2018

The number of households in Scotland has continued to increase to 2.46 million in 2017, according to figures published today by National Records of Scotland (NRS).

'Estimates of Households and Dwellings in Scotland, 2017' shows over the last ten years the number of households in Scotland has grown by around 145,000 (six per cent). 

Over a third of households are single person households, and just over 900,000 people are living alone (Scottish Household Survey 2016, figure below).

The growth in households is partly due to the rising population, but also because people are increasingly living alone, or with fewer other people. Households consisting of only one person have been the most common type in Scotland since 2010.

The number of households has increased in every council area over the last ten years, with the greatest relative increases occurring in Midlothian and the Orkney Islands.

According to the estimates published today, there were 2.60 million dwellings in Scotland in 2017. Three per cent (79,200 dwellings) were empty, and a further one per cent (25,700 dwellings) were second homes. Empty and second homes are concentrated in different parts of the country. For example, remote rural areas have a higher percentage of empty and second homes than urban areas.

The full publication Estimates of Households and Dwellings in Scotland, 2017 is available on this website.

An Infographic and Interactive Data Visualisation is also available for this publication on the NRS website.

After five years as Chief Executive, Tim Ellis leaves National Records of Scotland (NRS) today to take up a new role in the Scottish Government. 

Anne Slater, NRS Director of Operations and Customer Services, has now been appointed as Acting Chief Executive while recruitment for a permanent successor continues. 

Tim Ellis said: “I am leaving NRS with mixed feelings. I’m excited to be taking up my new role but also sad as I leave behind such a great organisation and so many respected colleagues.  

“I look forward to watching NRS’ continued success in future with interest and pride.”

Anne Slater said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to take forward our key programmes and delivery of our services.”

For the 8th year running, Scotland’s population has continued to increase and stands at a record high of 5.42 million, according to statistics published today by the National Records of Scotland (NRS).

The figures relate to Scotland’s population as at 30 June 2017 and show the population continuing to age, with just under one in five people (19%) aged 65 and over, compared to 16% in 2007.

Why has Scotland’s population increased?

Positive net migration is the reason Scotland’s population increased, with 23,900 more people coming to Scotland than leaving (from both overseas and the rest of the UK) over the year to mid-2017. In contrast, natural change (births minus deaths) has not contributed to Scotland’s population growth. Across Scotland, there were 3,800 more deaths than births in the year to mid-2017.  

Although Scotland’s population increased by 0.4% over the year, the growth rate has slowed compared to previous years. This is due to a reduction in overall net migration (down from 31,700 people in the year to mid-2016), and an increase in the number of deaths. Nevertheless, Scotland’s latest population growth remains in line with the normal ranges we have seen over the past decade, where annual growth varied between 0.3% to 0.7%. 

Tim Ellis, the Registrar General for Scotland, said:

“Migration continues to be main driver of Scotland’s population growth, but in the year following the EU referendum fewer people arrived from overseas than in the previous year. Overall net migration, from both overseas and the rest of the UK, remained positive with more people coming to Scotland than leaving. The growth in Scotland’s population varies across the country – around two thirds of Scotland’s councils (21 councils) increased in population over the last year, compared to a third (11 councils) which experienced population decline.”

An Infographic summarising the key points of the NRS report and an Interactive data visualisation comparing mid-year population estimates between Scottish council areas is available on the NRS website.

The full publication Mid-2017 population estimates Scotland is also available on this website.

Scotland’s population growth over the next ten years is projected to be predominantly in the central belt and urban areas, and mostly as a result of migration patterns, according to figures published today by National Records of Scotland. 

Three quarters of local authority areas (24 councils) are expected to see growth, with the remainder projected to face depopulation over the next decade.

The Population Projections for Scottish Areas are based on the latest mid-2016 population estimates and provide an indication of the future population size and age structure of Scottish areas based on a set of assumptions about future fertility, mortality and migration.

