# People and census in West Lothian Central Scotland. 187,240 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 429 square kilometres. 15 layers about people and census for West Lothian, 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 West Lothian? West Lothian’s population was an estimated 187,240 in mid-2025. The population rose 0.6% in the year to mid-2025. West Lothian is 132nd most populated of 361 for population. ## Population estimate West Lothian: **187,240** (2025, council level). Source: ONS population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. West Lothian’s population was an estimated 187,240 in mid-2025. The population rose 0.6% in the year to mid-2025. West Lothian is 132nd most populated of 361 for population. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-estimate#place=S12000040) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-estimate) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-estimate/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/people#l-population-estimate ## Population West Lothian: **181,285** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. West Lothian had 181,285 usual residents at the census. West Lothian is the 129th most populated of 361 in the UK. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population#place=S12000040) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/people#l-population ## Aged 15 to 64 West Lothian: **65.2%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 65.2% of residents in West Lothian were aged 15 to 64 at the census. In Scotland the figure is 64.6%. - Against Scotland: 1% higher (64.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-15-to-64#place=S12000040) · [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/west-lothian/people#l-age-15-to-64 ## Aged 65 and over West Lothian: **17.4%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 17.4% of residents in West Lothian were aged 65 or over at the census. In Scotland the figure is 20.0%. - Against Scotland: 13% lower (20.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-65-and-over#place=S12000040) · [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/west-lothian/people#l-age-65-and-over ## Aged under 15 West Lothian: **17.4%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 17.4% of residents in West Lothian were aged under 15 at the census. In Scotland the figure is 15.3%. - Against Scotland: 14% higher (15.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-under-15#place=S12000040) · [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/west-lothian/people#l-age-under-15 ## Born outside the UK West Lothian: **9.2%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 9.2% of residents in West Lothian were born outside the UK. In Scotland the figure is 10.2%. - Against Scotland: 10% lower (10.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/born-outside-uk#place=S12000040) · [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/west-lothian/people#l-born-outside-uk ## Disability West Lothian: **24.2%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 24.2% of residents in West Lothian had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability. In Scotland the figure is 24.1%. - Against Scotland: About the same (24.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/disability#place=S12000040) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/disability) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/disability/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/people#l-disability ## Good or very good health West Lothian: **78.7%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 78.7% of residents in West Lothian said their health was good or very good. In Scotland the figure is 78.8%. - Against Scotland: About the same (78.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/good-health#place=S12000040) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/good-health) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/good-health/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/people#l-good-health ## Households West Lothian: **79,801** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. West Lothian had 79,801 households at the census. West Lothian is 118th highest of 361 for the number of households. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/households#place=S12000040) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/households) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/households/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/people#l-households ## Households without a car or van West Lothian: **20.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 20.8% of households in West Lothian had no car or van at the census. In Scotland the figure is 26.4%. - Against Scotland: 21% lower (26.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-car-or-van#place=S12000040) · [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/west-lothian/people#l-no-car-or-van ## Owner-occupied homes West Lothian: **65.1%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 65.1% of households in West Lothian owned their home at the census. In Scotland the figure is 63.2%. - Against Scotland: 3% higher (63.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/owner-occupied#place=S12000040) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/owner-occupied) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/owner-occupied/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/people#l-owner-occupied ## Population density West Lothian: **423 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. West Lothian had 423 people per square kilometre at the census. In Scotland the figure is 69 per km². - Against Scotland: 6.1 times (69 per km²) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-density#place=S12000040) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-density) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-density/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/people#l-population-density ## Private rented homes West Lothian: **9.3%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 9.3% of households in West Lothian rented privately at the census. In Scotland the figure is 12.9%. - Against Scotland: 28% lower (12.9%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/private-rented#place=S12000040) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/private-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/private-rented/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/people#l-private-rented ## Social rented homes West Lothian: **24.5%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 24.5% of households in West Lothian rented from a council or housing association at the census. In Scotland the figure is 22.5%. - Against Scotland: 9% higher (22.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/social-rented#place=S12000040) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/social-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/social-rented/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/people#l-social-rented ## Annual population change West Lothian: **0.6%** (2025, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. West Lothian’s estimated population changed by 0.6% in the year to mid-2025. - Against the UK: twice (0.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-change#place=S12000040) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-change) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-change/scotland) · https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/people#l-population-estimate-change-1y ## More on this place - [Overview](https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian) - [Housing](https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/housing) (8) - [Crime](https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/crime) (6) - [Deprivation](https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/deprivation) (3) - [Health](https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/health) (4) - [Education](https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/education) (2) - [Environment](https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/environment) (5) - [Transport](https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/transport) (4) - [Connectivity](https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/connectivity) (5) - [Economy](https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/economy) (4) - [Council tax](https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/council-tax) (2) - [Elections](https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/elections) (7) - [Local services](https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/services) (1) - [Sources](https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/sources) (22) The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/S12000040/data?family=people ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/people, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/people#l-population-estimate. 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 2026.10.10. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/people