The ABPE (5,440,486 people) was 0.7% higher than the MYE (5,404,700 people). At single year of age level, ABPE was generally higher than MYE for people aged: 6–14 and 28–64 and generally lower for people aged: 1–5, 15–27 and 65+. The ABPE ranged from 3.8% higher to 4.8% lower at council area level, with half of the council areas being within 1.2 per cent of MYE. The results of this statistical research are encouraging. Future work will now focus on improving the quality of estimates across all age groups and at sub-national geographic aggregations.

The ABPE for Scotland are higher than the published MYE for 2016 and 2018, and very similar to the MYE for 2017. For all three years, the ABPE has more males than the MYE. In 2016 and 2018 the differences between the ABPE and MYE are larger for males than for females. Different age ranges show different patterns, although these patterns are roughly consistent over the three years: For young adults (aged around 18–25) the ABPE are generally higher than the MYE for females, and lower for males For those aged 30–65 there is little difference between the ABPE and MYE for females, but for males the ABPE is notably higher For those aged 67+ the ABPE for females and males are both lower than the MYE For young adults (aged around 18–25) the ABPE are generally higher than the MYE for females, and lower for males For those aged 30–65 there is little difference between the ABPE and MYE for females, but for males the ABPE is notably higher For those aged 67+ the ABPE for females and males are both lower than the MYE The ABPE is generally higher than the MYE in the most-deprived areas, and lower in the least-deprived areas. There is a higher difference between ABPE and MYE for males in the most-deprived areas. This is consistent throughout council areas, and in each of the three years. Males in the age range of 30–59 show the largest percentage differences. The ABPE is generally higher than the MYE in urban areas, and lower in rural areas.

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).

United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Female: Aged 15 to 24 data was reported at 319.238 Person th in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 328.325 Person th for 2016. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Female: Aged 15 to 24 data is updated yearly, averaging 344.000 Person th from Jun 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 433.000 Person th in 1984 and a record low of 312.000 Person th in 1999. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Female: Aged 15 to 24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.G003: Population: Scotland.

In 2023, the population of Scotland was approximately 5.49 million, compared with 2000 when the population was just over five million. Between 1974 and 2000, the population of Scotland fell by 172,600, before growing at a relatively fast rate after 2000, and surpassing the 1974 population by 2010.

Population projections for Scotland and Scottish Areas, based on 2016 population estimates. Please see the Population Projections (2018-based) dataset for the most up-to-date projections.

United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: Aged 16 to 64 data was reported at 1,718.187 Person th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,714.751 Person th for 2016. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: Aged 16 to 64 data is updated yearly, averaging 1,621.000 Person th from Jun 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,718.187 Person th in 2017 and a record low of 1,530.000 Person th in 1972. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: Aged 16 to 64 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.G003: Population: Scotland.

Estimate, Median Age by Sex, Total Population (5-year estimate) in Scotland County, NC was 38.30000 Years of Age in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Estimate, Median Age by Sex, Total Population (5-year estimate) in Scotland County, NC reached a record high of 39.40000 in January of 2016 and a record low of 36.30000 in January of 2009. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Estimate, Median Age by Sex, Total Population (5-year estimate) in Scotland County, NC - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: Aged 25 to 34 data was reported at 364.866 Person th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 358.454 Person th for 2016. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: Aged 25 to 34 data is updated yearly, averaging 356.000 Person th from Jun 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 400.000 Person th in 1994 and a record low of 307.000 Person th in 1971. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: Aged 25 to 34 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.G003: Population: Scotland.

Population Estimate, Total, Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American Alone (5-year estimate) in Scotland County, MO was 4.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Population Estimate, Total, Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American Alone (5-year estimate) in Scotland County, MO reached a record high of 82.00000 in January of 2016 and a record low of 0.00000 in January of 2010. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Population Estimate, Total, Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American Alone (5-year estimate) in Scotland County, MO - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

There were 514 settlements in Scotland in mid-2020. This is 5 fewer than in 2016, due to some settlements merging or falling below the threshold of 500 people. The population living in settlements and localities was 4,974,670. The population living outside settlements was 491,330. 91% of Scotland’s population lived in settlements and localities, which accounted for 2.3% of Scotland’s total land area. The largest settlement in Scotland was Greater Glasgow with a population of 1,028,220. Nearly 1 in 5 people living in Scotland in mid-2020 lived in Greater Glasgow. Almost all of Glasgow City’s and Dundee City’s population lived in a settlement (99.8% in both). In contrast, less than a third of Na h-Eileanan Siar’s population lived in a settlement (29.4%).

