In 2024, the population of Scotland was approximately 5.5 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 2020, there were estimated to be 406,000 non-British nationals living in Scotland. This represented about 8% of Scotland’s population. Of all non-British nationals, 61% were EU nationals (247,000) and 39% were non-EU nationals (159,000). Prior to 2010, the populations of EU and non-EU nationals living in Scotland were similar. Since 2010, the population of EU nationals has consistently been higher than the population of non-EU nationals. Polish was the most common non-British nationality in Scotland in 2020, with 92,000 nationals (23% of the total non-British population). The council areas with the largest proportion of residents with a non-British nationality were Aberdeen City (20%), City of Edinburgh (19%), and Glasgow City (12%).

In 2024, there were approximately 650,300 people living in Glasgow, with a further 530,680 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 374,760 people living there. The least populated areas are the islands of Scotland such as Orkney, estimated to have only 22,020 people there.

The population of Scotland is projected to continue increasing until around mid-2028, peaking at 5.48 million. It is then projected to fall by 1.8% to 5.39 million by 2045. These projections are lower than the previous (2018-based) projections. The difference is mainly due to lower fertility rates. These are the first projections for a number of years to show Scotland’s population falling in the next decade. The previous projections suggested that the population could stall and then begin to fall after around 25 years. The population of the UK as a whole is projected to grow by 5.8% to mid-2045. These latest projections for Scotland and the UK are both lower than previous projections. Scotland is the only UK country where the population is projected to fall during the next 25 years. If these projections were realised, Scotland’s share of the UK population would fall from 8.1% in mid-2020 to 7.6% by mid-2045. Scotland’s population is projected to age. The number of people aged 65 and over is projected to grow by nearly a third by mid-2045. The number of children is projected to fall by over a fifth. The working age population is projected to remain fairly stable. As now, more people are projected to move to Scotland than leave each year. There are more deaths than births each year, and the gap between births and deaths is projected to widen. Over time, this will outweigh the growth from migration.

2020-based interim national population projections with assumptions of possible future international migration that reflect estimates of international migration to year ending June 2022. The potential future population size of the UK, Great Britain, England and Wales, England, Scotland and Wales. These statistics are widely used in planning, for example, fiscal projections, health, education and pensions. Not national statistics.

Scotland’s population was estimated to be 5,466,000 on 30 June 2020 (referred to as mid-2020). The population increased by 2,700 people (0.05%) in the year to mid-2020, the slowest growth since the year to mid-2003. The average growth in the 5 years to mid-2019 was around 23,000 people (0.43%). There were 63,100 deaths and 48,700 births in the year ending mid-2020. There were 14,500 more deaths than births, more deaths than births for the sixth year running and the largest natural decrease on record. There were 2,000 (4%) fewer births than the previous year, a decrease in line with trends seen in previous years. The number of deaths was 6,900 (12%) more than the previous year, which is a larger increase than previous years. Migration was the main driver of population growth, with 16,900 more people moving to Scotland than leaving in the year to mid-2020; +9,000 from the rest of the UK and +7,900 from overseas. This was lower than in recent years. Population change varies across Scotland. Around two thirds of council areas (20 out of 32) experienced population decline, with 12 areas seeing population growth in the last year. Areas facing the greatest population decline were mainly in the west of the country. Most council areas (25 out of 32) saw more people move to the area than leave in the year to mid-2020. Only one council area, Midlothian, had more births than deaths over the same period.

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 town 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 town 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 2021, the population of Scotland town was 1,568, a 0.06% decrease year-by-year from 2020. Previously, in 2020, Scotland town population was 1,569, a decline of 6.22% compared to a population of 1,673 in 2019. Over the last 20 plus years, between 2000 and 2021, population of Scotland town increased by 13. In this period, the peak population was 1,726 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).

https://i.neilsberg.com/ch/population-of-scotland-ct-population-by-year-2000-2021.jpeg" alt="Scotland town population by year">

Content

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

Data Coverage:

• From 2000 to 2021

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column displays the data year (Measured annually and for years 2000 to 2021)
• Population: The population for the specific year for the Scotland town is shown in this column.
• Year on Year Change: This column displays the change in Scotland town 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 town Population by Year. You can refer the same here

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the New Scotland town 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 New Scotland town 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 2022, the population of New Scotland town was 9,085, a 0.21% increase year-by-year from 2021. Previously, in 2021, New Scotland town population was 9,066, a decline of 0.21% compared to a population of 9,085 in 2020. Over the last 20 plus years, between 2000 and 2022, population of New Scotland town increased by 504. In this period, the peak population was 9,085 in the year 2020. 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 2022