Tim Ellis, the Registrar General for Scotland, said:

“Migration is driving projected increases in population in most areas of Scotland over the next 10 years. Scotland’s population is also projected to age. Between 2016 and 2026, all council areas in Scotland are projected to experience an increase in their population aged 75 and over.”

The report breaks down further the National Population Projections published at Scotland and UK level on 26 October 2017, which showed that Scotland’s population is projected to increase by 3% over the next 10 years.

An infographic summarising the key points of the NRS report and an interactive data visualisation comparing population projections between Scottish council areas is available on the NRS website.

The full publication Population Projections for Scottish Areas (2016-based) is also available on this website.

The number of people registered to vote in elections in Scotland has increased in 2017, according figures published today by National Records of Scotland. This is the second successive year that the Scottish electorate has increased, following the previous drop in numbers caused by the introduction of Individual Electoral Registration (IER). The latest increase is seen across the electorates for the UK Parliament, Scottish Parliament and Local Government.

 As at 1 December 2017:

• The number of UK Parliamentary electors in Scotland rose by 20,700 (0.5%) to 3.95 million, compared to December 2016.
• The number of registered Local Government and Scottish Parliament electors in Scotland rose by 31,700 (0.8%) to 4.12 million.
• There were increases to the electorate for 43 out of 59 UK Parliament constituencies, 57 out of 73 Scottish Parliament constituencies and 245 out of 354 Local Government electoral wards.
• The number of electors who are (non-UK) EU nationals increased by 11,800 (10.4%) on the previous year to 125,000. This is the highest recorded level of EU nationals registered to vote in Scotland, but the year-on-year change is smaller than was seen between December 2015 and December 2016 (when it increased by 17,200).
• The number of 16 and 17 year olds registered to vote in Local Government and Scottish Parliament elections increased by 3,900 (4.9%) to 83,500, compared to December 2016.

The full publication Electoral Statisitcs for Scotland, as of 1 December 2017 is available on this website.

An Infographic is also available for this publication on this website.

Olivia and Jack remain the most popular baby names in Scotland, and Smith, Brown and Wilson the three top surnames, according to figures published today by National Records of Scotland (NRS).

The full lists of first names given to babies whose births were registered in 2017 replace the top 100 lists published in December, and include the first name of every baby, including those whose births were registered in December.

The three top surnames in the Birth, Marriage and Death registers for 2017 - Smith, Brown and Wilson - have been the most common surnames recorded in the registers for over 40 years, based on five-yearly analysis going back to 1975.

The website includes annual lists of babies’ first forenames back to 1974, and information about how the top names have changed. Many names which were once very popular have gone out of fashion. A table of the Top Ten names for each sex for 1975 and for every fifth year thereafter, shows that (for example):

• for girls, none of the names that were in the Top Ten in 1975 appeared in the Top Ten in 2000 or 2015, and none of the Top Ten in 2000 survived into the Top Ten in 2015;
• Nicola, which was the top name in 1975, had dropped out of the Top Ten by 1995 (when Nicole was in the Top Ten). Karen, second in 1975, had gone from the Top Ten by 1985; Susan, third in 1975, had gone by 1980;
• for boys, David, John and Paul, which were the Top Three in 1975, did not appear anywhere in the Top Ten in 2000 or 2015. Paul had dropped out by 1990, John by 1995 and David by 2000;
• James, fourth in 1975, is the only name which has been in its Top Ten in every one of the selected years;

More Information

1. The full publications Babies' First Names 2017 and Most common surnames in the Birth, Marriages and Death registers for 2017 are available on this website.

2. An Infographic for Babies' First Names 2017 is also available on this website.

3. NRS’s 'baby names' app enables anyone to explore the rises and falls in the popularity of particular names since 1974.

Provisional figures for vital events registered in Scotland during the fourth quarter of 2017 were published today by National Records of Scotland and show that 12,821 births, 15,198 deaths and 5,975 marriages were registered between October and December.

