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.

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.

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).

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Scotland population over the last 20 plus years. It lists the population for each year, along with the year on year change in population, as well as the change in percentage terms for each year. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population change of Scotland across the last two decades. For example, using this dataset, we can identify if the population is declining or increasing. If there is a change, when the population peaked, or if it is still growing and has not reached its peak. We can also compare the trend with the overall trend of United States population over the same period of time.

Key observations

In 2023, the population of Scotland was 168, a 0% decrease year-by-year from 2022. Previously, in 2022, Scotland population was 168, a decline of 1.18% compared to a population of 170 in 2021. Over the last 20 plus years, between 2000 and 2023, population of Scotland decreased by 129. In this period, the peak population was 360 in the year 2010. The numbers suggest that the population has already reached its peak and is showing a trend of decline. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Data Coverage:

• From 2000 to 2023

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column displays the data year (Measured annually and for years 2000 to 2023)
• Population: The population for the specific year for the Scotland is shown in this column.
• Year on Year Change: This column displays the change in Scotland population for each year compared to the previous year.
• Change in Percent: This column displays the year on year change as a percentage. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Scotland Population by Year. You can refer the same here

There were approximately ******* people aged between 55 and 59 in Scotland in 2023, the most of any age group in that year. By contrast, there were just ****** people who were aged over 90 in this year, the fewest of the provided age groups.

Principal projection for Scotland - population by five-year age groups and sex.

open data - national records of scotland land population density mid 2022The latest release from the National Records of Scotland giving Scotland's Population Land Density Figures.

This statistic shows the distribution of non-white ethnic backgrounds in Scotland in 2018. 96 percent of the population identified as white. The next highest ethnic group was Asians with 2.6 percent.

There were approximately 62 thousand Polish nationals living in Scotland as of June 2021, the most common non-British nationality in Scotland, followed by Irish nationals, at 21 thousand.

Graph and download economic data for Population Estimate, Total, Hispanic or Latino (5-year estimate) in Scotland County, NC (B03002012E037165) from 2009 to 2023 about Scotland County, NC; NC; latino; hispanic; estimate; persons; 5-year; population; and USA.

United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Aged >60 Female & >65 Male data was reported at 1,012.567 Person th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 998.852 Person th for 2016. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Aged >60 Female & >65 Male data is updated yearly, averaging 916.000 Person th from Jun 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,130.053 Person th in 2014 and a record low of 811.000 Person th in 1971. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Aged >60 Female & >65 Male 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.

Scotland’s population was estimated to be 5,479,900 at mid-2021 (30 June 2021). The population increased by 13,900 people (0.25%) in the year to mid-2021. The average annual growth in the 5 years before the pandemic was higher than this, at around 23,100 people (0.43%). There have been more deaths than births for the last seven years. In the latest year, deaths outnumbered births by the largest amount on record. Migration was the main driver of population growth over the latest year. More people moved to Scotland than left, as has been the case for the last two decades. The pattern of population change was different to previous years. In the latest year, the population of the largest cities fell, which was a change from growth in previous years. The greatest population growth was in council areas around Edinburgh. In addition, many rural areas which had previously had falling populations saw an increase in population over the latest year.

United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: Aged 1 to 4 data was reported at 148.331 Person th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 118.830 Person th for 2016. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: Aged 1 to 4 data is updated yearly, averaging 130.000 Person th from Jun 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 184.000 Person th in 1971 and a record low of 107.000 Person th in 2004. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: 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 United Kingdom – Table UK.G003: Population: Scotland.

United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: Aged 15 to 24 data was reported at 327.411 Person th in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 334.302 Person th for 2016. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: Aged 15 to 24 data is updated yearly, averaging 349.000 Person th from Jun 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 449.000 Person th in 1984 and a record low of 313.000 Person th in 1999. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: 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.

This dataset provides Census 2022 estimates for the Usual resident population (residence type) by sex and age (in 6 categories) in Scotland.

Age

A person's age on Census Day, 20 March 2022. Infants aged under 1 year are classified as 0 years of age.

Sex

This is the sex recorded by the person completing the census. The options were "Female" and "Male". Guidance on answering the question can be found here

Residence type

This defines the type of residence a person lives in. It categories people as living in households or living in a communal establishment.

The quality assurance report can be found here

national records of scotland population estimates by sex - open data : This time-series dataset shows population estimates for the Stirling Council area from 2001 onwards. A percentage change attribute has also been added for each year total.National Records of Scotland Guidance;Numbers of births and deaths are obtained from the civil registration system. The latest international migration estimates use different datasources and methods for each nationality grouping:Non-EU nationals: Estimates are based on the Home Office Borders and Immigration data, which combine visa and travel information, to link an individual's travel movements into and out of the country.EU nationals: Estimates are largely based on administrative data using the Registration and Population Interaction Database (RAPID). Some adjustments are made using the International Passenger Survey (IPS).British nationals: The International Passenger Survey (IPS) is the main source of information. This is combined with 2022 Census data on the age and sex distribution of British passport holders to obtain council area level disaggregation.Migration within the UK is based on the National Health Service Central Register (NHSCR) and the Community Health Index (CHI).Armed forces data comes from the 2022 Census and from the Ministry of Defence.Data on prisoners based in Scotland is obtained from Justice Analytical Services in the Scottish Government.

United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Aged 15 to 24 data was reported at 646.649 Person th in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 662.627 Person th for 2016. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Aged 15 to 24 data is updated yearly, averaging 692.000 Person th from Jun 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 883.000 Person th in 1983 and a record low of 625.000 Person th in 1999. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: 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.

United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Female: Aged 5 to 14 data was reported at 284.444 Person th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 280.567 Person th for 2016. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Female: Aged 5 to 14 data is updated yearly, averaging 313.000 Person th from Jun 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 447.000 Person th in 1974 and a record low of 272.000 Person th in 2013. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Female: Aged 5 to 14 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.

United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: Aged >65 data was reported at 452.221 Person th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 444.356 Person th for 2016. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: Aged >65 data is updated yearly, averaging 305.000 Person th from Jun 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 452.221 Person th in 2017 and a record low of 247.000 Person th in 1971. United Kingdom Population: Scotland: Male: Aged >65 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.

This section provides annual mid-year population estimates for Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) 2020 areas in Scotland. The population estimates (2011 Data Zone based) are available for each year from 2011 onwards, broken down by single year of age, sex and SIMD decile. Migration flows for SIMD 2020 areas in Scotland are available broken down by total in, out and net migration and SIMD decile from 2001-02 onwards. Data zones are ranked from 1 (most deprived) to 6,976 (least deprived) according to the SIMD. Each SIMD decile contains 10 per cent of Scotland’s data zones. So, for example, decile one is made up of the 698 most deprived data zones in Scotland according to SIMD 2020. The figures are based on adding up data zone population estimates from the Small Area Population Estimates (SAPE). Levels of deprivation in an area change over time. The most deprived data zones in SIMD 2020 may not have been the most deprived data zones in, for example, 2011. These SIMD population estimates show how the populations in the SIMD 2020 deciles have changed over time. The SIMD presents a picture of multiple deprivation by identifying small area concentrations of multiple deprivation across all of Scotland in a consistent way. The approach used within the SIMD assumes that deprivation is not one dimensional but that there are a number of different aspects that all contribute. More information is available on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation section of the Scottish Government website. Maximum file size is 3.51 MB