People and census in Scotland

Scotland had 5,439,565 usual residents at the census.

Scotland is the 2nd most populated of 4 in the UK.

Scotland’s population was an estimated 5,545,500 in mid-2025.

The population held steady in the year to mid-2025.

Scotland is 2nd most populated of 4 for population.

64.6% of residents in Scotland were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

20.0% of residents in Scotland were aged 65 or over at the census.

15.3% of residents in Scotland were aged under 15 at the census.

10.2% of residents in Scotland were born outside the UK.

24.1% of residents in Scotland had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

78.8% of residents in Scotland said their health was good or very good.

Scotland had 2,509,248 households at the census.

Scotland is 2nd highest of 4 for the number of households.

26.4% of households in Scotland had no car or van at the census.

63.2% of households in Scotland owned their home at the census.

Scotland had 69 people per square kilometre at the census.

Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place.

12.9% of households in Scotland rented privately at the census.

22.5% of households in Scotland rented from a council or housing association at the census.

Scotland’s estimated population changed by 0.0% in the year to mid-2025.

Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates.