Scotland's expected population increase is likely to be unevenly spread across the country, according to a report issued today by the Registrar General for Scotland. 

Commenting on the report, the Registrar General Duncan Macniven said: “Scotland is not a single country demographically. Over the next 25 years, we expect the population of Scotland to increase by about 5 per cent.

“But Perth and Kinross and West Lothian are likely to grow more than four times as much, while we expect that the number of people in Inverclyde and East Dunbartonshire will fall by about one-seventh."

The report, which concentrates on the period 2006 and 2031, concludes that the population of 15 of the 32 council areas in Scotland are projected to increase, while the population in the other 17 are projected to decrease.

The council areas with the greatest projected increase in population are Perth & Kinross and West Lothian, predicted to grow by 22 per cent, while Inverclyde and East Dunbartonshire have the largest projected decreases, of 15 per cent.

The age of the population of every part of Scotland is expected to increase to some extent, with the number of children aged 0-15 is projected to decrease in 24 of the 32 council areas.

The population of working age is projected to increase in 14 council areas and decrease in 18, while the pensionable age population is projected to increase in all council areas.

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney said that Scotland's expected population increase would be a key contributor to a more vibrant society and a more dynamic economy.

He said: “Over the last 10 years, population growth in Scotland has lagged significantly behind the UK. An increasing population has the potential to boost Scotland's economic growth and help our nation prosper.

“The Government Economic Strategy recognises that without increasing labour participation among older people or attracting more people of working age to Scotland, adverse economic impacts are likely.

“The strategy also emphasises that we must ensure the benefits of economic growth are felt across the whole of Scotland.

“We must continue our work to give all of Scotland a competitive edge, to attract and retain successful businesses and the people they employ, to end decades of economic underperformance and to ensure that the projections for our population continue to be positive.”

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