Scotland’s population reached 5.55 million on 30 June 2025
Main points
- Scotland’s population was estimated to be 5,545,500 at mid-2025 (30 June 2025).
- The population increased slightly, by 2,200 (<0.1%), in the year to mid-2025. This is a smaller increase than those seen in most recent years. In the two decades until mid-2024 the average annual population change was around +23,000.
- Migration was the main driver of population growth over the latest year. Net international migration was +9,300 in the year to mid-2025. Net migration between elsewhere in the UK and Scotland was +8,600. Together, these gave a total net migration of +17,900. This is lower than the recent peak of +83,300 in the year to mid-2023 and the level (+47,000) in the year to mid-2024.
- In the year to mid-2025, the number of deaths registered in Scotland was greater than the number of births. This has been the case each year from the year ending mid-2015 onwards. In the year to mid-2025, there were more deaths than births in all council areas except Midlothian and Glasgow City.
- Net migration was positive in 25 of Scotland’s 32 council areas over the latest year.
- Scotland’s population is ageing. In mid-2025, an estimated 21.0% of the population were aged 65 and over, an increase from 16.3% in mid-2005. Around 15.8% were aged 0 to 15 years, a decrease from 18.2% in mid-2005.
- The populations of East Lothian, Midlothian, Glasgow City and West Lothian grew the most in the year to mid-2025. East Lothian grew by 1.1% (1,280 people), Midlothian by 0.7% (670 people), Glasgow City by 0.6% (4,010 people) and West Lothian by 0.6% (1,080 people).
- The populations of 20 council areas fell between mid-2024 and mid-2025. The largest falls were in Clackmannanshire (-0.7%, 360 people), Dundee City (-0.6%, 940 people), Na h-Eileanan Siar (-0.6%, 160 people) and Stirling (-0.6%, 580 people).
- These estimates reflect planned revisions to the mid-2023 and mid-2024 population estimates. They reflect the latest estimates of international migration from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and incorporate the latest methodological improvements.
- The estimated population of Scotland on 30 June 2024 has been revised from 5,546,900 to 5,543,300.
- The estimated population of Scotland on 30 June 2023 has been revised from 5,506,000 to 5,511,800.
Scotland’s population at mid-2025
We estimate that Scotland’s population on 30 June 2025 was 5,545,500 people. This is the highest Scotland’s population has ever been.
Scotland’s population has grown each year since the turn of the century, with the exception of 2019-20 when it fell slightly. Between mid-2024 and mid-2025, the population increased by 2,200 people (<0.1%). This was a lower increase than was seen in the previous year (0.6%) and less than the average annual increase (0.4%) over the previous 20 years (2004-24). Figure 1 shows the annual population change for each year since mid-1950.
Figure 1: The population increase between 2024 and 2025 was below the average for the previous twenty years
Annual population change (%), Scotland, 1950 to 2025
In line with the ONS’ approach to revising long-term international migration estimates, the population estimates for mid-2025 will be revised in 2027 when provisional mid-2026 population estimates are published. Both the revised mid-2025 and provisional mid-2026 population estimates will take account of the latest international migration estimates available at that time. More information on future revisions to mid-year population estimates can be found here.
This publication is accompanied by interactive charts and time series data, which allow users to view data for a particular area, and see how it has changed over time.
What has caused the growth in population?
Population change is driven by two main components, natural change and net migration:
- Natural change is the number of births minus the number of deaths.
- Net migration is the number of people moving into an area minus the number of people leaving.
In the year to mid-2025, there were:
- 45,400 births, and
- 61,600 deaths in Scotland.
This resulted in a ‘natural change’ of -16,200.
There have been more deaths than births in each of the last 11 years (Figure 2). The difference between births and deaths was larger in the year to mid-2025 than in the previous year, when natural change was -15,700. There were around 900 fewer births and 500 fewer deaths in the year to mid-2025 than in the previous year.