At 12,821, the number of births registered was 172 (1.3 per cent) fewer than in the same period of 2016 and the lowest quarter four total since 2000.

At 15,198, the number of deaths registered was 626 (4.3 per cent) greater than in the same period of 2016 and the highest quarter four total since 2003.

Compared with the fourth quarter of 2016:

• the number of deaths from coronary heart disease rose by 1.3 per cent to 1,754;
• Deaths from cerebrovascular disease fell by 5.0 per cent to 1,018;
• There were 4,242 deaths from cancer (an increase of 5.9 per cent);
• Deaths from respiratory system diseases fell by 7.2 per cent  to 1,808;
• There was an increase of 15.8 per cent in the number of deaths from Alzheimer’s Disease (673);
• The number of deaths from dementia rose by 12.3 per cent to 1,131 (although respiratory disease, Alzheimer’s and dementia deaths are affected by the change in cause of death coding software – refer to note 2 below for more details.)

Over the longer term, deaths from coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease have decreased considerably whilst the number of deaths from cancer and respiratory disease has risen slightly.  There has been a relatively large increase in the number of deaths from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease with such deaths now accounting for more than 10 per cent of all deaths compared to 5 per cent a decade ago.

At 5,975, the number of marriages registered was 391 (6.1 per cent) fewer than in the fourth quarter of 2016.  There were 228 same-sex marriages, a rise of 20 (9.6 per cent) compared with the same period of 2016.  Thirty-one (13.6 per cent) of the same sex marriages registered in the fourth quarter were changes from civil partnerships. 

There were 23 civil partnerships (14 male and 9 female), six more than during the fourth quarter of 2016.

The full publication Births, Deaths and Other Vital Events - Quarterly Fiqures is available on this website.

Figures published today by the National Records of Scotland show nine out of ten people in Scotland live in settlements of 500 people or more. 

The statistics show the population in mid-2016 of all areas designated as settlements and localities in Scotland. Settlements are defined as built-up areas of 500 people or more, with larger settlements divided into localities to reflect areas which are more easily identifiable as the towns and cities of Scotland.

These statistics can be used to help understand the population of local communities.

They also feed into the production of the Scottish Government’s Urban Rural Classification which provides a consistent way of defining urban and rural areas across Scotland based on settlement population size and accessibility.

Key findings from the latest statistics:

• As of mid-2016 there are 519 settlements and 655 localities, this is an increase on the 516 settlements and 643 localities identified in mid-2012.
• Over 90% of people in Scotland live within settlements. Settlements account for just over 2% of Scotland’s area. 
• Seven new settlements have been included because their estimated population now exceeds 500 people. These are:
  • Ancrum, Scottish Borders
  • Darnick, Scottish Borders
  • Dirleton, East Lothian
  • Finstown, Orkney Islands
  • Gairloch, Highland
  • Gartloch, Glasgow City
  • Methlick, Aberdeenshire
     
• The publication includes details of other settlements and localities that have been separated, joined together, changed name, or passed one of the population thresholds used in the Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification (3,000, 10,000, or 125,000).
• Greater Glasgow is the largest settlement in Scotland with an estimated population of 985,290, representing 20% of Scotland’s total population. The settlement of Greater Glasgow is distributed across seven local authority areas.
• The locality of Glasgow is the largest locality in Scotland and corresponds more closely to the city area. It has a population of 612,040. 
• The council area with the largest number of settlements within its boundaries is Aberdeenshire which has 62 settlements. However the combined population of these settlements accounts for only 3.5% of Scotland's population.
• The council with the highest proportion of people living in settlements is Glasgow City, with less than 0.1% of its population living outside of a settlement. By contrast, in the council area of Na h-Eileannan Siar, 70% of the population live outside of a settlement.

The full publication Mid-2016 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland is available on this website.

An Infographic is also available for this publication on this website.

