2014

Census 2011: Release 3F - Detailed characteristics on Health in Scotland

The statistics published today by the Registrar General for Scotland on the Scotland’s Census website present further details on health (Release 3F), from national to local level.

Key points - Release 3F

General health by sex by age

• In the 2011 Census, 82 per cent (4.4 million) of Scotland’s population reported their general health as being ‘Very good’ or ‘Good’, 12 per cent (645,000) as ‘Fair’ and 6 per cent (297,000) as ‘Bad’ or ‘Very bad’. The proportion reporting their general health as ‘Very good’ or ‘Good’ decreased with age: it was 97 per cent for those aged under 25 compared to 48 per cent and 35 per cent respectively for those aged 75 to 84 and aged 85 and over. Conversely, the proportion of the population reporting their general health as ‘Bad’ or ‘Very bad’ increased with age: it was less than 1 per cent for those aged under 25 compared to 15 per cent and 19 per cent respectively for those aged 75 to 84 and aged 85 and over.
• The profile of general health reported in the census was broadly similar for males and females, though males in the 25 to 49 and 75 and over age groups reported better health on average than females.

Long-term health problem or disability by sex by age

• In 2011, 20 per cent (1.0 million) of Scotland’s population reported that their day to day activities were limited by a long-term health problem or disability, including 10 per cent (506,000) who said their activities were limited a lot. As with general health, this proportion increased with age: while just 5 per cent of those aged under 25 had a limiting long-term health problem or disability (including 2 per cent who were limited a lot), the corresponding proportion for those aged 85 and over was 83 per cent (including 54 per cent who were limited a lot).
• The proportion of people with a limiting long-term health problem or disability was higher for females than for males at all age groups except for those aged under 25.

Long-term health conditions by sex by age

• While 12 per cent of those aged under 25 reported one or more categories of health condition in the 2011 Census, this proportion was 72 per cent for those aged 75 to 84 and 87 per cent for those aged 85 and over.
• The proportions of the population reporting deafness or partial hearing loss, blindness or partial sight loss and a physical disability all increased with age. For the 85 and over age group these proportions were 49 per cent, 25 per cent and 35 per cent respectively. In contrast, the proportions of the population with a learning disability, learning difficulty or developmental disorder were highest for those aged under 25, at 1 per cent, 3 per cent and 2 per cent respectively. The age groups with the highest proportion with a mental health condition were people aged 35 to 49 and aged 85 and over, at 7 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.
• The proportions of the population with specific categories of long-term health condition were broadly similar for males and females. However, the proportions with deafness or partial hearing loss (particularly amongst those aged 50 and over) or with a learning disability, learning difficulty or developmental disorder (particularly amongst those aged under 25) were higher for males than for females. The proportion of females with a mental health condition was higher than for males at all age groups apart from those aged under 16.

Long-term health problem or disability by general health

• Among people with a long-term health problem or disability, younger people were more likely to have reported their general health as being ‘Very good’ or ‘Good’. For example, this proportion was 51 per cent for people aged under 16 compared to 14 per cent of those aged 85 and over.

Long-term health conditions by general health

• Of the 1.6 million people in Scotland who reported one or more categories of long-term health condition in 2011, 49 per cent (776,000) reported their general health as being ‘Very good’ or ‘Good’, 33 per cent (517,000) as ‘Fair’ and 18 per cent (292,000) as ‘Bad’ or ‘Very bad’. The proportion reporting their general health as ‘Bad’ or ‘Very bad’ was highest for those with a physical disability (43 per cent), a mental health condition (33 per cent) or blindness or partial sight loss (25 per cent).

Provision of unpaid care by age

• In 2011, 9 per cent (491,000) of the 5.2 million people living in households in Scotland provided unpaid care to family members, friends, neighbours or others because of long-term physical or mental ill health or problems related to old age. This proportion was 2 per cent for those aged under 25, 10 per cent for those aged 25 to 49, 17 per cent for those aged 50 to 64 and 11 per cent for those aged 65 and over.

