2003 Mid-Year Estimate for Scotland's Council and Health Board Areas

25th May 2004

As a follow-up to figures released by the Registrar General for Scotland on the 30 April 2004, estimates for Council and Health Board areas have just been released.

The key results to emerge from these figures are:

Amongst Council areas, Aberdeenshire had the largest proportionate increase at 0.9 per cent followed by Moray and Scottish Borders with 0.8 per cent. Aberdeen City (-1.3 per cent), Midlothian (-1.0 per cent) and Dundee City (-0.8 per cent) had the largest decreases; and
Of Health Board areas, Borders had the largest increase at 0.8 per cent followed by Highland and Orkney with 0.5 per cent. The largest decreases occurred in Western Isles and Argyll and Clyde Health Board Area (-0.4 per cent).

Notes to News Editors

A table is available presenting a summary of these estimates for Council and Health Board areas with details of the components of population change for the period mid-2002 to mid-2003. Media wishing a faxed copy of the table should telephone 0131 244 3073. Alternatively a copy of the table and more detailed information on the 2003 mid-year population estimate by age, sex and administrative area (Council and Health Board area) is available on the GROS website or by contacting GROS Statistics Customer Services using our Contact Form .
The 2001 Census results published in September 2002, showed that previous population estimates had exaggerated the population of Scotland by some 50,000 - largely because of errors in estimates of migration in the 1980s and 1990s. To ensure that future estimates do not continue to overestimate the population, a component for unattributable population change has been included in the latest figures - a reduction of 2,600 people. More information on these adjustments can be found on the GROS website.
The source of the information about overseas emigration and immigration is the International Passenger Survey. It is based on a small sample, and there is a higher risk of error than with the remainder of the population estimates. Further work is being undertaken to review the quality of the method and data sources used to estimate migration, in particular to reduce the level of unmeasured migration. A National Statistics Quality Review of International Migration Statistics was carried out by the ONS, and a report was published which recommended ways of improving the quality and accuracy of international migration. An implementation plan has been developed by ONS but it will be some time before improved data sources are available.
For information on the availability of more detailed data and tables, please contact Statistics Customer Services using our Contact Form.