This Scotland population - the data on how the nation is changing hub outlines the data on how the nation is changing exploring who we are, how we live, and what the trends mean for Scotland’s future in 2026 and beyond. Scotland’s population in numbersnull (Image: Newsquest)Scotland population (2024): Around 5.55 million people, according to the ONS. NRS projections suggest only a 2.5% rise by 2035, compared with 5% in the previous 15 years. Urban growthEdinburgh has been the fastest-growing city in Scotland, with population growth of 13%, between 2011 and 2023. Households and family trendsnull (Image: Newsquest)According to NRS, Scotland has some of the smallest household sizes in Europe.

Source: The Herald January 05, 2026 15:30 UTC