The tables of census results covered in Release 3F are listed below. They are a mixture of ‘Detailed Characteristics’ (DC) and ‘Local Characteristics’(LC) tables. DC versions of tables include the most complex cross-tabulations and are therefore not available at smaller geographic areas (generally available down to postcode sectors). LC versions of tables include less complex cross-tabulations and are therefore available down to the lowest geographic levels (generally census output areas). In some instances, no LC version of a table is produced as a statistical disclosure control measure. Similarly, the DC version of some tables is produced for council areas only.

Tables included in Release 3F

All the data contained in this release can be accessed on the Scotland’s Census website.

Provisional figures for births, deaths and other vital events registered during the first quarter of 2014 are published today by the National Records of Scotland.

The statistics show that 13,959 deaths were registered in the first quarter of the year – 1,132 (7.5 per cent) fewer than in the same period of 2013. This is the lowest first quarter total for at least 40 years.

The provisional figures also show that:

• 13,930 births were registered in Scotland between 1 January and 31 March 2014 – 68 (0.5 per cent) more than in the same period of 2013. The total number of births for the first quarter fell to a low of around 12,400 in 2002. It then rose to around 15,100 in 2008 before falling again to the current level of around 13,900 in the first three months of both 2013 and 2014.
• There were 3,548 marriages, 290 more than the figure for the first quarter of 2013 (a rise of 8.9 per cent) and the highest quarter 1 total since 2005.
• There were 77 civil partnerships (31 male and 46 female), 14 more than during the first quarter of 2013.
• Compared with the same period in 2013, the number of deaths from coronary heart disease fell by 10.8 per cent to 1,759, deaths from stroke fell by 12.4 per cent to 1,096, and there were 3,874 deaths from cancer (a fall of 0.5 per cent).

Tim Ellis, the Chief Executive of National Records of Scotland, said:

"Today's statistics show a fall in the number of deaths registered in Scotland, to the lowest number recorded in the first quarter for at least 40 years. This is the third consecutive quarter which has seen a fall in the number of deaths compared to the same quarter in the previous year.

“There were slightly more births than deaths (29) recorded in this quarter, in line with the general picture since 2008, but levels of births and deaths are both relatively low in historical terms.”

The full publication, Births, deaths and other vital events - quarterly figures, is available on the NRS website.

Census 2011: Release 3E - Detailed characteristics on Population and Households in Scotland

The statistics published today by the Registrar General for Scotland on the Scotland’s Census website present further details on population and households (Release 3E), from national to local level.

Key points - Release 3E

Dependent children by family type

• In 2011, there were 1.5 million families living in households in Scotland. Of these, 65 per cent (967,000) were married couple families, 16 per cent (237,000) were cohabiting couple families and 19 per cent (291,000) were lone parent families.
• Of the 614,000 families with dependent children [Footnote 1], 54 per cent (333,000) were married couple families, 15 per cent (91,000) were cohabiting couple families and 31 per cent (190,000) were lone parent families.
• Of the 304,000 families with one dependent child, 46 per cent (140,000) were married couple families, 16 per cent (49,000) were cohabiting couple families and 38 per cent (115,000) were lone parent families. The corresponding proportions for the 310,000 families with two or more dependent children were 62 per cent (193,000), 14 per cent (42,000) and 24 per cent (75,000) respectively.
• Of families with dependent children, step-families made up 8 per cent (26,000) of married couple families and 29 per cent (26,000) of cohabiting couple families. For married couple families, step-families made up 8 per cent of families with one dependent child, 6 per cent of families with two dependent children and 12 per cent of families with three or more dependent children. For cohabiting couple families, step-families made up 24 per cent of families with one dependent child, 31 per cent of families with two dependent children and 46 per cent of families with three or more dependent children. Step-families accounted for just over half (54 per cent) of the 15,000 cohabiting couple families where the youngest dependent child was aged 12 or over.

