Scottish Population High

Scotland's population reached its highest ever total in 2014, according to the National Records of Scotland.

Statistics show that the estimated population was 5,347,600, that's a rise of 19,900 people since mid-2013.

The population increased because approximately 3,500 more people were born than died, and because in-migration which includes people from the rest of the UK exceeded out-migration by approximately 17,600 between mid-2013 and mid-2014. Other changes, such as in armed forces and prisoners, resulted in a loss of approximately 1,200 people. 

Between mid-2013 and mid-2014, approximately 49,240 people came to Scotland from the rest of the UK, and approximately 39,660 left Scotland to go in the opposite direction, giving a net migration gain of approximately 9,600.

Fife's population rests at 367, 260.

Other key facts:

Migrants to Scotland tended to be younger than the general population

Over two thirds of migrants from overseas and nearly half of migrants from the rest of the UK were aged 16-34 years. In the population as a whole, only a quarter were in this age group.

Only seven per cent of people coming to Scotland from the rest of the UK and one per cent of people entering from overseas were aged 65 and over. Scotland had a net gain of UK migrants in every age group and a net loss of international migrants for the majority of migrants aged over 45.

The average age of Scotland’s population was lower in the big city areas than in more rural Council areas

The median age (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) of the population in Scotland was 41.