2023

The population of Scotland was estimated to be 5,436,600 on Census Day 2022, according to new data released today by National Records of Scotland (NRS).

This is the largest population ever recorded by Scotland’s Census and is part of the first set of statistics from last year’s census.

The population of Scotland grew by 141,200 (2.7%) since the previous census in 2011. This is a slower rate of growth than between 2001 and 2011, when the population grew by 233,400 (4.6%). Without migration the population of Scotland would have decreased by around 49,800 since 2011.

The other UK censuses showed higher rates of population growth than in Scotland. The population increased by 6.3% in England and Wales, and by 5.1% in Northern Ireland between 2011 and 2021.

The data also highlights Scotland’s ageing population, with over one million people aged 65 and over (1,091,000). This is over a quarter of a million higher than the number of people under 15 (832,300). The number of people in older age groups (65 plus) increased by 22.5% since 2011.

As context, results from the 1971 census show there were twice as many people under 15 than 65 plus, and in 2011, the two age groups were of a broadly similar size.

On census day there were 2,509,300 households with at least one usual resident. This is up 136,500 (5.8%) from the 2011 census. The increase in the number of households (5.8%) is higher than the increase in the population (2.7%).

We know older people are more likely to live alone or in smaller households. There is a related trend towards smaller households and more households overall.

NRS Chief Executive Janet Egdell said:

"This is an exciting milestone for Scotland’s Census and the results paint a fascinating picture of how Scotland and our communities are changing.

“Census data is vital for planning health services, education and transport and the information published through our results will help local and central government, businesses and charities to shape Scotland for years to come.”

Across Scotland, the population increased in 17 council areas between 2011 and 2022, with 10 areas seeing decreases and 5 seeing minimal change. Most of the council areas in the Central Belt saw increases in their populations, particularly those around Edinburgh. These increases were driven by migration from within Scotland and from elsewhere.

NRS will publish further results from Scotland’s Census 2022 from spring 2024 onwards. In summer 2024, a series of topic data reports will provide new and unique insights into the characteristics of Scotland's people, including information on ethnicity, religion, the labour market, education and housing. For the first time, it will also include data on armed forces veterans, sexual orientation and trans status or history.

For more than 200 years Scotland has relied on the valuable data the census provides and it remains the best way to gather vital information about Scotland’s people that data users in the public, private and third sectors need.

Background:

The full report ‘Scotland’s Census 2022 – Rounded population estimates’ can be found on the Scotland’s Census website.

Scotland’s Census are designated as National Statistics and form an integral part of the statistical system in the UK. The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR), the independent regulatory arm of the UK Statistics Authority, awards National Statistics designation based on the quality, good practice and comprehensiveness of official statistics.

Since the census collection period in 2022, NRS has been working closely with the International Steering Group (ISG). The ISG, made up of census and statistical experts from across the world, was established to provide independent external advice on the quality of Scotland’s Census and the statistical approaches that have been used to produce high quality census outputs. Find more information about the work of the ISG and its membership.

Professor James Brown, ABS Professor of Official Statistics at University of Technology and Chair of the ISG said:

“The International Steering Group commends NRS for its systematic and robust application of the census estimation methodology that has led to today’s published estimates.”

Scottish Government Chief Statistician Alasdair McAlpine convened a small group of experienced senior analysts to review the outputs.

He has written to Janet Egdell to confirm: “The outputs will provide the robust population statistics to support the wider statistical system and that analysts and the general public can have confidence in the outputs.”

There has been a census in Scotland every 10 years since 1801, except 1941. The 2021 census in Scotland was moved to 2022 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of deaths registered in Scotland in the second quarter of 2023 was up 7% on the average for this time of year, according to new statistics from National Records of Scotland. 

Analysis on the 14,987 deaths shows the death rate was 1% higher than the average for April to June. This takes into consideration the population has been growing and getting older over time. 

The Quarter 2 Vital Events report also notes 11,061 births were registered, 9.1% lower than the average for the quarter in recent years. 

There were 7,628 marriages which is half a percent lower than the recent average. 

Daniel Burns, Vital Events Statistician at National Records of Scotland, said: 

“This quarter saw an increase in deaths from a range of causes including cancer, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and respiratory disease. 

“While the number of deaths was up by 7% this doesn’t take into account the changing size and age profile of the population so the mortality rate is the more accurate measure to use.”

These figures are provisional and subject to change. The report and the associated data is available on the NRS website. 

Background

Comparisons are usually made by comparing the current year to the average of the previous five years.  For 2023, standard practice would be to compare against the 2018-2022 average.  However, as the 2020 figures were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic – marriages were much lower than usual, deaths were higher, and registration of births was delayed – comparing 2023 figure to the 2018-2022 average would not give a true reflection of how the latest quarter’s figures compare to the average.  Comparisons have therefore been made against the average of the five years 2017-2019 plus 2021-2022.

