Region
Scotland: local authorities in numbers
Scotland has 32 local authorities and 5,545,500 residents across 78,801 km², or 70 people per km². Population: +3.6% between 2015 and 2025.
- 5,545,500 residents
- 32 local authorities
- 78,801 km²
- 70 people/km²
Map and records: Scotland
All local authorities in Scotland
Click a column heading to sort the table.
| Local authority | Population | Population change over 10 years | Population density | Area | Share of residents aged 65 and over | Share of residents aged under 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow City | 654,330 | +9.9% | 3,747 people/km² | 174.6 | 14.2% | 14.8% |
| City of Edinburgh | 531,370 | +8.4% | 2,017 people/km² | 263.4 | 16.4% | 13.7% |
| Fife | 373,990 | +1.9% | 282.2 people/km² | 1,325 | 22.9% | 15.8% |
| North Lanarkshire | 343,930 | +1.5% | 728.2 people/km² | 472.3 | 18.9% | 17.1% |
| South Lanarkshire | 334,330 | +5.1% | 188.5 people/km² | 1,774 | 21.4% | 16.7% |
| Aberdeenshire | 264,640 | +0.5% | 41.9 people/km² | 6,318 | 22.7% | 17.6% |
| Highland | 237,260 | +1.4% | 9.1 people/km² | 26,158 | 25.1% | 15.1% |
| Aberdeen City | 230,180 | +1.5% | 1,240 people/km² | 185.6 | 17.7% | 15.7% |
| Renfrewshire | 189,270 | +7.6% | 723.8 people/km² | 261.5 | 20.4% | 16.1% |
| West Lothian | 187,240 | +5.7% | 436.7 people/km² | 428.8 | 18.4% | 18.1% |
| Falkirk | 160,230 | +1.5% | 539.2 people/km² | 297.1 | 20.4% | 16.3% |
| Perth and Kinross | 154,930 | +4.3% | 28.8 people/km² | 5,384 | 25.6% | 15.2% |
| Dundee City | 148,390 | +0.7% | 2,481 people/km² | 59.8 | 18.8% | 15.7% |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 145,490 | −2.2% | 22.6 people/km² | 6,437 | 28.7% | 14.6% |
| North Ayrshire | 133,660 | −1.9% | 151.0 people/km² | 885.3 | 25.1% | 15.4% |
| East Ayrshire | 121,350 | −0.2% | 95.5 people/km² | 1,270 | 22.6% | 16.5% |
| Scottish Borders | 116,800 | +1.7% | 24.6 people/km² | 4,739 | 28.0% | 14.9% |
| East Lothian | 116,460 | +11.9% | 171.5 people/km² | 679.2 | 22.3% | 17.2% |
| Angus | 114,610 | −1.9% | 52.5 people/km² | 2,185 | 26.5% | 15.3% |
| South Ayrshire | 112,280 | 0.0% | 91.7 people/km² | 1,224 | 28.0% | 14.7% |
| East Dunbartonshire | 109,550 | +2.0% | 627.8 people/km² | 174.5 | 25.5% | 17.6% |
| Midlothian | 100,390 | +13.8% | 282.6 people/km² | 355.3 | 19.8% | 18.6% |
| East Renfrewshire | 99,840 | +7.3% | 573.0 people/km² | 174.2 | 22.5% | 20.1% |
| Moray | 94,730 | −0.1% | 42.3 people/km² | 2,238 | 24.1% | 15.8% |
| Stirling | 94,040 | +3.5% | 41.7 people/km² | 2,253 | 21.6% | 15.3% |
| West Dunbartonshire | 88,340 | −1.8% | 498.2 people/km² | 177.3 | 21.4% | 16.5% |
| Argyll and Bute | 87,310 | −0.6% | 12.5 people/km² | 7,006 | 28.4% | 13.6% |
| Inverclyde | 78,550 | −2.2% | 485.0 people/km² | 161.9 | 23.7% | 15.1% |
| Clackmannanshire | 51,610 | +0.1% | 324.2 people/km² | 159.2 | 22.0% | 16.2% |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | 25,770 | −4.3% | 8.3 people/km² | 3,097 | 28.1% | 14.3% |
| Shetland Islands | 22,710 | −2.8% | 15.5 people/km² | 1,468 | 23.3% | 17.1% |
| Orkney Islands | 21,920 | +1.9% | 21.6 people/km² | 1,015 | 26.8% | 15.3% |
Scotland compared with the UK
Population-weighted averages for rates; totals for counts.
| Indicator | Scotland | the United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over | 21.0% | 19.4% |
| Share of residents aged under 16 | 15.8% | 17.7% |
| Average house price | £200,272 | £308,859 |
| House price change over 12 months | 3.0% | 1.9% |
| Business sites (local units) | 219,565 sites | 3,232,440 sites |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents | 39.6 per 1,000 | 46.5 per 1,000 |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) | 176,000 businesses | 2,786,975 businesses |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) | £39,890 | £39,498 |
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 | 74.5% | 75.6% |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 | 3.2% | 3.8% |
Frequently asked questions
How many local authorities are there in Scotland?
Scotland has 32 local authorities. The most populous is Glasgow City, with 654,330 residents.
What is the population of Scotland?
Scotland has 5,545,500 residents (2025), or 70 people per km².
Which local authority in Scotland is growing fastest?
Midlothian has the fastest growth in Scotland over 10 years: +13.8%.