The SNP has hailed new figures showing the sharpest rise in Scotland’s population since just after the Second World War as evidence that the country is an attractive place to work and live.
New data released by the National Records of Scotland shows that Scotland’s population rose by 43,100, 0.8%, to 5,490,100 in the year to mid-2023 – the sharpest rise since 1946-47.
The main driver of population growth over the course of the year was people moving to Scotland from abroad and the rest of the UK.
Without migration, Scotland’s population would have fallen with deaths outnumbering births by the highest amount on record.
Whilst the overall population rose significantly, figures show a drop in rural and islands communities, renewing SNP calls for the new UK government to urgently deliver on its election promise of a Rural Visa Pilot Scheme for Scotland.
During the General Election campaign, Scottish Labour’s Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said Labour was open to talks but so far there has been no progress on the matter, despite the First Minister raising the issue with UK ministers.
Emma Roddick, who represents the Highlands and Islands in Holyrood, said:
“These figures confirm that Scotland is an attractive place to live and work, and also highlight the positive impact of immigration to support Scotland’s economy and our public services.
“However, the fact that populations in rural and island communities – including those I represent – have fallen show the unique challenges facing those areas.
“Employers in rural constituencies face acute labour shortages as a direct consequence of Brexit and hostile Westminster economic policies – neither of which Scotland voted for.
“A Rural Visa Pilot Scheme would help mitigate against these and facilitate routes for workers to come to Scotland and support our public services and help businesses to reach their full potential.
“This cannot become another broken Labour election promise and the SNP will continue to push for Labour to urgently act and open talks on the devolution of powers on immigration to Scotland.
“Ultimately it is only with the full powers of independence that we will be able make our own decisions on immigration policies – based on our unique needs rather than anti-immigration rhetoric from politicians and the media hundreds of miles away in Westminster.”