Births, Deaths and Other Vital Events - Quarterly Figures: Fourth Quarter

Last update: 12 March 2024
Next update: June 2024

Changes to methodology for excess deaths

The methodology used to calculate excess deaths changed in February 2024. More information on these changes, including figures comparing the old and new methods, can be found on the ONS website.

	Report (PDF 406 KB)		Data and Charts
	News Release		Infographic

Key Points

• There were 11,332 births registered in Scotland between 1 October and 31 December 2023. This is 7.8 per cent lower than the quarter four average of 12,289.

• At 15,739 the number of deaths in 2023 quarter four is 6.9 per cent lower than the expected number of deaths, which was 16,898. 

• There were 46 stillbirths (4.0 per 1,000 live and still births) in quarter four of 2023. This is the same number as the quarter four average.

• The infant death rate was 3.4 (per 1,000 live births) in the fourth quarter of 2023. This is lower than in the first three quarters of 2023 but there has been a generally increasing trend in the infant death rate since 2020.

• There were 5,634 marriages in quarter four of 2023. This was 9.0% lower than the recent average.

• There were 232 same-sex marriages, compared with a five-year average of 235. 

• Since June 2021 mixed-sex couples have been able to form a civil partnership. Of the 183 civil partnerships registered in the fourth quarter of 2023, 146 involved mixed-sex couples. 

• There were 37 same-sex civil partnerships, compared with a five-year average of 23.
   

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