Since 2015 Q1 Scotland has been in a period of negative natural change (more deaths than births). For the latest four quarter period (2022 Q3 to 2023 Q2) there were 46,304 births and 65,290 deaths, a shortfall of 18,986 births compared to deaths.

Media enquiries should be directed to:
Donna Green
NRS Communications
Tel: 07775-027-380
Email: [email protected] 

Further information about the statistics is available from:
NRS Customer Services
Email: [email protected] 
 

There were 762 probable suicides in 2022, an increase of 9 from 2021, according to figures published today by National Records of Scotland.  

Female suicides increased by 18 to 206, while male suicides decreased by 9 to 556 deaths in the latest year. The rate of suicide in males was almost 3 times as high as the rate for females.

At local level, the rate was higher than the Scottish average in Highland, Dundee City, East Ayrshire and Perth and Kinross council areas.

Daniel Burns, Head of Vital Events Statistics, said:

“While today’s statistics show a small increase in the number of suicide deaths, the rate of mortality in the last number of years has been fairly steady.

“The longer term trend shows that over the last 30 years the rate of suicides for males is around 3 times as high as the female rate.

“Over the last two decades the average age of death has increased, from a low of 41.9 years in 2000 to 48.2 years in 2022. 

“The figures also show that the rate of suicide in the most deprived areas in Scotland was 2.6 times as high as in the least deprived areas in Scotland.”

Comparable suicide statistics for the rest of the UK for 2022 are yet to be released. However, based on 2021 data, Scotland had the second highest rate of suicide deaths of all countries in the UK after Northern Ireland.  

Background

The National Records of Scotland (NRS) is responsible for producing statistics on Scotland’s population. 

The publication Probable Suicides, 2022 is available on our website.

Guidelines issued by Samaritans on the reporting of suicide are available.

If you are struggling to cope, help is available.

NHS inform has a list of resources available to anyone, with many of these available 24 hours a day.

Samaritans can be called for free on 116 123 or contacted via email at [email protected] . Visit the Samaritans website for more information.

Media enquiries should be directed to: 
Sheena Maguire
[email protected] 
m. 07391414659

Further information about the statistics is available from:
Statistics Customer Services    
Tel: 0131 314 4299
E-mail: [email protected]

The mortality rate for July 2023 was lower than the five-year average for this time of year despite the number of deaths being 2% above average, according to provisional data from the National Records of Scotland. 

The age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) was 997 deaths per hundred thousand people, 4% below average which is considered statistically significant. The ASMR measure takes into account the size and age-structure of the population. 

The number of deaths was 4,736 which was 2% higher than the average for the month of July over the last five years. This measure does not take into account how the population has grown larger and older over the years.

Vital Events Statistician with NRS, Daniel Burns, said: 

“The rate of deaths in the population was lower than average levels for July. The number of deaths in July was 2% above the five year average but this does not take into account changes in the population which is growing and also becoming older over time with fewer children and more people in older age groups.

“Our data shows that ischaemic heart disease was the most common cause of death in July, accounting for 11% of all deaths. It was the most common cause of death for men, although for women the most common cause was Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia”.

The full report Monthly Mortality Analysis, Scotland, July 2023 can be found on the NRS website.

These figures are provisional and are subject to change.

Backgrounds

The Monthly Mortality report provides headline figures every month, with much more information available in our downloadable datasets. These datasets all have interactive charts built in, to aid users in exploring the latest trends.

The data in this report is based on the date a death occurred - other analysis can be based on the date a death was registered.

The five year average does not include 2020 due to the unusual pattern of deaths in the first year of the pandemic. An explanation for this methodology agreed with statistics bodies across the UK is available on our website.

Media enquiries should be directed to:
Susie Rose
NRS Communications
Tel: 07500 463452
Email: [email protected] 

Further information about the statistics is available from:
NRS Customer Services
Email: [email protected] 
 

The number of deaths from alcohol-specific causes rose in Scotland in 2022 by 2%, according to figures published today by National Records of Scotland.

In total 1,276 deaths were attributed to alcohol-specific causes last year, 31 more than in 2021; the highest number since 2008. 
Male deaths continue to account for around two thirds of alcohol-specific deaths. Female deaths increased by 31 to 440, with the number of alcohol-specific male deaths unchanged at 836. 

Taking into account the changing size and age-structure of the population, the rate of death had changed from 22.3 per 100,000 to 22.9 per 100,000 over the last year. This is not considered statistically significant. 

