The latest population projections show Scotland’s population is projected to continue to increase and to age over the next 25 years.
The National Population Projections for Scotland are based on the latest population estimates for 2016 and provide an indication of the future size and age structure of Scotland’s population based on a set of assumptions about future fertility, mortality and migration.
The population of Scotland is projected to rise from 5.40 million in 2016 to 5.58 million in 2026, and to continue to rise to 5.69 million in 2041 – an increase of 5% over the 25 year period.
All of the projected increase in Scotland’s population over the next 10 years is due to net in-migration to Scotland; 58% of net in-migration is projected to come from overseas, with 42% from the rest of the UK.
Natural change (the number of births minus the number of deaths) is projected to be negative in each year of the projection. By 2041 it is projected that there will be over 10 thousand more deaths than births each year.
The population is also projected to age, with people aged 75 and over projected to be the fastest growing age group in Scotland. The number of people aged 75 and over is projected to increase by 27% over the next ten years and increase by 79% over the next 25 years to 2041.
Between 2016 and 2041, the population of pensionable age is projected to rise from 1.05 million to 1.32 million, an increase of 25%, while the number of children is projected to decrease from 0.92 million to 0.90 million (reduction of 2%) over the same period. This compares to an increase in the working age population from 3.43 million in 2016 to a peak of 3.59 million in 2028 (an increase of 5%). It is then projected to decline to 3.47 million by 2041. Overall there is a 1% projected increase in people of working age over the 25 year period.
Population projections are used for a variety of purposes including resource allocation and planning of services such as education and health. They are also used for informing local and national policy, teacher workforce models and looking at the implications of an ageing population.
If you would like to find out more, the full publication, key findings and interactive data visualisation for the 2016-based National Population Projections for Scotland are available on our website.
William Howes, Assistant Statistician
Open Book 
When talking about the population of pensionable age are you increasing the pension age in line with government plans e.g. 66 by 2020 and 67 by 2028? All the charts threshold at 65, so it is unclear.
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Hi Chris,
Yes, we do account for the future increases in state pension age when talking about the population of pensionable age, with the increases to age 66 and 67 both included.
The state pension age is due to rise further to 68 years between 2044 and 2046. A Pension Age Review published in March 2017 by the UK Government recommends bringing the rise to 68 forward to between 2037 and 2039. However, this recommendation has not yet been passed into legislation, so the figures we have presented do not include this change.
The chart threshold at age 65 is just for illustrative purposes.
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