Further information about the survey series, and links to publications, can be found on the Scottish Government's Scottish Household Survey webpages.

COVID-19 restrictions

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the SHS was conducted by telephone or via MS Teams in 2020 and 2021 (SNs 9186 and 9187). Face-to-face interviewing resumed for SHS 2022 (SN 9294) when restrictions had been lifted.

Latest edition information
For the third edition (February 2024), the MAINMODE variable has been updated on the Journey data file and the MODE variable has been updated on the Stage data file.

United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: Aged 85 to 89 data was reported at 29.462 Person th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 28.287 Person th for 2016. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: Aged 85 to 89 data is updated yearly, averaging 17.000 Person th from Jun 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29.462 Person th in 2017 and a record low of 11.000 Person th in 1983. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: Aged 85 to 89 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.G003: Population: Scotland.

715 different 1 km squares (3.4% of the survey area) were surveyed for bats in 2016. This sample comprised 1,537 complete nights of recording in 1,422 different recording locations. 667,755 recordings were collected which, following analyses and validation, were found to include 399,242 bat recordings. The ranges occupied by noctule, Leislerís bat and Nathusiusí pipistrelle in southern Scotland are restricted with little overlap between species. For the two Nyctalus species, there is a clear eastñwest split, with Leislerís bat occurring in the west and noctule mainly in the east. For both Leislerís bat and noctule, occupancy and activity patterns were particularly aggregated, with a comparatively small number of 1 km squares contributing a large proportion of the recorded distribution and activity. Nathusiusí pipistrelle was recorded at few sites, dispersed across the survey area, with some clustering of records in the south-west and the north of the region. Whilst wind farms tend to be located at higher elevation than the three high-risk bat species most commonly occur, there was still significant spatial overlap. Because there is little overlap in the ranges of the three high risk bat species, any steps taken to reduce the risk posed by wind farms at a local scale are most likely to benefit a single species, rather than having broader benefits for the three high risk species. It is likely that the true population estimates for the two Nyctalus species are likely to far exceed the current published estimates of a few hundred individuals for the whole of Scotland. Considering that the 715 1 km squares surveyed in 2016 comprised just 3.4% of the survey area, and that there were 4,327 recordings of Leislerís bat from 224 1 km squares, and 2,101 recordings of noctule from 152 1 km squares, it is likely that the minimum population sizes of Leislerís bat and noctule for the whole of Scotland are in the thousands. Indications from the survey are that Nathusiusí pipistrelle was much less abundant than the two Nyctalus species in southern Scotland, with just 185 recordings from 23 1 km squares. Considering the migratory status of Nathusiusí pipistrelle it is likely that some records of this species in this survey, particularly at coastal locations, were of migrants. However at one site close to Stranraer (Dumfries and Galloway) in the southwest of the survey area, male advertisement calls were recorded, which may suggest the possibility of breeding in this area. It is expected that the minimum population size of Nathusiusí pipistrelle in Scotland is likely to be in the hundreds.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) create and maintain digital settlement boundaries to support the creation of statistics for geographies that generally describe the urban areas of Scotland. NRS define a settlement as a collection of contiguous high density postcodes, bounded by low density postcodes (or water), with a population of 500 or more. While settlements can go a long way in defining the towns and cities in Scotland, some cover extensive areas and group together large populations. Current Settlement boundaries are reflective of mid-2016 populations, having been created using an amended version of postcodes from the Scottish Postcode Directory (SPD) 2016, release 2. Older versions of Settlements and Localities geographies are available from the NRS website.

United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Female: Aged 1 to 4 data was reported at 140.223 Person th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 112.892 Person th for 2016. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Female: Aged 1 to 4 data is updated yearly, averaging 124.000 Person th from Jun 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 174.000 Person th in 1971 and a record low of 103.000 Person th in 2005. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Female: Aged 1 to 4 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.G003: Population: Scotland.

This file allows you to interactively investigate data on practising social workers employed by local authorities. It uses data from our LA Post Types publication and adds in some contextual population data from National Records of Scotland.