People in communal establishments - ethnic group

• In 2011, 2 per cent (99,000) of Scotland’s population lived in a communal establishment in Scotland. (Communal establishments provide managed residential accommodation, for example student halls of residence, care homes and prisons.) For most types of communal establishment, the ethnic profile of the people living in them was broadly similar to that of the total population. The main exceptions to this were ‘halls of residence and student accommodation’ and ‘schools and other education establishments’, where the proportions of people with an ethnic background of ‘Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British’ were 18 per cent and 9 per cent respectively, compared with 3 per cent of the total population.

People in communal establishments - marital and civil partnership status

• In 2011, 61 per cent of the 96,000 people aged 16 and over living in communal establishments were single (never married or never registered a same sex civil partnership) and 24 per cent were widowed. These were higher than the corresponding proportions in the total population – which were 35 per cent and 8 per cent respectively – reflecting the fact that adult care homes and student accommodation each accounted for over a third of the population in communal establishments.

People in communal establishments - type of resident by sex by age

• Not surprisingly, the age profile of people living in different types of communal establishment reflected the nature of the establishment. For example, 87 per cent of the 38,000 people living in adult care homes were aged 65 and over; 87 per cent of the 34,000 people living in halls of residence and student accommodation were aged 16 to 24; and 91 per cent of the 2,600 people living in defence establishments were aged 16 to 34.
• In 2011, 47 per cent of people living in communal establishments were male. This proportion ranged from 31 per cent in adult care homes to 75 per cent in hostels for the homeless, 90 per cent in defence establishments and 95 per cent in prisons.

The other tables included in Release 3E are mainly ‘Local Characteristics’ (LC) versions of tables that have been published as ‘Detailed Characteristics’ (DC) tables in this or in previous releases. They provide information down to census output area (the lowest level of geography for which census tables are produced) but generally include less detailed categories than the DC version of the tables as a statistical disclosure control measure. The tables are on:

• Family composition by age of Family Reference Person (DC)
• Dependent children by household type by sex by age (DC)
• Age of youngest dependent child by family type (DC)
• Living arrangements by age – Household Reference Persons (LC)
• Residence type by sex by age (LC)
• Dependent children by household type by age (LC)
• Dependent children by family type (LC)
• Age of youngest dependent child by family type (LC).

All the data contained in this release can be accessed on the Scotland’s Census website.

 Footnote
1. Dependent children are those aged under 16, or aged 16 to 18 and in full-time education living with at least one parent, excluding those who have a spouse, partner or child living in the household.

The last wills of 31,000 Scottish soldiers are being made available online on ScotlandsPeople by the National Records of Scotland as part of commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.

The poignant documents include the last wishes of 26,000 ordinary Scottish soldiers who died in the Great War. Most of them were killed in action, died of wounds or went missing on the Western Front. A smaller number served at Gallipoli, Salonika or in Mesopotamia.

Almost all the wills were written in their pay books by soldiers below the rank of officer, who served in the renowned Scottish infantry and cavalry regiments, as well as in many other British regiments, and all the army corps that were on active service. Also included are a few men who joined the Royal Flying Corps and the RAF.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs in the Scottish Government, said:

“These small but powerful documents are a testament to the sacrifice in wartime made by thousands of Scots, not only the soldiers themselves, but also their families and loved ones.”

Tim Ellis, Registrar General and Keeper of the Records of Scotland, said:

“We are privileged to be marking the centenary of the start of the First World War by making these remarkable records available. They give us a unique insight into the service of Scottish soldiers during the First and Second World Wars, but also in other conflicts before and since.”

In addition to the wills from the Great War, there are about 4,750 wills of Scots soldiers serving in all theatres during the Second World War, including some women auxiliaries, and several hundred from the Boer War and Korean War, and other conflicts between 1857 and 1965.

The soldiers’ wills were usually found in pay books retrieved on the battlefield, or recorded on forms in Army record offices in Britain, or in the absence of a will, in letters home in which soldiers might mention their last wishes. After the War Office settled the estate of a soldier who died on active service, including entitlements to pay and pension, they sent the Scottish wills to the Commissary Office in Edinburgh, and hence to the National Records of Scotland.