Records shed light on the Bard’s politics and character

Two newly-identified letters on display for the first time at National Records of Scotland (NRS) reveal how Robert Burns was viewed by his contemporaries.

The letters, written by John Mitchell, Burns’ boss, to one of the poet’s most important patrons, Robert Graham of Fintry, will inform debate on the extent of the Bard’s radicalism.

The first letter, written in 1789, describes how on being told he had been appointed as an excise man, Burns “…stood with Eyes & hands, directed upwards, in an attitude Poetically fancifull.”

The second letter, from 1796, makes arrangements for providing for Burns’ family after his death – and shows what Mitchell thought of Burns’ radicalism. He writes:

“He had certainly many shining qualities, blended with foibles of various kinds, the most irreconcilable whereof were his political principles, which somehow unluckily was rooted, & proves now a drawback to the humane feelings of many, but such a Genious as he possessed behoved to have eccentricities of some kind or other.”

These remarkable documents are being displayed for the first time alongside other unique treasures from the National Records of Scotland (NRS), including a rare document in the poet’s own hand writing, as part of ‘Robert Burns: Radical Exciseman’, a free exhibition running in General Register House in Edinburgh from 25 January to 23 February.

International Development Minister Alasdair Allan said:

“These newly-identified documents on display at National Records of Scotland shed a fresh ray of light on Robert Burns, his character, his beliefs and his career.

“I would urge people to celebrate Burns Night by finding out more about the Bard at this fascinating exhibition.”

Dr David Brown, Head of Court, Legal and Private Records at NRS said:

“This is a rare opportunity to see documents about Robert Burns written by those who knew him, as well as a document in the poet’s own handwriting.”

Noted Burns expert Professor Gerard Carruthers, Francis Hutcheson Professor of Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow, said:

“The newly discovered letters confirm Burns’s enthusiasm for the Excise service, where he found many likeminded individuals and an amenable space in which he could develop an increasing enthusiasm for political reform. This is the paradox of his life in this period: government service and a potentially sceptical attitude towards government”. 

The documents form part of the Graham of Fintry papers, which were acquired for the nation by National Records of Scotland in 2009.

The free ‘Robert Burns: Radical Exciseman’ exhibition takes place from 25 January – 23 February, Monday to Friday from 09.30-16.30 at: National Records of Scotland, General Register House, 2 Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3YY

More information is available on our Exhibitions Page. To see our current programme of talks relating to Robert Burns and the work of National Records of Scotland, see the Events, Talks and Visits section of this website.

Newly opened government files available at National Records of Scotland shed light on Scottish Cabinet discussions in the year 2002.

That year, First Minister Jack McConnell’s Labour/Liberal Democrat Cabinet considered a number of issues including a serious fire in Edinburgh’s Old Town, floods in Glasgow and Moray, and an (ultimately unsuccessful) joint bid between Scotland and Ireland to host the Euro 2008 football championship.

The files form part of the annual release of archived information after 15 years by Scottish Government. They add a considerable amount of extra information about 2002 to that found in government records already opened due to a policy of proactive release.

In welcoming the latest releases, Tim Ellis, Chief Executive of NRS and Keeper of the Records of Scotland, said 

“Scottish Government records are important for our understanding of our recent history, and preserving them and making them available to the public is a key part of our role at the National Records of Scotland.

“With proposals for a smacking ban, discussions on funding for school and prison buildings, and the introduction of a ban on fox hunting and hare coursing, 2002 saw activity across a wide range of policy areas which are still relevant today.”

Following the New Year public holiday, the newly opened files will be available to view in our public search room from Wednesday 3 January. The Cabinet files will be available in digital format. The other paper files can be seen in January without the need to pre-order. Details can be found in the file list below.

The full list of files released in 2018 can be viewed in PDF. (380 KB PDF)

Please note that you will need a current reader’s ticket to view files in our search room. How to obtain a reader’s ticket, and what preparations to make, can be found in the preparing to visit page of this website.