Migration drives Scotland’s fastest population increase since 1940s

Scotland’s population has risen faster than any year since the 1940s, according to figures from the National Records of Scotland.

The Mid-Year Population Estimates 2023 put the population at 5,490,100 people – up 43,100 from the year before, the highest annual growth in 76 years.

The increase was driven by people moving to Scotland, while outward migration fell.

Head of demographic statistics at NRS Esther Roughsedge said: “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.”

There were 19,100 more deaths than births, meaning without inward migration the population would have fallen.

This is the ninth consecutive year deaths outnumbered births.

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

In the year to mid-2023, 131,200 people moved to Scotland and 69,900 people moved out. Of those moving into Scotland, 82,800 came from abroad while the remainder moved from elsewhere in the UK.

The figures also estimate that over a fifth of people living in Scotland are over 65, while just a sixth are under 15.

Populations grew most in the largest cities – Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen – but fell in a number of rural and island council areas. Rural areas also tended to have an older population.