Scotland’s population grows

In the year to mid 2023, Scotland’s population rose faster than at any time since the 1940s, according to National Records of Scotland.

NRS Mid-Year Population Estimates for 2023 put the country’s population at 5,490,100. That is up 43,100 from the middle of 2022. It is a 0.8% increase on the previous year and the biggest jump in one year since 1946-1947. 

Head of Demographic Statistics Esther Roughsedge said:

“The main driver of population growth over the year was people moving to Scotland from abroad and other parts of the UK.

Almost two-thirds of people moving to Scotland came from outside the UK. We also saw a fall in the number of people leaving Scotland.

“Without migration into Scotland, the population would have fallen. Deaths outnumbered births by the highest amount on record. There were 19,100 more deaths than births.”

Inward migration fell slightly compared to the previous 12 months but there was a bigger drop in outward migration. 

Scotland’s population is getting older. More than a fifth of Scotland’s population were 65 and over, with 16% aged 0 to 15 years. This is due to the baby booms of the previous century and the falling birth rate.

The populations of the larger cities have grown the most between mid-2022 and mid-2023. City of Edinburgh grew by 1.7% or 8,680 people, Glasgow City by 1.6% or 9,920 people and Aberdeen City by 1.6% or 3,500 people. In contrast, the populations of a number of rural and island council areas have fallen in the year to mid-2023.

Notes: 

• The full report on Mid-Year Population Estimates 2023 is available on the NRS website along with data tables including local authority breakdowns. 
• ONS is publishing Mid-Year Population Estimates for the UK today. You can find these at www.ons.gov.uk
• In 1946-1947 a large number of people were demobilised from the military and returning from overseas postings following the end of World War II.  Today’s military is far smaller but personnel are now counted as part of population statistics even when they are based overseas.

Media contact: Susie Rose at [email protected] or call 07500463452

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