In the year to mid-2025:
- 107,800 people moved to Scotland; and
- 89,900 people moved out of Scotland.
This resulted in total net migration being +17,900. Figure 2 shows that migration has been adding to Scotland’s population for the last 25 years, as more people have moved to Scotland than left each year. The level of net migration in the year to mid-2025 was lower than the recent peak of +83,300 in the year to mid-2023 and the level (+47,000) in the year to mid-2024. It was also lower than the average annual net migration over the previous 24 years (24,800 people).
Figure 2: More people moved into Scotland than left, while deaths exceeded births
Natural change and net migration, Scotland, 1960 to 2025
There are two types of migration flows which add to Scotland’s population:
- International – moves between Scotland and countries outside of the UK
- Rest of the UK – moves between Scotland and other countries in the UK
International moves in and out of Scotland
This section describes the provisional estimates of international migration into and out of Scotland in the year to mid-2025. Please see Migration estimates in the Background notes section for more information on sources of migration data.
In the year to mid-2025:
- international immigration into Scotland was 57,600; and
- international emigration from Scotland was 48,300.
This resulted in net international migration being +9,300. This is the lowest figure in the last five years.
Figure 3 shows that the number of people moving to Scotland from outside the UK fell by around 29.9% (24,600 people) in the year to mid-2025, compared to the previous year. The number moving out of Scotland to destinations outside the UK fell by around 1.4% (700 people) compared to the previous year.
Note that, due to rounding, migration figures may not add up exactly.
Figure 3: International immigration has fallen since 2023
Rest of UK and international in and out migration, Scotland, 2000 to 2025
Moves between Scotland and the rest of the UK
In the year to mid-2025, more people moved to Scotland from the rest of the UK than moved to the rest of the UK from Scotland:
- 50,200 people moved from the rest of the UK to Scotland.
- 41,600 people moved from Scotland to the rest of the UK.
This resulted in net migration from the rest of the UK being +8,600.
Migration from the rest of the UK to Scotland was fairly stable in the decade to mid-2019. It fell in the year to mid-2020 (at the start of the pandemic), then increased in the year to mid-2021 to its recent peak (56,200) and remained higher than usual in the year to mid-2022. It was at a lower level (48,400) for the following two years, then increased by around 1,800 in the year to mid-2025.
Migration from Scotland to the rest of the UK also fell in the year to mid-2020 and subsequently increased. Between mid-2022 and mid-2024 it was below its five-year average (37,700) for the years before the pandemic (2015-19), but increased by around 7,000 in the year to mid-2025 and is now above the average. As a result of the higher outflows from Scotland compared to recent years, net migration from the rest of the UK is now lower than at any point since the year to mid-2015.
There were 121,420 moves between council areas in Scotland in the year to mid-2025. This does not affect Scotland’s total population.
Other changes
Other changes over the year to mid-2025 resulted in a small increase of 500 people across Scotland.
‘Other changes’ include:
- Changes in the prison population;
- Changes in the number of armed forces personnel based in Scotland; and
- The effects of rounding.
Population across Scotland
Figure 4 shows the total estimated population at mid-year (30 June 2025) in each council area in Scotland.
Figure 4: The population of council areas in Scotland ranged from 654,330 in Glasgow City to 21,920 in Orkney Islands
Population by council area, 2025
Glasgow City had the highest population (654,330), followed by City of Edinburgh (531,370) and then Fife (373,990). The three island council areas had the lowest estimated populations in Scotland: Na h-Eileanan Siar (25,770), Shetland Islands (22,710), and Orkney Islands (21,920).
The age structure of the population
Figure 5 shows the number of females and males for each year of age, from 0 to 90 and over. The effect of a lower birth rate in recent decades can be seen at younger age groups, with the effect of the high birth rate following the Second World War showing around ages 76 to 78. At older ages, the number of females is much higher than the number of males due to higher female life expectancy.
