This appendix gives general notes on some of the data and conventions used in this report as well as providing definitions for some of the terms used.
General
Conventions for tables
Where a range of years is listed in a table (for example, ‘1980-82’), the data we have given will be an average for that length of time.
In all tables ‘year’ means ‘calendar year’ unless we tell you otherwise. Many of the ranges of years start at census years (for example, 1991).
The date events happen and the date of registration
The data for births and deaths in the Population chapter are for mid-year periods (from 1 July of one year to 30 June of the next) and relate to the date the event happened and not to the date the event was registered. For example, a birth on 30 June 2009 which was registered on 4 July 2009 would be included in the mid-2009 figures, which relate to the period from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009.
All of the other data for births and deaths, as well the data for stillbirths, marriages and civil partnerships, are for calendar years and relate to the date the event was registered, and not the date the event actually happened. For example, a birth on 31 December 2008 which was registered on 4 January 2009 would be included in the 2009 figures. Almost all births and stillbirths are registered within 21 days, as the law requires. The same is true of marriages and civil partnerships, where the legal periods are three days, and deaths, where the legal period is eight days.
Place the relevant person usually lives and the place the event happens
Births, stillbirths, and deaths are generally allocated to the area the relevant person (the mother for births and stillbirths, and the person who has died for deaths) usually lives if this is in Scotland, otherwise they are allocated to the area in which the event happened. However, a death may be allocated to the area where the person used to live if the area is in Scotland and the person had lived at their usual address for less than 12 months.
Marriage and civil partnership figures relate to the area the event took place.
Age
Ages relate to the person’s age on their last birthday.
When working out average ages (such as the average age at death, and the average age of mothers at childbirth) we have added half a year to people’s age at their last birthday. For example, to work out the overall average age at death, we have assumed that the average age of 77-year-olds who died was 77 years and 6 months.
Age standardisation
A straight comparison of rates alone between areas may present a misleading picture because of differences in sex and age between the different populations. Because of this, we have used standardisation in certain tables and charts. Standardisation allows areas with different age and sex structures to be easily compared, comparing the actual number of events that happen in an area with the total number of events that would be expected in the standard population. In this report, the standard population refers to the overall Scottish population for the year or years in question.
Lists of groups of countries
EU-15 refers to the countries that were member states of the European Union before 1 May 2004, which were Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
EU-25 refers to the EU-15, plus the countries that became member states of the European Union between 1 May 2004 and 31 December 2006, which were Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.
EU-27 refers to the EU-25, plus the countries that became member states of the European Union after 1 January 2007, which were Bulgaria and Romania.
Population
All population figures refer to estimates at 30 June of the relevant year.
Population covered
The estimated population of an area includes all those who usually live there, whatever their nationality. Students are treated as living at their term-time address. Members of UK and non-UK armed forces stationed in Scotland are included, but UK forces stationed outside Scotland are not. Short-term international migrants (who stay for less than 12 months) are also not included.
Population projections
The Registrar General asks the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to prepare population projections with input from GROS statisticians. The latest national projections were published in October 2009, and were based on 2008 population estimates.
Migration
Net migration figures (the number of people moving to Scotland minus the number of people moving out of Scotland) include people joining and leaving the Armed Forces but do not include other changes, such as changes in the numbers of Armed Forces stationed in Scotland.
UK regions
For the purposes of this document, the regions of the UK are Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Government Office Regions of England. You can find a map at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/gor.asp
Births
Cohort
A well-defined group of people who have had a common experience and are observed through time. For example, ‘the birth cohort of 1976’ refers to the people born in that year.
General fertility rate (GFR)
The number of births per 1,000 women of childbearing age (15 to 44).
Total fertility rate (TFR)
The average number of children that would be born, per woman, to a cohort of women who experienced, throughout their childbearing years, the fertility rates for the calendar year in question.
Age specific fertility rate (ASFR)
The number of births per person for a specific age during a specified time.
Marital status of parents
‘Married parents’ refers to parents who are married to each other. ‘Unmarried parents’ refers to parents who are unmarried, or who are married but not to each other.
Deaths
Cause-of-death coding
From 1 January 2000, deaths in Scotland have been coded in line with the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (Tenth Revision), also known as ICD10. We put the underlying causes of death into classes based on information collected on the medical certificate of cause of death, together with any extra information the certifying doctor provides later. We also take account of changes that Procurators Fiscal tell us about. The Crown Office supply extra information about suicides.
Our website provides more detailed information about death certificates, coding the causes of death, and how we produce statistics of deaths from certain causes – http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/deaths/deaths-background-information/death-certificates-and-coding-the-causes-of-death
Stillbirth
Section 56(1) of the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 (as amended by the Still-Birth (Definition) Act 1992) defines a stillbirth as a child born after the 24th week of pregnancy which does not breathe or show any other sign of life.
Perinatal deaths
This refers to stillbirths and deaths in the first week of life.
Infant deaths
This refers to all deaths in the first year of life.
Life expectancy
The average number of extra years a person can expect to live if current mortality trends continue for the rest of that person’s life. Most commonly referred to in relation to life expectancy at birth.
Marriages
Civil marriages were introduced by the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1939, which came into force on 1 July 1940.
Civil partnerships
The Civil Partnership Act 2004, which applies throughout the UK, came into force on 5 December 2005. The act allows same-sex couples aged 16 and over to get legal recognition of their relationship. In Scotland, the first civil partnership was registered on 20 December 2005.
Divorces
The data on divorces relate to the date on which the decrees were granted.
Dissolutions of civil partnerships
The data on dissolutions of civil partnerships relate to the date on which the decree was granted. The first dissolution of a civil partnership in Scotland was granted in April 2007.
Adoptions
The Registrar General for Scotland registers adoptions under the Adoption of Children (Scotland) Act 1930.
Households and housing
Like population projections, household projections are produced every two years, and are mainly used for informing decisions about future housing need and providing services. The latest household projections, covering the length of time from 2008 to 2033, take account of the results of the latest population projections. They also include information from the last two censuses to help project trends in how households are structured by type of household and by the age of the head of household. The head of household is defined in the census as the first person on the census form who is aged 16 or over and usually lives at the address in question.
The projections give an indication of what would happen if past trends continue. They do not take account of policy initiatives, or other factors that may affect future populations. Projections for small groups are likely to be less reliable than those for larger groups. You can get household estimates and projections publications from: http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/households.
Urban and rural classifications
‘Large urban areas’ refers to settlements of over 125,000 people.
‘Other urban areas’ refers to settlements of 10,000 to 125,000 people.
‘Accessible small towns’ refers to settlements of between 3,000 and 10,000 people that are within 30 minutes’ drive of a settlement of 10,000 people or more.
‘Remote small towns’ refers to settlements of between 3,000 and 10,000 people that are not within 30 minutes’ drive of a settlement of 10,000 people or more.
‘Accessible rural’ settlements are settlements of less than 3,000 people that are within 30 minutes’ drive of a settlement of 10,000 people or more.
‘Remote rural’ settlements are settlements of less than 3,000 people that are not within 30 minutes’ drive of a settlement of 10,000 people or more.
Deprivation
The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation helps find small-area concentrations of deprivation across all of Scotland in a fair way. It is based on 38 indicators in eight fields – income, employment, health, education, skills and training, housing, geographic access and crime.