The number of births in Scotland in 2024 was the lowest since records began in 1855, according to new statistics from National Records of Scotland.
45,763 live births were registered – 172 or 0.3% fewer than in 2023 and the lowest annual total since the introduction of civil birth registration and official figures. The total fertility rate also fell to 1.25, the lowest on record.
The stillbirth rate was 3.5 for every thousand live and still births, the joint lowest recorded. The infant death rate also fell to 3.5 per thousand live births, down from a recent high of 4.0 in 2023.
In 2024, there were 62,291 deaths registered, 2% fewer than in 2023. The age-standardised mortality rate fell to 1,105 per 100,000 people, the lowest on record. Mortality was higher for males than for females.
In 2024 there were 16,528 more deaths than births. The last time Scotland had more births than deaths was in 2014, and the gap has generally widened since then.
Phillipa Haxton, head of vital events statistics for NRS, said:
“The annual figures for 2024 show a year of record lows. Births, fertility, stillbirth and age-standardised mortality rates are all at their lowest levels since our records began.
“These figures reflect long-term changes in our population. Scotland has had more deaths than births for over a decade. The gap has widened over time but there was a small narrowing in the most recent year due to a static birth rate and fewer deaths.”
There were 26,955 marriages in 2024, 202 more than in 2023. 796 civil partnerships were celebrated, the highest number since 2006, with 83% of these being between mixed sex couples.
