Births in
Scotland
Last updated: August 2009
The number of births registered in Scotland in 2008 was 60,041. There have been increases each year since 2002, and the total for 2008 was 2,260 (4%) more than in 2007, and the highest number since 1995. However, it was still well below the most recent peak of over 100,000 per year in the early 1960s, and the level of around 65-70,000 per year between the mid-1970s and the early 1990s.
The proportion of births to unmarried parents (including births registered solely in the mother's name) has continued to rise, reaching 50.1% in 2008 compared with 39% ten years earlier and 25% in 1988.
Since the mid-1970s, there has been a trend towards having children at older ages. The percentage of births to mothers aged under 20 fell from about 11% (on average) between 1976 and 1980, and around 8% in 1991-95, to 7% in 2008. Mothers aged 20-24 accounted for roughly a third of all births in 1976-1980, about 22% in 1991-95, and 19% in 2008. The percentage of births to mothers aged 25-29 has also fallen: from around 35% in 1976-1980, and about 36% in 1991-95, to 27% in 2008. As a result, women aged over 30 accounted for almost half of all births in 2008: 27% were to mothers aged 30-34, 17% were to 35-39 year olds and 4% were to women aged 40 and over - figures which are all above the levels of 15 and 30 years earlier.
87% of births in 2008 were to mothers who had been born in the UK, including 77% to women who were born in Scotland. A further 5% of mothers had been born in other European Union countries, including 3% from the countries which joined the EU in 2004 (like Poland). Commonwealth countries were the birthplace of 4% of mothers, including 2% from the Indian sub-continent.
Live births in Scotland 1855 - 2008
Source: GROS Registration Data