Scotland has a population of just under 5.5 million people, 83 per cent of whom live in the urban areas that take up just 2.2 per cent of the country.
These built-up settlements contain connected towns, cities and villages that often have shared facilities and postcodes – Greater Glasgow, for instance, stretches out into commuter towns like Bishopbriggs and Newton Mearns.
Here are the 10 largest settlements in Scotland by population.

. Settlements
Only six of Scotland's eight cities make the list of the top 10 most populous settlements in the country. Photo: Canva/Getty Images

. Greater Glasgow
The urban sprawl of Greater Glasgow, in the west of Scotland, accounts for over 20 per cent of the total Scottish population - with 1,028,220 living there. As well as the city of Glasgow itself it encompasses Barrhead, Bearsden, Bishopbriggs, Bowling, Brookfield, Busby, Cambuslang, Clarkston, Clydebank, Duntocher & Hardgate, Elderslie, Faifley, Giffnock, Glasgow, Johnstone, Kilbarchan, Linwood, Milngavie, Netherlee, Newton Mearns, Old Kilpatrick, Paisley, Renfrew, Rutherglen, Stamperland, Stepps, and Thornliebank. Photo: Canva/Getty Images

. Edinburgh
Scotland's Capital city and its surroundings has a population of 530,990. As well as Edinburgh it includes Musselburgh and Wallyford. Photo: Canva/Getty Images

1. Greater Glasgow
The urban sprawl of Greater Glasgow, in the west of Scotland, accounts for over 20 per cent of the total Scottish population - with 1,028,220 living there. As well as the city of Glasgow itself it encompasses Barrhead, Bearsden, Bishopbriggs, Bowling, Brookfield, Busby, Cambuslang, Clarkston, Clydebank, Duntocher & Hardgate, Elderslie, Faifley, Giffnock, Glasgow, Johnstone, Kilbarchan, Linwood, Milngavie, Netherlee, Newton Mearns, Old Kilpatrick, Paisley, Renfrew, Rutherglen, Stamperland, Stepps, and Thornliebank. Photo: Canva/Getty Images

2. Edinburgh
Scotland's Capital city and its surroundings has a population of 530,990. As well as Edinburgh it includes Musselburgh and Wallyford. Photo: Canva/Getty Images

3. Aberdeen
A population of 220,690 makes Aberdeen Scotland's third most populous settlement. It includes the Granite City along with Cove Bay, Dyce, Milltimber, Peterculter. Photo: Canva/Getty Images

4. Dundee
The settlement of Dundee also includes Monifieth and Invergowrie. It has a population of 158,820. Photo: Canva/Getty Images