We hold records of the census of the population of Scotland for 1841 and every tenth year thereafter (with the exception of the wartime year of 1941 when no census was taken) and of the sample census of 1966. Additionally, the census originally planned for 2021 was moved to 2022 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Census records are closed for 100 years under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
The Scottish census has been the responsibility of the Registrar General for Scotland since 1861.
Open census records (1841-1921)
The open census records are transcript books prepared by the enumerators after collection of household schedules from the head of every dwelling, institution and vessel. They are made available as index-linked digital images on our Scotland's People website and at the Scotland's People Centre and Local Family History Centres. The preliminary pages which include a detailed description of the enumeration district can be viewed by selecting the browse option.
The original household schedules were destroyed.
There are separate pages for each census which provide information about the questions asked, examples and links to the census street indexes and other search room guides.
See 'Related guides' for these.
Census records of other countries
Click on the links below for information about the census records of other countries:
Canada: censuses 1825 to 1921 (Library and Archives Canada)
Channel Islands: 1841 to 1891 censuses (The National Archives)
England and Wales: 1841 to 1911 censuses (The National Archives)
FreeCEN: United Kingdom census online (1841 to 1891)
India - 1851 Bombay census (returns of Europeans residing in districts under the Bombay Presidency on 30 March 1851)
Useful Websites - Irish Family History
