Scotland - Statistics & Facts

Scotland is the second-largest country in the United Kingdom and has a population of approximately 5.48 million. With a population density of just 70 people per square kilometer, Scotland is also the most sparsely populated country in the UK. A large share of the Scottish population lives in the 'Central Belt' area of the country, which includes the major cities of Glasgow, which has a population of 635,130, and the capital city of Edinburgh, with a population of 526,470 people. Although Scotland has a growing population, birth rates and fertility rate have both been falling for decades.

Scottish politics and Scottish independence

The issue of Scottish independence from the rest of the United Kingdom is a key political issues for the country. Although Scotland voted to reject independence in a referendum in 2014, subsequent events in the UK have only widened the gap between Scotland and Westminster. The Brexit vote saw Scotland vote primarily to remain in the European Union compared with England and Wales, which mostly voted to leave. The Scottish National Party, led by Humza Yousaf, is the largest political party in the Scottish Parliament and won 48 of 59 Scottish seats in the 2019 UK general election, which was followed by an unsuccessful request for a second Scottish independence referendum. As of September 2023, the share of people in Scotland who would vote for independence stood at 47 percent, compared with 53 percent who would stay in the United Kingdom. Although independence won't be on the ballot in 2024, Scottish voters will likely head to the polls to vote in a UK-wide general election, and although support for the SNP has fallen since 2020, they still retain a polling lead over both Labour and the Conservatives.

Falling crime and economic headwinds

The number of recorded crimes in Scotland has declined substantially in recent years, falling from almost 512,000 crimes in 2004/05 to around 289,000 in 2022/23. This decline can also be seen in Scotland's crime rate, which has dropped from 93.4 crimes per 1,000 people in 2004/05 to 52.8 in 2022/23, significantly lower than that of England and Wales. In terms of Scotland's economic situation, recent labor market statistics show that the overall unemployment rate was declining significantly prior to 2020, with this trend was also reflected in the youth unemployment rate. Rising unemployment rates from 2020 onwards were a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused widespread disruption to the UK economy . Going into 2024, it is likely that Scotland will continue to suffer some effects from a afflicting the UK, driven by record high inflation rates, and rising energy prices.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by D. Clark, Jan 15, 2024

Key insights

Population of Scotland
5.48 million
GDP of Scotland
159 bn GBP
Support for Scottish Independence 2023
47%
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Crude birth rate in Scotland from 1855 to 2021

Births, Deaths, Life Expectancy

Crude birth rate in Scotland 1855-2021

Annual growth rate of gross domestic product in Scotland from 1999 to 2021

Key Economic Indicators

GDP growth in Scotland 1999-2021

Crime rate per 10,000 population in Scotland from 2002/03 to 2022/23

Crime & Law Enforcement

Crime rate in Scotland 2002-2023

Related topics

Recommended

3

Recommended statistics

Demographics

8

Demographics

Economic indicators

10

Economic indicators

Politics & Government

7

Politics & Government

Crime

7

Crime

Education

8

Education

Further reportsGet the best reports to understand your industry

Scotland
Scotland
Crime in Scotland
Crime in Scotland
Travel and tourism in Scotland
Travel and tourism in Scotland
Sport in Scotland (UK)
Sport in Scotland (UK)
ScottishPower
ScottishPower

Contact

Get in touch with us. We are happy to help.
Statista Locations
Contact Meredith Alda
Meredith Alda
Sales Manager– Contact (United States)
Email
support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

Contact Yolanda Mega
Yolanda Mega
Operations Manager– Contact (Asia)
Email
asia.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm (SGT)

Contact Kisara Mizuno
Kisara Mizuno
Senior Business Development Manager– Contact (Asia)
Email
asia.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 10:00am - 6:00pm (JST)

Contact Lodovica Biagi
Lodovica Biagi
Director of Operations– Contact (Europe)
Email
eu.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9:30am - 5pm (GMT)

Contact Carolina Dulin
Carolina Dulin
Group Director - LATAM– Contact (Latin America)
Email
latam@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

Menu