Population: policy context

The population of Scotland has increased each year since 2001 and it is now at its highest level ever. In the year to mid 2023, Scotland’s population rose faster than at any time since the 1940s, according to National Records of Scotland. 

The main driver of population growth over the year was people moving to Scotland from abroad and other parts of the UK.  Without migration into Scotland, the population would have fallen. Deaths outnumbered births by the highest amount on record. There were 19,100 more deaths than births. For more information, see Data section of Population on ScotPHO pages and National Records of Scotland Population Estimates. For more information on Scottish approach to migration, see ScotPHO pages on the topic.

Current policies

The Scottish Government has outlined its approach to population in 2021 population strategy: A Scotland for the future: opportunities and challenges of Scotland's changing population. The strategy looks at four aspects Scottish Government is aiming to support in order to address its population challenges, such as falling birth rates, ageing population, and population growth dependent on migration. The four aspects are called (1) a family friendly nation, (2) a healthy living society, (3) an attractive and welcoming country, and (4) a more balanced population.

To make Scotland more family friendly, policies range from childcare support to supporting women to go back to work. Various action plans have been put in place to improve the healthy life expectancy of Scottish population. Migration policies are under the jurisdiction of the UK government, which has put in place a new immigration system in January 2021, following UK’s exit from the European Union. To make the population more balanced, Scottish Government is aiming to provide economic investment in all parts of Scotland to allow local authorities to be fully functional economic units.

The Population Programme is a programme of work which aims to deliver the 2021 population strategy.

Between 2016 and 2026, all council areas in Scotland are projected to experience an increase in their population aged 75 and over. A strategy called A Fairer Scotland for Older People: framework for action was published in 2019 to outline the actions aiming to address the challenges faced by the older population in Scotland.

Policies addressing depopulation

A particular challenge in relation to Scotland is a depopulation or a population decline in certain rural areas. A majority of council areas (18 out of 32) are projected to increase in population by mid-2028. 14 councils are projected to decline (more than the 8 in the previous projections). Most population growth is projected to be in the central belt and urban areas, while most examples of population decline have been observed in, and are projected to mainly be in, the West of Scotland, including the islands.

To improve outcomes for islands, Scottish Government has published a National Islands Plan in 2019, which provides a framework for action for island communities.

National Planning Framework 4 represents a package of planning policies with targets to meet by 2045. Different rural areas require different policies to address population needs. For example, in areas in southern Scotland such as Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders, Regional Spatial Strategies and Local Development Plans should “increase the population by improving local liveability, creating a low carbon network of towns and supporting sustainable rural development”. In areas such as parts of: the Highlands; Argyll and Bute; and Moray, Regional Spatial Strategies and Local Development Plans “should maintain and help to grow the population by taking a positive approach to rural development that strengthens networks of communities”.

The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 introduced local place plans. Linked to the National Performance Framework and local development plans, their aim is to provide the opportunity for communities to influence the development of their neighbourhoods in a way which builds on community empowerment across Scotland. Provisions on the preparation, submission and registration of Local Place Plans came into force in January 2022, with resources to support communities in preparing Local Place Plans available through the ourplace.scot website.

Further list of actions Scottish Government aims to undertake to address depopulation is available here.