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Thursday, February 13, 2025

Scotland’s Population Set to Grow With Migration Leading The Way

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Scotland’s population is projected to reach 5.8 million by the middle of 2047, according to new figures from National Records of Scotland.

The statistics reveal that migration will play a key role in driving this growth, with Scotland expected to see a 4.4% rise in population over the next decade and a total increase of 6.2% by 2047.

Without migration, however, Scotland’s population would decline as the number of deaths continues to outpace births.

Andrew White, head of population and migration statistics at NRS, highlighted Scotland’s ageing population as a significant trend.

He said:

“By mid-2047, there will be around one third of a million more people aged 75 and over, as the baby boom generation of the 1960s grows older.”

Projections indicate that 64% of the population will still be of working age in 2047, a slight drop from current levels.

However, the number of young people aged 0 to 15 is expected to fall by 9%—almost 80,000 fewer children—while those aged 16 to 29 could decrease by 6%, equating to over 57,000 people.

The overall UK population is projected to grow at a faster pace, reaching 76.6 million by mid-2047, an increase of 13.2% from 2022.

This could see Scotland’s share of the UK population decline from 8.1% to 7.6% over the same period.

Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart welcomed the report, describing Scotland as an attractive destination for people to live, work, and study.

“These projections highlight how vital migration is for Scotland,” she said.

“Migrants help fill skills gaps, sustain public services, strengthen communities, and support our economy.”

She also emphasised the importance of tailoring migration policies to Scotland’s unique needs, urging the UK Government to introduce measures like a Scottish Graduate visa and a Rural Visa Pilot to address demographic challenges.

“Within our devolved powers, we are taking action to attract and retain people, including launching Scotland’s Migration Service and implementing our Addressing Depopulation Action Plan,” she added.

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