Scotland’s population continues to rise and reached its highest ever total in 2014. 

Statistics published today by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that the estimated population of Scotland was 5,347,600 in mid-2014. 

The figures show a rise of 19,900 (0.4 per cent) people since mid-2013.
 

The population increased because approximately 3,500 more people were born than died, and because in-migration which includes people from the rest of the UK exceeded out-migration by approximately 17,600 between mid-2013 and mid-2014. Other changes, such as in armed forces and prisoners, resulted in a loss of approximately 1,200 people. 

Between mid-2013 and mid-2014, approximately 49,240 people came to Scotland from the rest of the UK, and approximately 39,660 left Scotland to go in the opposite direction, giving a net migration gain of approximately 9,600.

Between mid-2013 and mid-2014, 33,200 people came to Scotland from overseas and 25,200 left Scotland to go overseas giving a net migration gain of 8,000, which represents about 1 in 700 (0.14 per cent) of the total population.

Other key facts:

Migrants to Scotland tended to be younger than the general population

• Over two thirds of migrants from overseas and nearly half of migrants from the rest of the UK were aged 16-34 years. In the population as a whole, only a quarter were in this age group.

• Only seven per cent of people coming to Scotland from the rest of the UK and one per cent of people entering from overseas were aged 65 and over. Scotland had a net gain of UK migrants in every age group and a net loss of international migrants for the majority of migrants aged over 45.

The average age of Scotland’s population was lower in the big city areas than in more rural Council areas

• The median age (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) of the population in Scotland was 41.

• The median age was lower in big city areas (35 in Glasgow City and 36 in Aberdeen City and the City of Edinburgh) than in more rural Council areas (47 in Argyll & Bute, Dumfries & Galloway, Eilean Siar, Scottish Borders and South Ayrshire).

The population in 23 Council areas has increased while in nine Council areas the population has decreased

• Between mid-2013 and mid-2014, Midlothian had the largest percentage population increase at +1.8 per cent, followed by Aberdeenshire and Edinburgh City (+1.1 per cent) and East Renfrewshire (+1.0 per cent). Inverclyde had the largest percentage population decrease at -0.6 per cent, followed by Eilean Siar (-0.5 per cent) and Argyll & Bute (-0.4 per cent).

• The populations of Aberdeenshire and the City of Edinburgh increased because of more births than deaths and because of net in-migration. (The populations in Midlothian and East Renfrewshire increased primarily because of net in-migration). In contrast, the populations of Inverclyde, Eilean Siar and Argyll & Bute decreased because of more deaths than births and because of net out-migration.

• On average, in mid-2014 there were 69 people per square kilometre in Scotland, ranging from nine people per square kilometre in Eilean Siar and Highland to 3,433 people per square kilometre in Glasgow City Council area.otes To Editors

Notes To Editors

1. The National Records of Scotland (NRS) is a non-ministerial department of the devolved Scottish Administration. It is responsible for producing statistics on Scotland’s population.

2. Today’s report gives estimated population figures for the whole of Scotland and for Council and NHS Board areas. The full publication (including Council and NHS Board area breakdowns) and previous years’ population estimates along with an infographic supplement can be downloaded from Mid Year Population Estimates section of the NRS website.

3. The estimates for NHS Board areas are based on April 2014 boundaries. Boundary changes, effective from 1 April 2014, mean that the boundaries for all 14 NHS Board areas are now aligned with Council area boundaries. More details can be found in the “Notes and definitions” section of the full publication.

4. Population estimates for the UK as a whole will be published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in June 2015. Further details can be found on the ONS website.

5. Information on births and deaths is derived from registration data for the period from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014.

6. Information about migrants is derived from three key sources of data:

• The National Health Service Central Register (NHSCR);
• The Community Health Index (CHI); and
• The International Passenger Survey (IPS).

The NHSCR provides information about moves between NHS Board areas within the UK and migration between council areas within Scotland is estimated using data from the CHI. The source of the information about overseas migration is primarily the IPS and is provided by the UK Office for National Statistics. It is based on a small sample for Scotland and hence there is a higher possibility of error than with the remainder of the population estimates.

7. Some populations are not covered by migration data sources such as the armed forces and prisoners, therefore separate adjustments are made using information collected from armed forces based in Scotland and the Scottish Government Prison Statistics team.

8 The UN definition of an international migrant is someone who changes country of residence for 12 months or more. So short-term seasonal migrants will not be counted in the migration estimates nor in the population estimates.

9. Further statistics on Scotland’s population can be accessed in the Statistics section of the NRS website.

10. Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff. General information about population statistics can be accessed in the About our Statistics section of the NRS website.

Media enquiries should be directed to: Joe Walton 0131 244 4008

Further information about the statistics is available from:

Customer Services, National Records of Scotland, Ladywell House, Ladywell Road, Edinburgh, EH12 7TF

Tel:0131 314 4299

E-mail: customer@gro-scotland.gsi.gov.uk

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