Scotland’s population at record high due to growing immigration levels

GROWING levels of immigration have taken Scotland’s population to a record high, official figures today show.

• Increase in population mainly down to 27,000 more people coming to Scotland than leaving

• Scotland’s population has seen continuous rise in recent years, with more births than deaths being recorded

• The country’s population now stands at 5,254,800 inhabitants, 14,000 higher than the previous high in 1974

After nine years of continuous growth, Scotland’s population reached 5,254,800 in mid 2011 - the highest ever.

The increase in the population over the previous 12 months was mainly due to 27,000 more people coming to Scotland than leaving. However, migration from the rest of the UK remained fairly steady with the biggest increase coming from abroad.

There were also 4,809 more births than deaths.

Registrar General George MacKenzie today published his annual report on the country’s population and the changing demographic trends.

“Scotland’s population has seen a continuous increase in recent years, partly because there have been more births than deaths, but mainly because more people have moved to Scotland than have left,” he said.

“This trend continued in 2011, with migration largely responsible for an increase of 0.6 per cent in the population. At 5,254,800 the population is now the highest ever recorded, 14,000 higher than the previous high in 1974.”

• To see the full report click here

In the 12 months between July 2010 and June 2011, around 43,700 people came to Scotland from the rest of the UK and a similar number from overseas. Most migrants to Scotland are young, aged between 16 and 34.

Of the 29,135 marriages registered in Scotland last year, nearly a quarter were for couples where neither the bride nor groom lived in Scotland. Just under a half of marriages were religious marriages and over a half were civil ceremonies carried out by a registrar. There were also 554 civil partnerships last year - an increase of 89 from 2010.