Figure 5: There are more females than males in older age groups
Population by single year of age and sex, Scotland, 2025
Figure 6 shows the percentage of the population in three age groups (0 to 15 years, 16 to 64 years, 65 years and over) in each of Scotland’s council areas.
In mid-2025, the four largest cities in Scotland (Glasgow City, City of Edinburgh, Aberdeen City and Dundee City) had the highest percentages of population aged 16 to 64 years, as well as some of the lowest percentages of people aged 65 and over.
The areas with the lowest percentages of children (aged 0 to 15 years) included Argyll and Bute (13.6%), City of Edinburgh (13.7%), Na h-Eileanan Siar (14.3%) and Dumfries and Galloway (14.6%). The highest figures were all in areas which border cities - East Renfrewshire (20.1%), Midlothian (18.6%), West Lothian (18.1%), East Dunbartonshire (17.6%) and Aberdeenshire (17.6%).
Rural and island areas tended to have an older age profile. The highest percentages of people aged 65 and over were in Dumfries and Galloway (28.7%), Argyll and Bute (28.4%), Na h-Eileanan Siar (28.1%), Scottish Borders (28.0%) and South Ayrshire (28.0%).
Figure 6: Rural areas tend to have higher percentages of people aged 65 and over
Age structure of council areas, 2025
Figures are rounded so may not add up to 100%. Ordered by percentage aged 65 and over.
How has the age structure of the population changed?
Scotland’s population has been increasing but the growth has differed by age group.
In the two decades since mid-2005, the number of people aged:
- 0 to 15 years has decreased by 54,000 (-5.8%).
- 16 to 64 years has increased by 156,900 (+4.7%).
- 65 years and over has increased by 332,400 (+39.9%).
The population of Scotland as a whole increased by 435,300 (8.5%) in the two decades since mid-2005.
Figure 7 shows the change in Scotland’s population by age group since mid-2005.
Figure 7: The number of people aged 0 to 15 years has fallen, whilst the number aged 65 and over has increased
Percentage change in age group, 2005 to 2025
Population change across Scotland
Population change varied across Scotland. In the year to mid-2025, the population grew in 12 council areas and fell in 20 council areas.
Figure 8 and Figure 9 show how population change between mid-2024 and mid-2025 varied across the country. East Lothian grew by 1.1% (1,280 people), Midlothian by 0.7% (670 people), Glasgow City by 0.6% (4,010 people) and West Lothian by 0.6% (1,080 people). In contrast, the population of Clackmannanshire fell by 0.7% (360 people), Dundee City by 0.6% (940 people), Na h-Eileanan Siar by 0.6% (160 people) and Stirling by 0.6% (580 people).
Figure 8: The largest population increases were in Glasgow City and in areas neighbouring City of Edinburgh
Population change by council area, 2024 to 2025
Figure 9: The population has increased in 12 council areas and fallen in 20
Population change by council area, 2024 to 2025
Why has the population of an area changed?
Figure 10 shows the components driving population change in council areas between mid-2024 and mid-2025. The main components of population change are natural change and net migration.
Other smaller changes come from the prison population and number of armed forces personnel based in Scotland, and small rounding adjustments.
In the year to mid-2025, net migration was positive in 25 of Scotland’s 32 council areas. Natural change (births minus deaths) was negative in 30 council areas. The exceptions were Glasgow City (54 more births than deaths) and Midlothian (16 more births than deaths).
More information about the population and components of population change for the year to mid-2025 are available from the data tables on the NRS website.
Figure 10: Net migration was positive in 25 of Scotland’s 32 council areas
Components of population change by council area, 2024 to 2025
Ordered by ascending percentage population change.
How has the age structure of the population changed in Scottish areas?
Figures 11-13 show how the population has changed in broad age groups over the decade to mid-2025.