The Soldiers’ Wills are available online through ScotlandsPeople, at the ScotlandsPeople Centre in Edinburgh, and at local family history centres in Glasgow, Kilmarnock, Hawick and Inverness.

Visit the ScotlandsPeople website for stories about people who have made the connection with an ancestor in the Soldier’ Wills.

A selection of wills from 1944 is being displayed by NRS to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, 6 June - 4 July 2014.

Census 2011: Release 3D - Detailed characteristics on Population and Households in Scotland

The statistics published today by the Registrar General for Scotland on the
Scotland’s Census website present further details on population and households (Release 3D), from national to local level.

Key points - Release 3D

Marital and civil partnership status by sex by age

• In 2011, most (98 per cent) people aged 16 to 24 in Scotland were single (never married or never registered a same sex civil partnership). This proportion decreased with age: it was 78 per cent for those aged 25 to 29, 54 per cent for those aged 30 to 34, 28 per cent for those aged 35 to 49 and 9 per cent for those aged 50 and over.
• Over half of people aged 40 to 79 were married or in a registered same sex civil partnership, with this proportion being highest for those aged 60 to 64, at 68 per cent. The 40 to 49 age group had the highest proportion of people who were separated (6 per cent) and the 45 to 59 age group the highest proportion who were divorced (15 per cent).
• 14 per cent of people aged 65 to 69 were widowed, with that proportion increasing to 58 per cent for those aged 80 and over.
• Females aged 16 to 39 were more likely to be married than males, with the largest difference being in the 25 to 29 age group: 23 per cent of females were married compared with 16 per of males. Of those aged 40 and over, males were more likely to be married than females, with the gap being largest for those aged 80 and over: 54 per cent of males were married compared with 18 per cent of females. There were higher proportions of widowed females than males in all age groups, with the largest difference being in the 80 to 84 age group: 47 per cent of females were widowed compared with 29 per cent of males.

Living arrangements by sex by age

• Of the 4.3 million people aged 16 and over who lived in a household in Scotland at the time of the 2011 Census, 56 per cent lived in a couple, including 45 per cent living in a married or registered same-sex civil partnership and 11 per cent in a cohabiting couple. The proportion of people living in a married or registered same-sex civil partnership couple was higher than the proportion living in a cohabiting couple for those aged 30 and over. 17 per cent of those aged 20 to 24 and 28 per cent of those aged 25 to 29 lived in a cohabiting couple, compared with 3 per cent and 18 per cent respectively who were living in a married couple.

Household composition by sex by age

• Of the 5.2 million people who lived in a household in 2011, 76 per cent lived in a ‘one family’ household, 16 per cent lived in a one person household and the remaining 8 per cent (423,905) lived in another type of household, for example households comprising all full-time students or other unrelated adults living together.
• Of those aged 25 to 49, males (19 per cent) were more likely to live on their own than females (11 per cent). For those aged 65 and over, 46 per cent of females lived on their own compared with 25 per cent of males.

Household composition by ethnic group of Household Reference Person

• In 2011, 35 per cent of the 2.4 million households in Scotland comprised one person living alone. The proportion of households comprising one person living alone varied from 16 per cent where the ethnic group of the Household Reference Person (HRP) [ Footenote 1]] was ‘White: Polish’ to 54 per cent where it was ‘Black, Black Scottish or Black British’.
• The proportion of households comprising married couples was highest for those where the ethnic group of the HRP was ‘Indian, Indian Scottish or Indian British’ (48 per cent, including 30 per cent with dependent children) and ‘Pakistani, Pakistani Scottish or Pakistani British’ (47 per cent, including 35 per cent with dependent children). These compared with a Scotland average of 32 per cent of households, including 14 per cent with dependent children.
• While 9 per cent of all households in Scotland comprised cohabiting couples, this proportion ranged from 2 per cent where the ethnic group of the HRP was ‘Pakistani, Pakistani Scottish or Pakistani British’ to 19 per cent where it was ‘White: Polish’.
• Overall, 11 per cent of households in Scotland were lone parent households. This proportion ranged from 4 per cent where the ethnic group of the HRP was ‘Indian, Indian Scottish or Indian British’ to 15 per cent where it was ‘African, African Scottish or African British’.

