More people now live in Scotland than ever before
Statistics published by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that the estimated population of Scotland was 5,373,000 in mid-2015 – the highest ever. The figures show a rise of 25,400 (0.5 per cent) people since mid-2014.
The population increased because in-migration which includes people from the rest of the UK exceeded out-migration by approximately 28,000 people between mid-2014 and mid-2015. This was offset by approximately 2,000 more people dying than were born. Other changes, such as in armed forces and prisoners, resulted in a loss of approximately 500 people.
Between mid-2014 and mid-2015, approximately 37,800 people came to Scotland from overseas and approximately 18,200 left Scotland to go overseas giving a net migration gain of 19,600.
Between mid-2014 and mid-2015, approximately 47,200 people came to Scotland from the rest of the UK, and approximately 38,800 left Scotland to go in the opposite direction, giving a net migration gain of approximately 8,400.
In the year to 30 June 2015 there were more deaths than births for the first time since the year to mid-2006.