« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
People and Communities
Demographics
Table 1: Population by Geographic Area, 2001, 2006
| 2001 | 2006 | % change
2001-2006 |
|---|
Remote Rural | 315,026 | 327,474 | 4.0% |
|---|
Accessible Rural | 581,755 | 618,619 | 6.3% |
|---|
Rest of Scotland | 4,167,419 | 4,170,807 | 0.1% |
|---|
Total | 5,064,200 | 5,116,900 | 1.0% |
|---|
Source: General Register Office for Scotland, 2007 (mid-year estimates based on data zones
(Both 2001 and 2006 figures are based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Just over 5 million people live in Scotland, with almost 1 million of them living in rural areas. Table 1 shows that between 2001 and 2006, the population in all areas of Scotland has increased.
The greatest increase in population has been in accessible rural areas, with a 6.3% increase between 2001 and 2006, compared to an increase of 4.0% in remote rural areas. Over this period, the population of the rest of Scotland increased slightly by 0.1%.
Figure 1: Percentage of Population and Land by Geographic Area, 2006
Source: General Register Office for Scotland, 2007 (2006 mid-year estimates based on data zones)
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Figure 1 shows that although rural Scotland accounts for 18% of the total population in Scotland (6% in remote rural and 12% in accessible rural), it accounts for 95% of the land mass in Scotland (69% in remote rural and 26% in accessible rural). In contrast the rest of Scotland accounts for 82% of the population of Scotland but only 5% of the land mass. The total land mass of Scotland is approximately 7.8 million hectares.
Table 2: Age Distribution of Population in Rest of Scotland, 2006
Age Group | 0-4 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 |
|---|
Rest of Scotland | 5% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 6% | 8% | 8% | 7% |
|---|
Age Group | 50-54 | 55-59 | 60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80-84 | 85-89 | 90 and
over | Total |
|---|
Rest of Scotland | 6% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 100% |
|---|
Source: General Register Office for Scotland, 2007 (2006 mid-year estimates based on data zones)
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Figure 2: Differences in Age Distribution of Population of Rural Areas, Relative to Rest of Scotland, 2006
Source: General Register Office for Scotland, 2007, (2006 mid-year estimates on data zones)
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Figure 2 shows that relative to the rest of Scotland (as displayed in Table 2), the population of rural areas has a different age distribution. Specifically, rural areas have a lower percentage of population in the age bands 15-34 but a higher population in the age bands 40-69. This suggests that younger people are leaving rural areas for the rest of Scotland and rural areas will experience an increasingly ageing population. This scenario is particularly apparent in remote rural areas.
Table 3: Net-Migration by Geographic Area, 2005/2006
| Remote Rural | Accessible Rural | Rest of Scotland |
|---|
Net-Migration | 1,991 | 6,200 | 12,978 |
|---|
% of Population | 0.6% | 1.0% | 0.3% |
|---|
Source: General Register Office for Scotland, 2007
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Net-migration refers to the number of in-migrants minus out-migrants. Table 3 shows that in both rest of Scotland and rural areas in Scotland, the number of in-migrants has been greater than the number of out-migrants, resulting in positive net-migration. In 2005/2006, the rest of Scotland experienced an increase in numbers from migration of 12,978, compared to 1,991 in remote rural areas and 6,200 in accessible rural areas.
Table 3 also shows that net-migration accounts for a relatively small percentage of the total population in all areas - 0.6% in remote rural areas, 1% in accessible rural areas, and 0.3% in the rest of Scotland.
Households
Table 4: Household Type by Geographic Area, 2005/2006
| Remote Rural | Accessible Rural | Rest of Scotland |
|---|
Single adult | 12% | 10% | 17% |
|---|
Two adults | 18% | 20% | 17% |
|---|
Three or more adults | 8% | 10% | 9% |
|---|
Single parent | 3% | 5% | 6% |
|---|
Small family | 14% | 15% | 13% |
|---|
Large family | 7% | 8% | 7% |
|---|
Two older adults | 21% | 18% | 14% |
|---|
Single Pensioner | 16% | 14% | 17% |
|---|
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
|---|
Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2005/2006
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Table 4 shows that, relative to the rest of Scotland, remote and accessible rural Scotland have lower percentages of single adult households. Rural Scotland as a whole also has a higher percentage of households with 'older adults' that is, two adults with one or both of pensionable age.
Table 5: Household Size by Geographic Area, 2005/2006
| Remote Rural | Accessible Rural | Rest of Scotland |
|---|
One | 28% | 23% | 34% |
|---|
Two | 41% | 40% | 34% |
|---|
Three | 12% | 16% | 15% |
|---|
Four | 14% | 14% | 12% |
|---|
Five or more | 6% | 6% | 5% |
|---|
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
|---|
Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2005/2006
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Table 5 shows that, relative to the rest of Scotland, there are higher percentages of households in accessible and remote rural areas with a household size of 2 or more and there are fewer single person households in rural Scotland.
Figure 3: Fuel Poverty by Geographic Area, 2004/2005
Source: Scottish House Condition Survey, 2004/2005
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
The term 'fuel poverty' refers to the situation where a household cannot afford to heat their home to an adequate level. In Figure 3 a household is in fuel poverty if it would be required to spend more than 10% of its income (including Housing Benefit or Income Support for Mortgage Interest) on all household fuel use. 'Extreme fuel poverty' is defined as a household having to spend more than 20% of its income on fuel.
Figure 3 shows that people in rural areas are much more likely to be at risk of being classed as being fuel poor or extreme fuel poor than in the rest of Scotland. In the rest of Scotland 84% of people have been classed as 'not fuel poor' compared to 75% in accessible rural and 60% in remote rural Scotland.
Neighbourhood and Community
Figure 4: Rating of Neighbourhood as a Place to Live by Geographic Area, 2005/2006
Source: Scottish Household Survey 2005/2006
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Figure 4 shows that relative to the rest of Scotland, a higher percentage of people in rural Scotland rate their neighbourhood as very good or fairly good. This is especially apparent in remote rural areas, where 78% of people rate their neighbourhood as a very good place to live, compared to 65% in accessible rural areas and 49% in the rest of Scotland. In both rural areas and the rest of Scotland though, over 90% rate their neighbourhood as a very good or a fairly good place to live.
Table 6: Experience of Neighbourhood Problems by Geographic Area, 2005/2006
(% saying they have personal experience of problem)
| Remote Rural | Accessible Rural | Rest of Scotland |
|---|
Noisy neighbours or loud parties | 2% | 4% | 8% |
|---|
Vandalism, grafitti or other damage to property | 3% | 6% | 12% |
|---|
Rubbish or litter lying around | 10% | 13% | 20% |
|---|
Neighbour disputes | 2% | 4% | 5% |
|---|
Groups or individuals harassing others | 1% | 3% | 6% |
|---|
Drug misuse or dealing | 1% | 2% | 6% |
|---|
Rowdy behaviour | 4% | 8% | 16% |
|---|
None | 84% | 76% | 63% |
|---|
Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2005/2006
Columns add to more than 100% since multiple responses were allowed.
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Table 6 displays that in every category of neighbourhood problems, a lower percentage of people in remote and accessible rural areas have experienced such problems. For example, only 2% and 4% respectively in remote and accessible rural areas say they have had a problem with noisy neighbours or loud parties while the figure is 8% in the rest of Scotland. Similarly, 10% and 13% respectively in remote rural and accessible rural areas, state that rubbish or litter lying around is a problem whilst 20% state this is a problem in the rest of Scotland.
Table 7: Perceptions of Safety when at Home Alone at Night by Geographic Area, 2005/2006
| Remote Rural | Accessible Rural | Rest of Scotland |
|---|
Very safe | 90% | 83% | 75% |
|---|
Fairly safe | 9% | 16% | 22% |
|---|
A bit unsafe | 1% | 1% | 2% |
|---|
Not safe at all | 0% | 0% | 1% |
|---|
Don't know | 0% | 0% | 0% |
|---|
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
|---|
Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2005/2006
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Table 7 shows that, relative to the rest of Scotland, people in rural Scotland perceive where they live to be safer when at home alone at night. For example, 90% in remote rural and 83% in accessible rural feel very safe while at home compared to 75% in the rest of Scotland.
Table 8: Whether Gave Up Time to Help as an Organiser/Volunteer in the Past 12 Months by Geographic Area, 2005/2006
| Remote Rural | Accessible Rural | Rest of Scotland |
|---|
Yes | 41% | 28% | 23% |
|---|
No | 59% | 72% | 77% |
|---|
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
|---|
Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2005/2006
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Table 8 shows that a higher percentage of people in rural Scotland give up their time to help as an organiser or volunteer than the rest of Scotland. 41% of people in remote rural areas and 28% in accessible rural areas have given up time in the past 12 months to help as an organiser/volunteer, compared to 23% in the rest of Scotland.
Physical Environment
Table 9: Percentage of Population Living in Proximity to Derelict Sites (2006) and Sites on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory ( SPRI) (2005), by Geographic Area
| Remote Rural | Accessible Rural | Rest of Scotland |
|---|
Proximity of Derelict Land: |
|---|
% population within 500 metres | 8% | 15% | 30% |
|---|
Proximity of SPRI sites: |
|---|
% population within 0-500 metres | 0% | 1% | 4% |
|---|
% population within 500-1000 metres | 1% | 4% | 13% |
|---|
% population within 1000-2000 metres | 3% | 10% | 30% |
|---|
% population over 2000 metres | 95% | 86% | 53% |
|---|
Source: Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics, 2007
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Table 9 shows that a higher percentage of people in the rest of Scotland live within 500 metres of land classified as being derelict relative to people in rural Scotland. Derelict land (and buildings) is that which has been so damaged by development or use that it is incapable of being developed for beneficial use without rehabilitation, and which is not being used for either the purpose for which it is held, or for a use acceptable in a local plan.
Table 9 also shows that people in the rest of Scotland tend to live closer to sites on the SPRI register, compared to those in rural areas. 47% of those in the rest of Scotland live within 2000 metres of a site on the SPRI register compared to 15% in accessible rural areas and 4% in remote rural areas.
« Previous | Contents | Next »