# People and census in Scottish Borders South east Scotland. 116,800 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 4,739 square kilometres, the 7th most sparsely populated council in the UK. 15 layers about people and census for Scottish Borders, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source. In: [Scotland](https://openindex.co.uk/scotland) ## What is the population of Scottish Borders? Scottish Borders had 116,823 usual residents at the census. Scottish Borders is the 117th least populated of 361 in the UK. ## Population Scottish Borders: **116,823** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Scottish Borders had 116,823 usual residents at the census. Scottish Borders is the 117th least populated of 361 in the UK. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=S12000026) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people#l-population ## Population estimate Scottish Borders: **116,800** (2025, council level). Source: ONS population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Scottish Borders’ population was an estimated 116,800 in mid-2025. The population fell 0.3% in the year to mid-2025. Scottish Borders is 107th least populated of 361 for population. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-estimate?place=S12000026) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-estimate) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-estimate/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people#l-population-estimate ## Aged 15 to 64 Scottish Borders: **59.3%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 59.3% of residents in Scottish Borders were aged 15 to 64 at the census. In Scotland the figure is 64.6%. - Against Scotland: 8% lower (64.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-15-to-64?place=S12000026) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-15-to-64) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-15-to-64/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people#l-age-15-to-64 ## Aged 65 and over Scottish Borders: **26.2%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 26.2% of residents in Scottish Borders were aged 65 or over at the census. In Scotland the figure is 20.0%. - Against Scotland: 31% higher (20.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-65-and-over?place=S12000026) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-65-and-over) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-65-and-over/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people#l-age-65-and-over ## Aged under 15 Scottish Borders: **14.4%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 14.4% of residents in Scottish Borders were aged under 15 at the census. In Scotland the figure is 15.3%. - Against Scotland: 6% lower (15.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-under-15?place=S12000026) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-under-15) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-under-15/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people#l-age-under-15 ## Born outside the UK Scottish Borders: **6.0%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 6.0% of residents in Scottish Borders were born outside the UK. In Scotland the figure is 10.2%. - Against Scotland: 41% lower (10.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/born-outside-uk?place=S12000026) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/born-outside-uk) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/born-outside-uk/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people#l-born-outside-uk ## Disability Scottish Borders: **23.6%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 23.6% of residents in Scottish Borders had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability. In Scotland the figure is 24.1%. - Against Scotland: 2% lower (24.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/disability?place=S12000026) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/disability) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/disability/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people#l-disability ## Good or very good health Scottish Borders: **79.6%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 79.6% of residents in Scottish Borders said their health was good or very good. In Scotland the figure is 78.8%. - Against Scotland: 1% higher (78.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/good-health?place=S12000026) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/good-health) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/good-health/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people#l-good-health ## Households Scottish Borders: **55,589** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Scottish Borders had 55,589 households at the census. Scottish Borders is 151st lowest of 361 for the number of households. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/households?place=S12000026) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/households) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/households/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people#l-households ## Households without a car or van Scottish Borders: **18.2%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 18.2% of households in Scottish Borders had no car or van at the census. In Scotland the figure is 26.4%. - Against Scotland: 31% lower (26.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-car-or-van?place=S12000026) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-car-or-van) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-car-or-van/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people#l-no-car-or-van ## Owner-occupied homes Scottish Borders: **62.9%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 62.9% of households in Scottish Borders owned their home at the census. In Scotland the figure is 63.2%. - Against Scotland: About the same (63.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/owner-occupied?place=S12000026) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/owner-occupied) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/owner-occupied/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people#l-owner-occupied ## Population density Scottish Borders: **25 per km²** (2021, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place. Published 21 July 2026. Scottish Borders had 25 people per square kilometre at the census. In Scotland the figure is 69 per km². - Against Scotland: 64% lower (69 per km²) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-density?place=S12000026) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-density) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-density/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people#l-population-density ## Private rented homes Scottish Borders: **13.7%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 13.7% of households in Scottish Borders rented privately at the census. In Scotland the figure is 12.9%. - Against Scotland: 6% higher (12.9%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/private-rented?place=S12000026) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/private-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/private-rented/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people#l-private-rented ## Social rented homes Scottish Borders: **20.9%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 20.9% of households in Scottish Borders rented from a council or housing association at the census. In Scotland the figure is 22.5%. - Against Scotland: 7% lower (22.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/social-rented?place=S12000026) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/social-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/social-rented/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people#l-social-rented ## Annual population change Scottish Borders: **−0.3%** (2025, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Scottish Borders’ estimated population changed by −0.3% in the year to mid-2025. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-change?place=S12000026) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-change) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-change/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people#l-population-estimate-change-1y ## More on this place - [Overview](https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders) - [Housing](https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/housing) (8) - [Crime](https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/crime) (6) - [Deprivation](https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/deprivation) (2) - [Health](https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/health) (4) - [Education](https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/education) (2) - [Environment](https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/environment) (5) - [Transport](https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/transport) (4) - [Connectivity](https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/connectivity) (5) - [Economy](https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/economy) (4) - [Council tax](https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/council-tax) (2) - [Elections](https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/elections) (7) - [Local services](https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/services) (1) - [Sources](https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/sources) (22) The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/S12000026/data?family=people ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people#l-population. Open Index's own text and the figures it works out are licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source data keeps its publishers' licences, named with each figure. Give each figure's period and source with it. Snapshot 2026.10.9. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/scottish-borders/people