Daniel Burns, Head of Vital Events Statistics, said:

“Looking at the long term trend the number of deaths from alcohol-specific causes fell between 2006 and 2012 but has risen since and is now about the same as 2010 levels.

“In 2022, the average age at death for females from an alcohol-specific cause was 58.7 years and for males it was 60.0 years.”

There are 4.3 times as many deaths from these causes in the most deprived communities as in the least deprived communities but this equality gap has been narrowing. This compares to a ratio of 1.8 times for all causes of death.

Background

The National Records of Scotland (NRS) is responsible for producing statistics on Scotland’s population. 

The publication Alcohol-specific Deaths 2022 is available on our website. 

Media enquiries should be directed to:

Susie Rose at [email protected] or by calling 07500 463452

Further information about the statistics is available from:

Statistics Customer Services    

E-mail: [email protected]
 

1,051 people died due to drug misuse in 2022, according to latest statistics published by National Records of Scotland.

This is a decrease of 279 deaths compared with 2021, representing the lowest number of drug misuse deaths since 2017. 

Despite this fall, drug misuse deaths are still more common than they were two decades ago. After adjusting for age, there were 3.7 times as many drug misuse deaths in 2022 compared with 2000.

Glasgow City and Dundee City had the highest rates of drug misuse deaths over the last 5 years while East Renfrewshire and Aberdeenshire had the lowest rates.

Opiates and opioids, including heroin, morphine and methadone, were implicated in more than 8 out of 10 drug related deaths in 2022. 

The majority of drug misuse deaths were classified as accidental poisonings, with 7% classed as intentional self-poisonings.

The rate of drug poisoning deaths in Scotland was 2.7 times as high as the UK average in 2021, the most recent year that data is available for the UK as a whole. 

Julie Ramsay, Head of Demographic Statistics at National Records of Scotland, said:
“While drug misuse deaths have been rising over the last two decades, with a particularly sharp increase after 2013, today’s statistics show the biggest year on year decrease since the series began.
“The statistics provide some insight into the people who are most likely to die from drug misuse. 

“Those living in the most deprived areas of Scotland are almost 16 times as likely to die from drug misuse compared to people living in the least deprived areas. 

“Males are twice as likely to die from drug misuse than females, however the fall in deaths in 2022 was much larger for males than for females.

“The age profile of drug misuse deaths has become older over time, the average age of people who died from drug misuse deaths has increased from 32 in 2000 to 45 in 2022.

Background
The publication Drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2022 is available on our website.

The Office for National Statistics has recently published a blog post that recommends using the drug poisoning definition of drug deaths to compare between UK nations. This is a slightly different measure to the drug misuse deaths definition that NRS use for the headline figures. All UK comparisons in the report are based on the drug poisoning definition. 

Media enquiries should be directed to:
Sheena Maguire
NRS communications
Tel: 07391414659
Email: [email protected]

The first results from Scotland’s Census 2022 will be published by National Records of Scotland (NRS) on Thursday 14 September 2023.

These results will include estimates of the total population of Scotland and the population size in every local authority area, including a breakdown by five year age groups and sex.

There will also be figures showing the change in population since the last census in Scotland in 2011  – both at national and local authority level – as well as population density and household numbers.

For more than 200 years Scotland has used the data the census provides and it remains the best way to gather vital information about Scotland’s people which local and central government, the NHS and a range of other data users in the public, private and third sectors need.

NRS Chief Executive Janet Egdell said:

"The information published through census outputs will help to shape Scotland for future generations. The results on 14 September are the first step in publishing a wide range of unique data that will be used by government and other public bodies to plan vital public services and infrastructure across Scotland in the years to come."

Following the first population estimates released in September, NRS will publish further results from the census from spring 2024 onwards. This will include detailed population data which supports community planning.

In summer 2024, a series of topic data will be published, providing new insights into the characteristics of Scotland's people, including data on ethnicity, religion, the labour market, education and housing.

For the first time, it will also include information on armed forces veterans, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Background:

There has been a census in Scotland every 10 years since 1801, except 1941. The 2021 census in Scotland was moved to 2022 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Access more information about the release schedule for census data.

Since the census collection period in 2022, NRS has been working closely with the International Steering Group (ISG). The ISG, made up of census and statistical experts from across the world, was established to provide independent external advice on the quality of Scotland’s Census and the statistical approaches that will be used to produce high quality census outputs.
 

The mortality rate for June 2023 was similar to the five year average for this time of year despite the number of deaths being 4% above average, according to provisional data from the National Records of Scotland. 

The age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) was 1,030 deaths per hundred thousand people, 1% below the average although this difference is not considered statistically significant. The ASMR measure takes into account the size and age-structure of the population. 