Age of youngest dependent child by household composition

• In 2011, 26 per cent (616,000) of households in Scotland contained one or more dependent children, including 10 per cent where the youngest dependent child was aged under 5. Of the 263,000 lone parent households, 65 per cent contained dependent children, including 21 per cent where the youngest dependent child was aged under 5.

Length of residence in the UK by household size

• In 2011, 11 per cent of the household population in Scotland lived in households of five or more people; for people who were born outside the UK this proportion was 15 per cent.

Length of residence in the UK by household type

• While just over 1 per cent of the household population in Scotland lived in households comprising all full-time students, this proportion was 21 per cent for those born outside the UK who had been resident in the UK for less than two years.

Schoolchildren and full-time students Iiving away from home during term time by sex by age

• In Scotland, of the 42,000 schoolchildren and full-time students living away from home during term time at the time of the 2011 Census, 14 per cent were aged under 18, 68 per cent were aged 18 to 21 and 18 per cent were aged over 21.
• Females comprised over half (55 per cent) of the schoolchildren and full-time students living away from home during term time aged 18 to 21 but less than half of those aged under 18 (48 per cent) or aged over 21 (48 per cent).

The other tables included in Release 3D are mainly ‘Local Characteristics’ (LC) versions of tables that have already been published as ‘Detailed Characteristics’ (DC) tables in this or previous releases. They provide information down to census output area (the lowest level of geography for which census tables are produced) but generally include less detailed categories than the DC version of the tables as a statistical disclosure control measure. The tables are on:

• Marital and civil partnership status by sex by age – Household Reference Persons
• Marital and civil partnership status by age
• Living arrangements by age
• Household composition by sex by age
• Age of youngest dependent child by household type
• Household composition by ethnic group of Household Reference Person
• Country of birth by English language skills
• Length of residence in the UK by household size
• Length of residence in the UK by household type

All the data contained in this release can be accessed on the Scotland’s Census website.

Footnote
1. The Household Reference Person (details available on the Scotland census website) is chosen to act as a reference point for producing further derived statistics and for characterising a whole household according to the characteristics of the chosen reference person.

Scotland’s population is projected to continue to rise by about 9 per cent over the next 25 years, but not at an even rate across the country.

Statistics published today by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show the population of 20 of the 32 Council areas in Scotland are projected to increase, while the population in the other 12 are projected to decrease. The Council areas with the greatest projected increase in population are Aberdeen City and City of Edinburgh (both +28 per cent) followed by Perth & Kinross (+24 per cent). Inverclyde (-19 per cent) and Argyll & Bute (-13 per cent) have the largest projected decreases.

The report provides projections for the 25 year period 2012-2037. They show what happens under certain assumptions about future fertility, mortality and migration. The assumptions are based largely on past trends and although they will reflect past policy and economic impacts, they do not take account of future changes that may occur as a result of policy initiatives at a local or national level.

Main findings

Principal projection

• The population of Scotland is projected to rise by 9 per cent over the next 25 years, from 5.31 million in 2012 to 5.78 million by 2037, and continue to rise into the future. But this pattern is not to be experienced in all areas of Scotland. Some areas are projected to increase in size while others to decrease.
• The population of 20 of the 32 Council areas in Scotland are projected to increase while the population in the other 12 are projected to decrease. The Council areas with the greatest projected increase in population are Aberdeen City and City of Edinburgh (both +28 per cent) followed by Perth & Kinross (+24 per cent). Inverclyde (-19 per cent) and Argyll & Bute (-13 per cent) have the largest projected decreases.
• Scotland’s population is projected to age and this is true for all administrative areas to a greater or lesser extent.
• The number of children aged 0-15 is projected to increase in 12 of Scotland’s 32 Council areas, with the biggest increases projected for Aberdeen City (+45 per cent) and East Lothian (+28 per cent). The biggest decreases are projected for Inverclyde (-32 per cent) and Eilean Siar (-28 per cent).
• The population of working age [Footnote 1] is projected to increase in 13 Council areas and decrease in 19, increasing the most in City of Edinburgh (+28 per cent) and decreasing the most in Inverclyde (-29 per cent).
• The population of pensionable age [Footnote 1] is projected to increase in all Council areas, with the largest increases being projected in West Lothian (+47 per cent) and Shetland Islands (+44 per cent), and the smallest increase is projected in Dundee City (+6 per cent).

