Scotland’s population increased by 2,200 in the year to mid-2025, according to new figures from National Records of Scotland (NRS).
Scotland’s population was estimated to be 5,545,500 at mid-2025. This represents an increase of less than 0.1% from the previous year, which is smaller than the increases seen in most recent years.
In the two decades to mid-2024, the average annual population increase was around 23,000.
There were 45,400 births and 61,600 deaths in the year to mid-2025. As a result, migration continues to be the main driver of population growth, with net international migration at 9,300 from mid-2024 to mid-2025, and net migration between the rest of the UK and Scotland at 8,600. Together these give a total net migration of 17,900, which 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.
Andrew White, Head of Population and Migration Statistics at NRS, said:
“Scotland’s population is continuing to rise but at a reduced rate compared to recent years. This increase is driven by people moving to Scotland from the rest of the UK and internationally.
“In the year to mid-2025, deaths outnumbered births in all council areas except Midlothian and Glasgow City. The overall number of deaths registered in Scotland was greater than the number of births, continuing a trend we have seen since 2015.”
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 out of the 32 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).
Scotland's population continues to age. At mid-2025, 21.0% of the population were aged 65 and over, compared with 16.3% at mid-2005. Over the same period, the percentage of children aged 0 to 15 years fell from 18.2% to 15.8%.
Background
Read the full publication Mid-Year Population Estimates 2025 on the NRS website. The data is also available to download.
These estimates reflect planned revisions to the mid-2024 population estimates (first published on 14 August 2025) and mid-2023 population estimates (first published on 8 October 2024 and revised on 14 August 2025).
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. These revisions reflect the latest estimates of international migration from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and incorporate the latest methodological improvements.
