from the 2011 Census. The previous mid-2010 settlements and localities estimates were created using the mid-2010 small area population estimates which were based on population estimates rolled-forward from the 2001 Census.