National Records of Scotland

Preserving the past, Recording the present, Informing the future

Population Estimates

Population Estimates

The size of the population is estimated on an annual basis, using 30th June (mid-year) as a reference point. Following the publication of the mid-year population estimates for Scotland, its councils and health boards, a range of other population statistics are released, including estimates for small areas (known as data zones) and other geographies (including wards, parliamentary constituencies, settlements and localities, urban rural and deprived areas). Population estimates are also available for various sub-groups including centenarians and by country of birth and nationality.

Publications

Mid-Year Population Estimates
The latest annual mid-year population estimates for Scotland and its constituent NHS board and council areas. This section also includes historical data back to 1982 and a time series dataset back to 1855.

Centenarians (and people aged 90 and over) Population Estimates
The latest annual mid-year estimates of persons aged 90 and over at Scotland and Sub-national levels.

Small Area Population Estimates
The latest annual mid-year small area population estimates for 2011 Data Zones from 2001 onwards.

Other Geographies (2011 Data Zone based) 
The latest annual mid-year Small Area Population Estimates based on the 2011 Data Zone boundaries, including estimates for data zones, wards, parliamentary constituencies, urban rural areas (based on the Scottish Government’s Urban Rural Classification), deprived areas (based on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation), and Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) areas. This section currently includes data back to mid-2001.

Other Geographies (2001 Data Zone based) (Archived)
The annual mid-year Small Area Population Estimates based on the 2001 Data Zone boundaries, including estimates for data zones, wards, parliamentary constituencies, urban rural areas (based on the Scottish Government’s Urban Rural Classification), deprived areas (based on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation), and Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) areas. This section included historical data back to 1996.  

Settlements and Localities
This section contains the biennial mid-year population estimates for Settlements and Localities. 

Population by Country of Birth and Nationality
Estimates of the population by Country of Birth and Nationality from the Annual Population Survey (APS).

Marital Status Population Estimates Scotland
This publication contains the estimated resident population by age, sex and legal marital status for Scotland for mid-2008, and for mid-2001 to mid-2007.

Contact Us

Please get in touch if you need any further information, or have any suggestions for improvement.

E-mail: [email protected]

Lead Statistician: Esther Roughsedge

For media enquiries, please contact [email protected] 

All statistical publications