Variant projections

• It is hard to estimate how many people might migrate to Scotland in the future therefore 7 alternative variant projections have been produced along with the principal projection.
• The high migration variant projection shows what would happen if Scotland were to gain larger numbers than expected through migration. The populations in 25 Council areas would rise under this variant. The greatest increase is projected for City of Edinburgh (+38 per cent), closely followed by Aberdeen City (+36 per cent) and Perth & Kinross (+30 per cent). The largest decrease is again projected for Inverclyde (-18 per cent), followed by Argyll & Bute (-9 per cent).
• The low migration variant projection shows the population if Scotland were to gain smaller numbers through migration than expected. The population of 16 Council areas are projected to rise under this variant. Again the greatest increase is projected for Aberdeen City, City of Edinburgh and East Lothian (all +20 per cent), and the largest decreases in Inverclyde (-22 per cent) and Argyll & Bute (-19 per cent).
• The zero migration variant projects the population as if migration was not to have any effect at all. Under this variant the population of 11 Council areas is projected to rise, and the largest increases are projected for West Lothian (+6 per cent), Shetland Islands (+3 per cent), Clackmannanshire (+3 per cent) and Midlothian (+3 per cent). The largest decreases are projected for Eilean Siar (-9 per cent), Argyll & Bute and South Ayrshire (both -8 per cent).
• Fertility variants use higher or lower fertility rates than what is assumed for Scotland. Under the high fertility variant, the population of 25 Council areas are projected to increase, with the largest increases projected for Aberdeen City and City of Edinburgh (both +32 per cent), and the largest decrease projected is for Inverclyde (-17 per cent). Under the low fertility variant, the population of 16 Council areas are projected to increase. City of Edinburgh is projected to have the largest increase (+26 per cent), and Inverclyde is projected to experience the biggest population decline (-21 per cent).
• Life expectancy variants suggest what might happen to the population if mortality rates improved more or less than assumed. Under the high life expectancy variant, the population of 22 Council areas are projected to increase, with the largest increases projected for Aberdeen City (+30 per cent) and largest decrease projected for Inverclyde (-18 per cent). The low life expectancy variant projects the population of 17 Council areas to increase, and the same areas are projected to experience the biggest increases and decreases as under the high life expectancy variant: City of Edinburgh and Aberdeen City (both +27 per cent) are projected to show the largest increase, while Inverclyde (-21 per cent) is projected to show the largest decrease.

The full publication Population Projections for Scottish Areas (2012-based) is available on the NRS website.

Footnote
1) Working age and pensionable age populations based on State Pension Age (SPA) for a given year. Between 2012 and 2018, SPA will change from 65 years for men and 61 years for women, to 65 years for both sexes. Then between 2019 and 2020, SPA will change from 65 years to 66 years for both men and women. Between 2034 and 2046, SPA will increase in two stages from 66 years to 68 years for both sexes. This is based on SPA under the 2011 Pensions Act.

The number of people registered to vote in elections in Scotland continued to rise, according to figures published today by National Records of Scotland.

The registered electorates for local councils, the Scottish Parliament, the UK Parliament and the European Parliament all increased to their highest ever levels.

That means, with the exception of 2009, Scottish electorates have risen year on year since 2003.

