Migration drives Scotland’s population to highest level, figures show

Scotland’s population rose faster than at any time since the 1940s to its highest level in the year to mid 2023, driven by migration, latest data shows.

The country’s population was at 5,490,100 on June 30 last year, according to the National Records of Scotland (NRS) Mid-Year Population Estimates for 2023.

That is up 43,100 from the middle of 2022, a 0.8% increase, and the biggest jump in one year since 1946-1947.

NRS said that migration was the main driver of population growth, as international migration and people moving to Scotland from elsewhere in the UK continued to boost the country’s population.

In contrast, deaths outnumbered births by the largest amount on record, with 19,100 more people dying than being born.

NRS head of demographic statistics Esther Roughsedge said: “The main driver of population growth over the year was people moving to Scotland from abroad and other parts of the UK.

“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.

“Without migration into Scotland, the population would have fallen. Deaths outnumbered births by the highest amount on record. There were 19,100 more deaths than births.”

Net international migration was at 47,700 in the year to mid-2023 while net migration between elsewhere in the UK and Scotland was at 13,900.

The population estimates report showed that migration has been adding to Scotland’s population for the last 23 years, as more people have moved to Scotland than have left.

It also showed that deaths have outnumbered births in each of the last nine years, with the year ending June 2023 the largest difference on record.

Scotland’s population is getting older, the data showed.

More than a fifth of Scotland’s population were 65 and over, with 16% aged zero to 15 years.

This was attributed to the baby booms of the previous century and the falling birth rate.

The populations of the larger cities have grown the most between mid-2022 and mid-2023.

City of Edinburgh grew by 1.7% or 8,680 people, Glasgow City by 1.6% or 9,920 people and Aberdeen City by 1.6% or 3,500 people.

In contrast, the populations of a number of rural and island council areas have fallen in the year to mid-2023, including the Western Isles, Scottish Borders and Argyll and Bute.

Equalities minister Kaukab Stewart said: “These results confirm Scotland continues to be an attractive and welcoming country, which people from across the UK and internationally are choosing to call home.

“Inward migration is essential to our continued population growth, and the sustainability of our public services, with deaths outnumbering births across every local authority area.

“We want to work with the UK Government towards an immigration system that meets Scotland’s distinct economic and demographic needs and are pressing our case for a rural visa pilot tailored to the needs of our rural and island communities.”

She said the Scottish Government is supporting local action to help communities retain populations and working with partners to “collectively deliver a sustainable solution to the challenges affecting rural and island communities”.