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column displays the data year (Measured annually and for years 2000 to 2022)
• Population: The population for the specific year for the New Scotland town is shown in this column.
• Year on Year Change: This column displays the change in New Scotland town 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 New Scotland town Population by Year. You can refer the same here

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

As at mid-2020, the average data zone population in Scotland was 784 people. Data zones are a small area geography. They cover the whole of Scotland, and can be used to understand the population of local communities. Find out more about the data zone you live via our interactive visualisation. Every council area across Scotland had pockets of population growth and pockets of depopulation.

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

Interim population projections for Scotland, based on 2020 population estimates

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 2022, the population of Scotland was 791, a 0.51% increase year-by-year from 2021. Previously, in 2021, Scotland population was 787, an increase of 0.38% compared to a population of 784 in 2020. Over the last 20 plus years, between 2000 and 2022, population of Scotland decreased by 101. In this period, the peak population was 892 in the year 2000. 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 2022

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column displays the data year (Measured annually and for years 2000 to 2022)
• 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

The non-British population of Scotland was 397,000 (7.4%) in the year to mid-2021. The non-UK born population was 523,000 (9.7%). Numbers of non-British nationals and non-UK born people remained broadly stable compared to the previous year. Of all non-British nationals living in Scotland, 231,000 (58%) were EU nationals and 165,000 (42%) were non-EU nationals. Of all non-UK born people living in Scotland, 258,000 (49%) were born in the EU and 265,000 (51%) were born outside the EU. Polish was the most common non-British nationality, and Poland was the most common non-UK country of birth in Scotland.

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%).

The ‘Registrar General’s Annual Review of Demographic Trends’ (RGAR) brings together a range of NRS data to provide new insights and highlight key trends. This year’s RGAR highlights the impact of deprivation and COVID-19 on mortality in Scotland. The report shows the death rate from all causes in the most deprived areas of Scotland was 1.9 times the death rate in the least deprived areas. The death rates for drug-related deaths (18.4 times as large), alcohol-specific deaths (4.3 times as large), suicides (3.0 times as large) and COVID-19 (2.4 times as large) were all notably higher in the most deprived areas. People in more deprived areas can also expect far fewer years in good health. There is a 20+ year gap in healthy life expectancy between people in the least and most deprived areas. Data from the first nine months of the pandemic shows how deaths from various causes compare to previous years.

As of January 31, 2022, COVID-19 was the underlying cause for the deaths of 4,251 people in Scotland between 80 and 89 years of age. In that age group, there were 2,172 male deaths and 2,079 female deaths. A further 2,131 deaths involving COVID-19 were recorded among over 90 year olds. In England, the age group 80 to 89 years also had the highest number of deaths involving COVID-19. For further information about the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.

This dataset is published as Open Datanational records of scotland - small area population estimates (2017 to 2021). This is the latest release of data based on small areas (datazones). The dataset contains information at the data zone level mid-year population estimates from 2017 onwards for the Stirling Council area. The published datasets for “All Persons”, “Females” and “Males” are sourced from the annually updated Small Areas Population Estimates (SAPE) on the National Records of Scotland (NRS) website.Of the 6,976 data zones in Scotland, each covering a population of between 500 and 1000 residents, there are 121 within the Stirling Council area.For each data zone within the Stirling Council area, this dataset details the total population and distribution by age for the above, and can be viewed by Ward, Intermediate Zone (IZ) and Scottish Parliamentary Constituency (SPC).© Crown Copyright 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

This dataset is published as Open DataScottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, Small Area Population Estimates, and Child Poverty The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2020 is the Scottish Government’s official tool for identifying those places in Scotland suffering from deprivation. It incorporates several different aspects of deprivation (employment, income, health, education, skills and training, geographic access, crime and housing), combining them into a single index.The 2020 Index provides a relative ranking for small areas in Scotland, defined by the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics (SNS) Data Zone 2011 geography, from 1 (most deprived) to 6,976 (least deprived). By identifying small areas where there are concentrations of multiple deprivation, the SIMD can be used to target policies and resources at the places with greatest need. The SIMD also provides a rank for each data zone within each of the seven domains, and therefore it is possible to look at individual aspects of deprivation for each area, as well as the overall level of deprivation.National Records of Scotland Small Area Population Estimates (2021)Child Poverty by Datazone (2022/23)