On 10 March, 2014:

• Over 98,000 16 or 17 year olds had been registered to vote in the Independence Referendum. This represents around 80 per cent of the 16 and 17 year olds in Scotland.
• 4.12 million people were registered to vote in the local government and Scottish Parliament elections – an increase of 57,288 (1.4 per cent) compared to 1 December 2012, and is at the highest level ever recorded.
• 4.03 million people were registered to vote in UK Parliament elections – an increase of 41,930 (1.1 per cent).
• 4.04 million people were registered to vote in elections to the European Parliament, an increase of 58,737 (1.5 per cent). On 22 May 2014, a European Parliamentary election will be held.
• The number of European Union (EU) citizens registered to vote in local government and Scottish Parliament elections rose by 15,059 to 94,122 (19.0 per cent). This is likely to underestimate the total number of EU citizens resident in Scotland, since many may not register.

The deadline for registration to vote in the Independence Referendum is 2 September 2014.

The full publication Electoral Statistics Scotland 2013 is available on this website.

Scotland’s population continues to rise and reached its highest ever total in 2013.

The statistics published below by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that the estimated population of Scotland was 5,327,700 in mid-2013, the highest ever.

The figures, based on 2011 Census data, show a rise of 14,100 people since mid-2012.

Commenting on the statistics, NRS Chief Executive Tim Ellis said:

“Scotland’s population has continued to grow, reaching its highest ever level last year.

“Scotland’s population increased by 14,100 from mid-2012 to mid-2013 primarily because of a net in-flow of approximately 10,000 more people coming to Scotland than leaving although there were also around 900 more births than deaths.

“For the tenth consecutive year more people arrived in Scotland from the rest of the UK and overseas than left to go in the opposite direction. However, for the first time in nine years net migration from the rest of the UK was larger than that from overseas.

“More people arrived in Scotland from the rest of UK and fewer people left to go in the opposite direction, compared with the previous year. In contrast, for the third consecutive year fewer people came to Scotland from overseas than in the preceding year.”

Main findings

• The estimated population of Scotland on 30 June 2013 was 5,327,700, the highest ever and an increase of 14,100 from the previous year.
• The population increased because approximately 910 more people were born than died, and because in-migration exceeded out-migration by approximately 9,960 between mid-2012 and mid-2013. Other changes, such as in armed forces and prisoners, resulted in a gain of approximately 3,230 people.
• Between mid-2012 and mid-2013, approximately 47,700 people came to Scotland from England, Wales and Northern Ireland and approximately 39,800 left Scotland to go in the opposite direction giving a net migration gain of 7,900.
• Compared with the previous year, net migration to Scotland from England, Wales and Northern Ireland has increased by 4,800, as illustrated by the infographic below. This is because of an increase of 2,600 in the number of people coming to Scotland from England, Wales and Northern Ireland and a decrease of 2,300 in the number of people moving in the opposite direction. 

• Between mid-2012 and mid-2013, 28,200 people came to Scotland from overseas and 26,100 left Scotland to go overseas giving a net migration gain of 2,100. This represents about 1 in 2,500 (0.04 per cent) of the total population.
• In comparison with the previous year (i.e. mid-2011 to mid-2012) net migration to Scotland from overseas fell by 7,600, as illustrated by the infographic above. This is primarily because of a drop of 7,700 in the number of people coming to Scotland from overseas.

Mid-2013 population estimates for Council/NHS Board areas by age and sex

The estimates published today are for Scotland only and are not split by age and sex. Estimates for Scotland and its Council/NHS board areas by single year of age (up to 90+) and sex will be published in June. It was originally intended to publish these estimates today (30 April 2014), however, an issue affecting the Council/NHS Board area population totals and age-sex distributions was identified as needing further work. Therefore the more detailed breakdowns will now be published in June.

Further information on all our future publications is available on the NRS website.

Life expectancy at birth varies considerably for areas in Scotland, according to a report published today by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) which breaks down by administrative area the Scotland level estimates published on 21 March.

Based on statistics covering 2010-2012, the report shows that life expectancy differs by up to 7.5 years for males and up to 4.9 years for females between Council areas in Scotland.

