Scotland's population rises to highest level in three decades

Published on Tuesday 28 April 2009 15:07

SCOTLAND'S population has risen to its highest for 28 years, figures showed today.

The country's estimated population last June was 5,168,500, a rise of 24,300 on the previous year.

It was the sixth year in a row that Scotland's population increased.

Most of the increase was due to more people coming to Scotland than leaving it, according to the Registrar General for Scotland.

In the 12 months up to June 2008, births exceeded deaths by 3,900 – the biggest natural increase since 1991.

But there was a bigger net gain, of 20,000, from inward migration – 11,500 people from the rest of the UK, 7,700 from overseas including asylum seekers, and 800 from the armed forces.

In total, 38,500 people came to Scotland from overseas, including asylum seekers, while 30,800 went abroad.

Meanwhile some 53,300 people came to Scotland from the rest of the UK, while 41,800 left Scotland in the other direction.

Among local authority areas East Lothian saw the biggest population increase – up 1.8% – followed by Perth and Kinross (up 1.4%) and Midlothian (up 1.3%)

Argyll and Bute had the biggest fall, down 0.9%, followed by the Western Isles and Inverclyde, each of which saw a 0.4% fall.

The cities lost people to other parts of Scotland but gained them from the rest of the UK and from overseas.

Aberdeen had a net loss of 1,700 people to the rest of the Scotland but also had net gains of more than 300 people from the rest of the UK and more than 2,200 from overseas.

The Scottish Government welcomed the latest figures.

Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "I am encouraged that Scotland's population is continuing to grow, and that the trend for a growing population appears strong.

"Over the last 10 years, population growth in Scotland has lagged significantly behind that of many of our neighbouring countries – something that as a Government we are committed to addressing.

"Although the recession demands we focus our efforts on helping households and businesses through the current challenges, in the long term population growth will be crucial to delivering the long-term prosperity for Scotland we all want to see."