Fastest and slowest growing places in Scotland (2025)

East Lothian was the fastest growing of Scotland’s 32 councils in 2025 (annual population change 1.1%).

Clackmannanshire was the slowest growing (−0.7%). The middle council, North Ayrshire, had −0.1%.

Map of annual population change across the UKSee it on the map
Annual population change for every council in Scotland, highest first. Councils without a figure are listed last with the reason.
RankCouncilValue
1East Lothian1.1%
2Midlothian0.7%
=3Glasgow0.6%
=3West Lothian0.6%
=5East Renfrewshire0.4%
=5South Lanarkshire0.4%
=7Perth and Kinross0.3%
=7Renfrewshire0.3%
9Falkirk0.2%
10North Lanarkshire0.1%
=11East Ayrshire0.0%
=11South Ayrshire0.0%
=13East Dunbartonshire−0.1%
=13Edinburgh−0.1%
=13Highland−0.1%
=13North Ayrshire−0.1%
=17Aberdeenshire−0.2%
=17Fife−0.2%
=17Inverclyde−0.2%
=17Moray−0.2%
=21Angus−0.3%
=21Dumfries and Galloway−0.3%
=21Scottish Borders−0.3%
=24Orkney Islands−0.4%
=24Shetland Islands−0.4%
=26Aberdeen−0.5%
=26Argyll and Bute−0.5%
=26West Dunbartonshire−0.5%
=29Dundee−0.6%
=29Na h-Eileanan Siar−0.6%
=29Stirling−0.6%
32Clackmannanshire−0.7%

Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Source and method · See it on the map