Scottish Borders: population and statistics
Scottish Borders has a population of 116,800 (2025) across 4,739.2 km², or 24.6 people per km². It ranks 255 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +1.7% between 2015 and 2025.
- 116,800 residents
- 4,739.2 km²
- 25 people/km²
Scottish Borders in numbers
Population of Scottish Borders over time
Scottish Borders had 114,890 residents in 2015 and 116,800 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 116,380 |
| 2021 | 117,080 |
| 2022 | 116,820 |
| 2023 | 117,080 |
| 2024 | 117,190 |
| 2025 | 116,800 |
All indicators for Scottish Borders
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 | Scottish Borders | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 28.0% | 21.0% | 20.4% | ranked 27 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 14.9% | 15.8% | 17.4% | ranked 327 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Scottish Borders | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average house price (2026) | £193,050 | £200,272 | £272,474 | ranked 300 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 4.5% | 3.0% | 2.2% | ranked 80 of 360 |
Economy
| Indicator | Scottish Borders | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 5,915 sites | 219,565 | 3,232,440 | ranked 215 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 50.6 per 1,000 | 39.6 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 103 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 5,000 businesses | 176,000 | 2,786,975 | ranked 217 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £33,600 | £39,890 | £38,490 | ranked 322 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Scottish Borders | 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) | 2.9% | 3.2% | 3.2% | ranked 206 of 361 |
Key points
Among the 32 local authorities in Scotland, Scottish Borders ranks 17 by population.
Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross): £33,600 in Scottish Borders, compared with an average of £39,890 in Scotland and £39,498 across the UK.
Share of residents aged 65 and over: 28.0% in Scottish Borders, compared with an average of 21.0% in Scotland and 19.4% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 20.2% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- “Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross)”: lower than in 93% of local authorities.
- “Share of residents aged 65 and over”: higher than in 92% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 663,748 football pitches.
- 11.6 times less dense than the UK average.
- The nearest local authority is Northumberland, 37.8 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Northumberland (333,975 residents), 38 km away.
Business sectors: Scottish Borders
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing20.2% ×4.5
- Wholesale and retail trade14.9% ×0.9
- Construction11.9% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical9.7% ×0.7
- Accommodation and food services6.8% ×1.0
- Health and social work5.8% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services5.7% ×0.7
- Manufacturing4.6% ×1.1
Where is Scottish Borders?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Scottish Borders?
Scottish Borders has 116,800 residents (2025), ranking 255 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Scottish Borders?
Scottish Borders covers 4,739.2 km², with a density of 25 people per km².
Is the population of Scottish Borders growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Scottish Borders went from 114,890 to 116,800, a change of +1.7%.
Where is Scottish Borders?
Scottish Borders is in Scotland (region). Latitude 55.360, longitude −2.490.
Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross): what is the figure for Scottish Borders?
In Scottish Borders, “Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross)” stands at £33,600 (2025), ranking 322 of 348 local authorities; the UK median is £38,490.
Share of residents aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Scottish Borders?
In Scottish Borders, “Share of residents aged 65 and over” stands at 28.0% (2025), ranking 27 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 20.4%.
Which local authorities border Scottish Borders?
The nearest to Scottish Borders are Northumberland (38 km), East Lothian (64 km), Newcastle upon Tyne (66 km), Midlothian (70 km), North Tyneside (71 km).