Small Decrease in the Population of Scotland

12th May 2000

Scotland's population on 30 June 1999 is estimated to have been 5,119,200, a fall of nearly 1,000 since mid-1998, according to the mid-1999 population estimates released today by the Registrar General for Scotland.

The small population fall is entirely due to 3,700 more deaths than births in the year ending 30 June 1999, a loss which was partially offset by a net migration gain of 2,200. The population remains relatively stable at just over 5.1 million, being 33,000 higher than a decade ago and 17,000 lower than the recent peak in 1995.

Amongst council areas in Scotland, Stirling and East Renfrewshire had the largest percentage increases at 1.9 and 1.5 per cent respectively. Dundee City, down 1.5 per cent, and Eilean Siar, down 1.4 per cent, experienced the largest percentage decreases.

Within health board areas, Forth Valley - up by 0.7 per cent and Lothian - up by 0.6 per cent showed the largest percentage increases, while the Western Isles and Shetland Isles health board areas had the largest proportionate decreases, down 1.4 per cent and 0.7 per cent respectively.

Notes To News Editors

1. A table is available for viewing or downloading, presenting a summary of these estimates for council and health board areas with details of the components of population change for the period mid-1998 to mid-1999.

2. A booklet, Mid-1999 Population Estimates, Scotland, giving further details by age and sex, of the mid-1999 population estimates, will be published on 16 June 2000.

3. For information on the availability of more detailed data and tables, please contact Statistics Customer Services using our Contact Form.