Non-UK population of Scotland broadly stable between 2017 and 2018

The non-UK population living in Scotland in 2018 stood at 352,000 non-British nationals or 469,000 non-UK born in 2018, remaining broadly stable over the past year. This follows a period of growth where the non-UK population increased following the expansion of the EU in 2004.

Overall, 7% of the resident population of Scotland have non-British nationality. Of all non-British nationals living in Scotland, 221,000 (63%) were EU nationals and 131,000 (37%) were non-EU nationals.

Polish nationals accounted for one quarter (87,000) of all non-British nationals living in Scotland in 2018, and remain the most common non-British nationality.

The full publication ‘Population by Country of Birth and Nationality for Scotland in 2018’ can be accessed on the NRS website. This includes information on the number of non-British nationals and non-UK born living in Scotland and each council area. Infographics summarising the key findings are also available for this publication.