- Most areas have seen a decrease in the population of children aged 0 to 15 (Figure 11). Areas with the greatest decrease in population aged 0 to 15 were mainly rural and island areas. A few areas which had a large decrease (>7.5%) in the population aged 0 to 15 also saw a large decline in the population aged 16 to 64 (Na h-Eileanan Siar, Shetland Islands and Dumfries and Galloway; Figure 12). In contrast, Midlothian (13.7%) and East Renfrewshire (11.5%) saw the largest increases in population aged 0 to 15.
- All 32 Scottish council areas have seen an increase in their population aged 65 and over in the last decade (Figure 13). The greatest increases in the population aged 65 and over were in East Lothian (29.4%) and Aberdeenshire (27.9%).
Figure 11: The number of people aged 0 to 15 years has decreased in most council areas since 2015
Percentage change in 0 to 15 age group by council area, 2015 to 2025
Figure 12: The number of people aged 16 to 64 years has decreased in most council areas since 2015
Percentage change in 16 to 64 age group by council area, 2015 to 2025
Figure 13: The number of people aged 65 years and over has increased in all council areas since 2015
Percentage change in 65 and over age group by council area, 2015 to 2025
Background notes
Revised mid-2024 and mid-2023 population estimates
The mid-2024 population estimates and the mid-2023 population estimates have been revised in this publication.
Estimates of the mid-2023 population were first published on 8 October 2024. They were then revised on 14 August 2025 to take account of the latest data. They have now been revised again to incorporate the latest methodology used to estimate international migration.
Estimates of the mid-2024 population were first published on 14 August 2024. They have now been revised to take account of the latest data and to incorporate the latest methodology used to estimate international migration.
The revised estimate of the population of Scotland for mid-2023 is 5,511,800; this is higher than the original estimate of 5,506,000 previously published on 14 August 2025. The latest estimate of net international migration in the year between mid-2022 and mid-2023 is +69,400. Net international migration over that period was previously estimated to be to be +63,500.
The revised estimate of the population of Scotland for mid-2024 is 5,543,300; this is lower than the original estimate of 5,546,900 first published on 14 August 2025. The revised estimate of net international migration in the year between mid-2023 and mid-2024 is +33,200. Net international migration over that period was previously estimated to be +42,600.
More detailed breakdowns can be found in the updated migration tables.
The estimates of all other components of population change (births, deaths and migration within Scotland and between Scotland and the rest of the UK) are unchanged.
How are population estimates calculated?
Population estimates are based on the census and are updated each year to account for population change from 1 July to 30 June. They are based on the usually resident population, which covers people living in Scotland for a period of at least 12 months, whatever their nationality. The three elements of population change are:
- Natural change: births minus deaths
- Net migration: the difference between long-term moves into and out of Scotland
- Other changes: changes in the armed forces and prison populations and any rounding adjustments
How are population estimates used?
Population estimates are used for a variety of purposes including:
- Resource allocation
- Planning of services such as education and health
- Informing local and national policy
- Modelling the economy
- As a base for demographic projections
- Incorporating into a range of other official statistics
Strengths and limitations
The numbers in this report are estimates that are created by combining together many different data sources. It is important to consider the strengths and limitations when using population estimates.
Every 10 years the population census provides the most comprehensive estimate of the population of Scotland. The mid-year population estimates in this report are based on rolling the census figures forward each year. This is achieved by using the best data that is available on a nationally consistent basis. Births are added, deaths are subtracted, migration is accounted for and other, mainly small, adjustments are made for special populations such as prisoners and armed forces.
Information from administrative registers, such as the numbers of births and deaths, is considered to be very reliable. However, there is no equivalent source for migration – whether that be within Scotland, between Scotland and other parts of the UK or between Scotland and the wider world. As a result, migration flows are estimated using a variety of different sources. None of these sources are designed to measure migration and so none of them do this perfectly.
