East Lothian: population and statistics
East Lothian has a population of 116,460 (2025) across 679.2 km², or 172 people per km². It ranks 256 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +11.9% between 2015 and 2025.
- 116,460 residents
- 679.2 km²
- 172 people/km²
East Lothian in numbers
Population of East Lothian over time
East Lothian had 104,110 residents in 2015 and 116,460 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 109,510 |
| 2021 | 111,340 |
| 2022 | 112,460 |
| 2023 | 113,860 |
| 2024 | 115,180 |
| 2025 | 116,460 |
All indicators for East Lothian
Value for the area, then the regional average and the UK median (for counts: regional and UK totals). The gauge places the area between the lowest and highest value in the UK.
Population
| Indicator | East Lothian | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 22.3% | 21.0% | 20.4% | ranked 129 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 17.2% | 15.8% | 17.4% | ranked 196 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | East Lothian | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average house price (2026) | £282,500 | £200,272 | £272,474 | ranked 170 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | −1.0% | 3.0% | 2.2% | ranked 295 of 360 |
Economy
| Indicator | East Lothian | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 3,880 sites | 219,565 | 3,232,440 | ranked 322 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 33.3 per 1,000 | 39.6 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 315 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 3,305 businesses | 176,000 | 2,786,975 | ranked 320 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £38,714 | £39,890 | £38,490 | ranked 168 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | East Lothian | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 78.6% | 74.5% | 76.3% | ranked 119 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.5% | 3.2% | 3.2% | ranked 260 of 361 |
Key points
Among the 32 local authorities in Scotland, East Lothian ranks 18 by population.
House price change over 12 months: −1.0% in East Lothian, compared with an average of 3.0% in Scotland and 1.9% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 14.3% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Its area is roughly equal to 95,132 football pitches.
- The nearest local authority is Midlothian, 20.0 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is City of Edinburgh (531,370 residents), 28 km away.
Business sectors: East Lothian
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Wholesale and retail trade14.3% ×0.9
- Construction13.7% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical12.8% ×0.9
- Accommodation and food services8.0% ×1.1
- Administrative and support services7.3% ×0.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing7.2% ×1.6
- Health and social work6.4% ×1.1
- Arts, entertainment and recreation4.9% ×1.7
Where is East Lothian?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of East Lothian?
East Lothian has 116,460 residents (2025), ranking 256 of 361 local authorities.
How big is East Lothian?
East Lothian covers 679.2 km², with a density of 172 people per km².
Is the population of East Lothian growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of East Lothian went from 104,110 to 116,460, a change of +11.9%.
Where is East Lothian?
East Lothian is in Scotland (region). Latitude 55.917, longitude −2.750.
Business sites (local units): what is the figure for East Lothian?
In East Lothian, “Business sites (local units)” stands at 3,880 sites (2026), ranking 322 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 6,830 sites.
House price change over 12 months: what is the figure for East Lothian?
In East Lothian, “House price change over 12 months” stands at −1.0% (2026), ranking 295 of 360 local authorities; the UK median is 2.2%.
Which local authorities border East Lothian?
The nearest to East Lothian are Midlothian (20 km), City of Edinburgh (28 km), Fife (46 km), West Lothian (47 km), Dundee City (62 km).