The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Scotland's population at 5.06 million

30/09/2002

The results from Scotland's Census in 2001 were released today. The resident population on Census Day, 29 April 2001, is estimated at 5,062,011, showing a marked decline in Scotland's population compared with previous estimates.

Corresponding Census day figures for the rest of the UK, also published today, are:

Commenting on the figures, the Registrar General for Scotland, John Randall, said:

"I am satisfied that the Census has been undertaken successfully with the support of all the main political parties and the help of the people of Scotland. The new figures provide the most accurate possible benchmark for monitoring population change and taking decisions on Scotland's future.

"The figures show that while the population has fallen, Scotland's share of the UK population has not fallen. I shall be highlighting some of the key demographic issues facing modern Scotland in my next Annual Report to be published on 30 October. These include a falling birth rate, an ageing population, and a changing pattern of migration."

The Census results provide the most accurate picture to date of Scotland's population. Previous 2000 mid-year estimates are now revealed to have overstated Scotland's population by some 50,000 or 1%. In some parts of Scotland, including Glasgow, Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire, East Dunbartonshire, and North Ayrshire, the previous overestimate is even greater. In some areas, including Dundee City, Argyll and Bute, and Moray, the previous population figures were underestimated.

The difference of 50,000 in the Scottish population is likely to be the result of past errors in measuring migration, which is the most difficult component of population change to measure.

Initial evidence suggests that since 1981 estimates of net emigration from Scotland have been too low by as much as 2,500 per annum. This also affects the age and sex structure of migrants, which is also different from previous measurement.

A revised set of population estimates for the years 1982-2000 will be prepared and made available in February 2003. Further work will also be undertaken to review the quality of the method and sources used for estimating migration in future.

A booklet, 2001 Population Report, Scotland, giving further details of the population by age, sex and council areas for Census day and mid-2001, is available for viewing or downloading free of charge from the GROS website at: www.gro-scotland.gov.uk.

More information on the Census results in England & Wales can be found in the Office for National Statistics publication [insert title] or on their website at www.statistics.gov.uk; and information on the Northern Irish Census results can be found in the publication ' Northern Ireland Census 2001 Population Report and Mid-Year Estimates' published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency or on their website at www.nisra.gov.uk.

More detailed results from Scotland's Census, including information from all the questions of the Census form and detail for areas smaller than council area will be made available by March 2003. Summary data will be published in a report to the Scottish Parliament and fuller information will be available free of charge via the Internet.