Scotland’s population to rise by 9%

SCOTLAND’S population is projected to rise by around 9 per cent over the next 25 years, with the greatest increases in Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

Edinburgh faces a 28 per cent population increase in the next 25 years. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Statistics from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show the populations of 20 of the 32 council areas in Scotland are projected to increase, while the populations in the other 12 are expected to decrease.

The projections suggest the country’s population will grow from 5.31 million in 2012 to 5.78 million in 2037.

Edinburgh and Aberdeen both face rises of 28 per cent, and Perth and Kinross faces a 24 per cent increase, while Inverclyde, at -19 per cent, and Argyll & Bute, at -13 per cent, have the largest projected decreases.

The population is also projected to age, with an increase in people of pensionable age across all council areas to a greater or lesser extent.

The projections use certain assumptions about future fertility, mortality and migration, and are largely based on past trends.

They also reflect past policy and economic impacts, although they do not take account of future changes that may occur as a result of policy initiatives at a local or national level.

In addition to its “principle projection”, NRS has also produced seven alternative variants, which take into account different levels of migration, fertility and life expectancy.

All the variants show Scotland’s population ageing significantly over the next 25 years.