Migration estimates
Estimates of migration between Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom are calculated using patient register data - the NHS Central Register (NHSCR) and the Personal Demographic Service (PDS). For example, when someone moves from Scotland to England and registers with a new doctor, this is picked up on both the Scottish NHSCR and the English PDS. It is the receiving nation’s data – England in this example – which is used to determine the migration flows. These migration flows are agreed by the nations of the UK. This provides us with estimates of migration to and from the rest of the UK at Scottish Health Board level. The Community Health Index (CHI), which holds records of people registered with an NHS doctor in Scotland, is then used to distribute these moves amongst councils and smaller areas.
Estimates of migration within Scotland are also based on patient registers – in this case the CHI and the NHSCR.
The approach outlined above, whether estimating moves between Scotland and other parts of the UK or moves within Scotland, relies on people registering with a new GP when they move. It is assumed they will do this within 2 months of moving. We know that some groups of the population, particularly young men and students, are less likely to do this and so migration flows are likely to be under-estimates for these groups.
Estimates of international migration for Scotland are produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). These are disaggregated from their long-term international migration estimates which are published twice-yearly at a UK level. These estimates are currently classed as Official Statistics in Development and are subject to a programme of continuous improvement. The estimates are primarily based on Home Office travel and visa data and the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Registrations and Population Interaction database (RAPID). Additional sources are used to help break the UK-level estimates down to country and council area levels.
More details on the methods and sources used to estimate migration flows can be found in the methodology guide for these statistics.
Uncertainty grows as time passes since the previous census
Errors tend to accumulate over time, and so population estimates will generally be more accurate for the years immediately following a census year than for those immediately prior to a census year.
After each census, National Records of Scotland (NRS) performs a reconciliation exercise to identify any differences between the population estimate from the census and the mid-year population estimate that has been created by rolling forward from the previous census. In the most recent of these exercises, NRS identified that the mid-2022 population estimate based on the 2022 census was 1.1% lower than the mid-2022 population estimate that had been created by rolling forward from the 2011 census - a difference of 62,200 people. The size and direction of differences varied by area and age.
Quality assurance
Quality assurance takes place throughout the production of population estimates, with checks in place to ensure consistency and completeness. More information on the quality assurance arrangements for administrative data used in population estimates is available on the NRS website, along with information on the suitability of the data sources used in the production of the population estimates.
Strengths
- The estimates form the official population estimates for Scotland, providing timely data between censuses.
- Information from administrative registers, such as the numbers of births and deaths, is considered to be very reliable.
- Estimates are coherent with the latest available estimates of international migration based on administrative data.
- These estimates will form the basis of coherent small-area population estimates to be released later in 2026.
Limitations
- The data are not counts, rather they are estimates created by combining many different data sources.
- The data sources used are the best available on a nationally consistent basis down to council area level, but the estimates are subject to the coverage and error associated with these sources. In particular, sources used to estimate migration were not designed for this purpose and so have known limitations.
- Errors tend to accumulate over time, therefore population estimates will generally be more accurate for the years immediately following a census year than for those immediately prior to a census year.
- International migration methods and data sources are still being developed and may lead to revisions to population estimates.
Future developments
The methodology used in the mid-year estimates changes as different methods and data sources become available to NRS. Any improvements to the data sources and methodology of these statistics are discussed and assessed with the Population and Migration Statistics Committee (Scotland).
Links to related statistics
The Scotland’s Census website contains census results, information, and planned dates for future publications.
Population projections for Scotland are available from the NRS website. Population projections for sub-national areas will be published later in 2026.
Population estimates for the UK and its constituent countries are available from the Office for National Statistics website.
The most recent population estimates for small areas and other areas within Scotland for 2011 data zones are available from the NRS website.
The Vital Events Reference Tables, including calendar year births and deaths, are available on the NRS website.
Population estimates of centenarians and people aged 90 and over in Scotland, for the years up to mid-2024, are available on the NRS website.
Information about our statistics
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