1.1 This paper summarises the Registrar General for Scotland’s mid-2006 estimates of the population of Scotland and its administrative areas. Some relevant historical information and a table giving land areas and population densities are also presented.
1.2 These population estimates are produced using the demographic cohort component method. The estimates are based on the 2001 Census. Each year the population is ‘aged on’ one year (that is, the 0 year olds become 1 year olds, and so on), the number of births in the year are added, the number of deaths subtracted and adjustments are made for estimated migration and other changes in special populations. It is important to remember that while the number of births and deaths are considered to be almost complete, there is no comprehensive source of migration data for moves within Scotland, to the rest of the UK, or to the rest of the world. Estimates of migration are made using the best proxy sources available including health service patient registrations and survey information. Therefore, any error in the estimates is likely to be due to the migration estimates, particularly the international estimates. From 1 April 2006 responsibility for NHS Argyll & Clyde was split between NHS Greater Glasgow (now known as Greater Glasgow and Clyde) and NHS Highland. The tables presented in this report present information for the new NHS Board areas, but also show data for the relevant component parts of NHS Argyll & Clyde.