Registrar General for Scotland and NRS Chief Executive Tim Ellis said:

“The figures published today tell us that life expectancy at birth in Scotland is at its highest ever level and the gap between males and females is closing. But there are significant differences in life expectancy depending on which part of Scotland you live in. For example, life expectancy for a baby born in East Dunbartonshire is 7.5 years more for a boy and 4.9 years more for a girl than for a baby born in Glasgow City.”

Main findings from the statistics released today

At birth

• Life expectancy in Scotland was 76.6 years for males and 80.8 years for females but with considerable variation between areas.
• Male and female life expectancy was highest in East Dunbartonshire Council area and lowest in Glasgow City Council area. Males in East Dunbartonshire can expect to live for 80.1 years, 7.5 years longer than in Glasgow City (72.6 years). Females in East Dunbartonshire can expect to live for 83.4 years, 4.9 years longer than in Glasgow City (78.5 years).

Life expectancy at birth, Scotland 2010-2012

Compared with UK and Europe

• Scottish males and females have the lowest life expectancy at birth in the United Kingdom (UK). Male life expectancy is 2.3 years lower than the UK average and female life expectancy is 1.9 years lower.
• In Scotland, males and females can expect to live shorter lives (by 2.6 years and 2.2 years respectively) than in England, where male and female life expectancy is the highest in the UK.
• Within the UK in 2010-2012, male life expectancy was highest in East Dorset and Hart, both (82.9 years) and lowest in Glasgow City (72.6 years). For females, life expectancy at birth was highest in Purbeck at 86.6 years and lowest in Glasgow City where females can expect to live for 78.5 years. The Council areas higher for males and females are all in England.
• Amongst European Union (EU) countries, male life expectancy was highest in Sweden (79.9 years), 3.3 years higher than in Scotland. Female life expectancy was highest in France (85.7 years), 4.9 years higher than in Scotland.

Changes over time

• Male and female life expectancy has continued to rise across Scotland.
• The biggest improvements in male life expectancy since 2000-2002 have been in Orkney Islands Council and NHS Board area (4.3 years).
• The biggest improvements in female life expectancy since 2000-2002 have been in East Dunbartonshire Council area, increasing by 2.9 years and Highland NHS Board area, increasing by 2.5 years.
• The gap between male and female life expectancy at birth in Scotland has decreased from 6.2 years in 1981-1983 to 4.2 years in 2010-2012. Male life expectancy has been increasing at a faster rate than for females since 2001-2003.

At age 65

• Males in Scotland could expect to live for a further 17.2 years and females a further 19.5 years.
• Orkney Islands Council area had the highest male life expectancy at age 65 (19.4 years), 4.5 years higher than in Glasgow City, where it was lowest at 14.9 years. Female life expectancy at age 65 was highest in East Dunbartonshire (21.5 years) and lowest in Glasgow City (18.3 years), a difference of 3.2 years.

The full publication Life Expectancy for Administrative Areas within Scotland 2010-2012 is available on the NRS website.

The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 received Royal Assent on 12 March 2014. The implementation timetable envisages the bulk of the Act's provisions coming into force by the end of 2014, with the first same-sex marriages in Scotland being possible around then. It is too early to say precisely when in 2014 it will be possible for same-sex couples to give notice to get married, but the existing maximum marriage notice period of 3 months will remain unchanged.

Once all the provisions are in force, it will be possible for same-sex couples to have a civil marriage ceremony, or a "religious or belief" marriage ceremony where the religious or belief body has opted-in to solemnising same sex marriage. The Act will also allow certain civil partners to change their civil partnership to a marriage.

The Government intends to consult later this year on whether it should be possible for civil partners who registered their civil partnership outwith Scotland to have a ceremony in Scotland to change their civil partnership to a marriage.

Civil partnership will continue to be available to same-sex couples as before, as an alternative to marriage, and same-sex couples will also have the option of a "religious or belief" civil partnership where the religious or belief body has opted in to registering civil partnerships. The Government intends to consult later this year on the future of civil partnerships in Scotland. The Government has made it clear that existing civil partnerships can remain and there will be no obligation on existing civil partners to change their relationship to a marriage if they do not wish to do so.