The number of deaths was 4,723 which was 4% higher than the average for the month of June over the last five years. This measure does not take into account how the population has grown larger and older over the years.

Vital Events Statistician with NRS, Daniel Burns, said: 

“The rate of deaths in the population was close to average levels for a second month in a row in June. This comes against a backdrop of a higher than average mortality rate for most of the past twelve months. The number of deaths in June was 4% above the five year average but this does not take into account changes in the population which is growing and also becoming older over time with fewer children and more people in older age groups.

“Our data shows that ischaemic heart disease was the most common cause of death in June, accounting for 11% of all deaths. It was the most common cause of death for men, although for women the most common cause was Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia”.
The full report Monthly Mortality Analysis, Scotland, June 2023 can be found on the NRS website.

These figures are provisional and are subject to change.

Background

The Monthly Mortality report provides headline figures every month, with much more information available in our downloadable datasets. These datasets all have interactive charts built in, to aid users in exploring the latest trends.

The data in this report is based on the date a death occurred - other analysis can be based on the date a death was registered.

The five year average does not include 2020 due to the unusual pattern of deaths in the first year of the pandemic. An explanation for this methodology agreed with statistics bodies across the UK is available on our website. 

Media enquiries should be directed to:
Susie Rose
NRS Communications
Tel: 07500 463452
Email: [email protected] 

Further information about the statistics is available from:
NRS Customer Services
Email: [email protected] 
 

The employment records of more than one thousand lighthouse keepers are now available to see online for the first time on genealogy website ScotlandsPeople. 

Over 2,000 new scanned images of the records of the Northern Lighthouse Board give details of over 1,300 lightkeepers working in 92 lighthouses between 1837 and 1921. 
Lightkeepers had hard working lives: long days and nights maintaining light and fog signals, as well as cleaning and ensuring the upkeep of their isolated stations in harsh conditions.
Many keepers lived in cramped spaces for long periods, often with only basic washing facilities or toilets. They could be isolated from family and friends while they did their crucial work maintaining the safety of shipping around the Scottish coast

The records cover all of Scotland, from Muckle Flugga near Shetland to the most southerly at Drumore, Mull of Galloway. They also include Bell Rock, the world’s oldest working sea-washed lighthouse, and the three keepers of the Flannan Isles who disappeared following a storm in 1900, presumed drowned.

Jocelyn Grant, NRS Outreach and Learning archivist, said:

“The last lighthouse was automated in 1998 and these records shine a light on the working lives of over 1,300 men in a profession that has now mostly passed into history. 

"The Northern Lighthouse Board records are frequently requested by visitors to our buildings. If your ancestor worked in a Scottish lighthouse, there’s a good chance you will find them here."

"This is the latest in a series of popular record sets added to the National Records of Scotland genealogy service ScotlandsPeople as part of our wider programme making more of our archive holdings accessible to people across the country and around the world."

ScotlandsPeople is the country’s official family and social history research website. Record indexes are free to search, with charges for viewing some images. 
 

2022 saw a large increase in couples tying the knot, comparable to the post-war booms of 1919 and 1945, according to figures released by National Records of Scotland. 

There were 30,033 marriages in Scotland in 2022, 24% higher than in 2021 and the highest number since 2012. Aside from the 103% rise in 2021 mainly due to COVID restrictions in relation to weddings in 2020, the only comparable year on year rises were in the post-war years (28% in 1919 and 31% in 1945).

In the report, Annual Births, Deaths, Marriages and other vital events for 2022, statisticians also highlight that Scotland’s Total Fertility Rate has fallen to a new low. At 1.28 it’s down from 1.30 in 2021. TFR must be at least 2.1 for a country’s population to replace itself. There were 46,959 births in Scotland in 2022 which is 2% lower than in 2021 but slightly higher than the lowest number ever recorded (46,809 in 2020).

Head of Vital Events Statistics, Daniel Burns, said: 

Following the global health emergency these statistics show us the scale of the disruption. “Only the two world wars have had more impact on the number of marriages taking place.

“There were 62,941 deaths in 2022, down by 1% on 2021. There were 15,982 more deaths than births. This measure is sometimes called “natural change”. The last time Scotland had more births than deaths was in 2014. Scotland’s overall population has continued to grow since this time through inward migration alone.”

There were 630 civil partnerships registered in 2022, the highest number since 2007. The majority of civil partnerships in Scotland are mixed sex (84% in 2022), following a legislation change in 2021 which allowed this.

Background

The data behind this release can be found on the NRS website; Vital Events Reference Tables 2022

Contacts: 
Media enquiries should be directed to:  
Donna Green – 07775-027-380
NRS Communications
Email: [email protected]