Migration drives Scotland's population growth
Scotland's population is set to reach 5.8 million in the next two decades, according to new estimates, thanks to immigration.
A report published by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) suggests that without migration, Scotland's population would fall, as deaths are expected to continue to outnumber births.
The forecast is based on the 2022 census, which estimated Scotland's population at 5,436,600.
Statisticians predict population growth of 4.4% in the 10 years from mid-2022 and a long-term projection of 6.2% until 2047.
According to the NRS report, Scotland's population is expected to grow at a slower rate than the UK as a whole. By mid-2047, it is projected to be 76.6 million, an increase of 13.2% on the 2022 figure.
This means that Scotland's share of the UK population could fall from 8.1% to 7.6% by 2047.
The 2022 census recorded Scotland's largest population ever.
This is an increase of 141,200 people (2.7%) since the previous census in 2011.
However, there have been more deaths than births over the decade and without migration the population would have fallen by around 49,800 people.
The NRS report also found that the average age of Scotland's population is set to increase, with the number of people aged 75 and over increasing by 341,300 by 2047. The number of children under 15 is expected to decrease by 79,900 by 2047 and the number of young people (16-29) will decrease by 57,300.
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