Verified Data & Statistics

Scotland: The Facts

Your comprehensive reference for verified data and statistics about Scotland, sourced from official government publications and authoritative research.

Status: Constituent country of the United Kingdom Capital: Edinburgh Largest City: Glasgow Currency: Pound Sterling (£)
Population
5.55m
NRS mid-2024 estimate
Area
77,933
km² land area
GDP
£207.8bn
Onshore GDP 2024
Renewables
38.5 TWh
generated in 2025 (record)

Population & Demographics

Scotland's population reached a record 5.55 million in 2024, driven by positive net migration offsetting a declining birth rate.

Total Population
0
Record high: Scotland's population hit 5.55 million for the first time in mid-2024.
Source: NRS Mid-2024 Population Estimates
Live Births (2024)
0
Lowest birth rate since 1855. Total fertility rate fell to 1.25, well below replacement level of 2.1.
Source: NRS Vital Events 2024
Life Expectancy: Female
0
Female life expectancy at birth, 2022–2024 period. Male life expectancy: 77.1 years.
Source: NRS Life Expectancy 2022–2024
Net Migration
Positive
Scotland has more people moving in than leaving in every council area, sustaining population growth despite declining natural change.
Source: NRS Scotland's Population 2024

Population Trend 2020–2024

Source: NRS Mid-Year Population Estimates (2020–2024)

Age Distribution (Census 2022)

Source: Scotland's Census 2022: National Records of Scotland

Population of Scotland's Five Cities

Source: NRS Mid-2024 Population Estimates

Ethnic Composition (Census 2022)

Source: Scotland's Census 2022: Ethnic Group Report

Life Expectancy: Male
0
Male life expectancy at birth, 2022–2024 period, Scotland.
Source: NRS Life Expectancy 2022–2024
White Ethnicity (Census 2022)
0
93% of Scotland's population identify as White; 7.1% from a Black/minority ethnic background: an 84% increase since 2011.
Source: Scotland's Census 2022
Glasgow Population
0
Scotland's largest city and a major UK economic and cultural hub.
Source: NRS Mid-2024 Estimates
Edinburgh Population
0
Scotland's capital and second-largest city. UK's second-largest financial centre.
Source: NRS Mid-2024 Estimates

Geography & Environment

From the Highlands to the Islands, Scotland encompasses one of Europe's most dramatic and varied landscapes, with 282 Munros, ~900 islands, and record-breaking renewable energy capacity.

Total Land Area
0 km²
Scotland covers about one-third of Great Britain's total landmass.
Source: Geography of Scotland
Coastline Length
0 km
Total coastline including all islands: one of the longest and most varied in Europe.
Source: marine.gov.scot
Ben Nevis: Highest Point
0 m
Ben Nevis (4,413 ft) is the highest peak in Scotland and the entire British Isles.
Source: Wikipedia: Ben Nevis
Number of Islands
0
Approximately 900 islands, of which around 118 are currently inhabited, grouped into Shetland, Orkney, Inner and Outer Hebrides.
Source: Geography of Scotland
Munros (3,000 ft+ peaks)
0
Scotland has 282 Munros: mountains over 3,000 feet (914.4 m). 7,937 people had completed all 282 by end of 2024.
Source: Scottish Mountaineering Club, 2024
Freshwater Lochs
0
Scotland has approximately 31,000 freshwater lochs. Loch Ness is the largest by volume; Loch Morar the deepest (310 m).
Source: Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Renewables vs Demand
0
A record 38.5 TWh of renewable electricity was generated in Scotland in 2025: up 0.7% on 2024's 38.3 TWh. In 2023, Scotland generated the equivalent of 113% of its total electricity demand from renewables.
Source: Scottish Government Energy Statistics Q4 2025
Installed Renewables Capacity
0
17.9 GW of operational renewable capacity in 2025: a 3.2% increase on 2024's 17.3 GW, driven by continued growth in onshore and offshore wind.
Source: Scottish Government Energy Statistics Q4 2025

Renewable Electricity Mix (approximate share of capacity)

Source: Scottish Government Energy Statistics Q3 2025 / Scottish Renewables

Scotland's Landscape

Scotland's mainland is broadly divided into three regions: the Highlands: a rugged mountainous terrain covering the north and north-west: the Central Lowlands (also called the Midland Valley), a flatter plain between the Highland Boundary Fault and the Southern Upland Fault that contains the majority of Scotland's population, and the Southern Uplands, a hilly region bordering England.

Scotland's only land border is with England, running 154 km from the Solway Firth in the west to the River Tweed on the east coast.

Scotland has two National Parks: Loch Lomond & The Trossachs (established 2002, covering 1,865 km²) and Cairngorms National Park (established 2003, the largest in the UK at 4,528 km²).

Sources: Scottish Natural Heritage; National Parks Scotland

Scotland by Council Area

Hover or tap any of Scotland's 32 council areas to explore population, key industries, and local facts. Shading reflects relative population.

Loading council boundaries…

Select a council area on the map to view population, key industries, and local facts.

Boundary data: ONS Open Geography Portal, Local Authority Districts May 2022. Population: Scotland's Census 2022 / NRS.

Loch Ness: Largest by Volume
7.4 km³
Loch Ness contains more fresh water than all lakes in England and Wales combined. Length: 37 km.
Source: Scottish Natural Heritage
Loch Morar: Deepest Loch
0 m
At 310 m, Loch Morar is the deepest freshwater body in the British Isles.
Source: Ordnance Survey
Cairngorms National Park
0 km²
The largest national park in the UK, covering an area larger than Luxembourg.
Source: Cairngorms National Park Authority
Loch Lomond: Largest Surface Area
0 km²
Loch Lomond is the largest lake by surface area in Great Britain.
Source: Scottish Natural Heritage

Economy & Business

Scotland's onshore GDP reached £207.8 billion in 2024. Financial services, energy, food & drink, and tourism are the pillars of a diversified, outward-looking economy.

Onshore GDP (2024)
0
Scotland's onshore GDP in current prices, 2024. A £8.9bn increase (+4.5%) on 2023.
Source: Scottish Government GDP National Accounts 2024
GDP incl. North Sea (2024)
0
Including oil and gas extraction in Scottish waters: £221.7bn, or £39,960 per person.
Source: Scottish Government GDP National Accounts 2024
GDP per Capita (Onshore)
0
Onshore GDP per head in 2024 (current prices). Including offshore: £39,960 per person.
Source: Scottish Government GDP National Accounts 2024
SMEs in Scotland (2025)
0
381,855 SMEs operating in Scotland as at March 2025: a 7.3% increase on the previous year. SMEs account for 56.2% of private sector employment.
Source: Businesses in Scotland: 2025: Scottish Government

Economy by Sector: Approximate Share of Onshore GVA

Source: Scottish Government Regional Accounts; approximate shares based on Scottish Government GVA data. Note: figures are rounded estimates.

Unemployment Rate (Nov 2025–Jan 2026)
0
Scotland's unemployment rate for those aged 16+, three-month average to January 2026.
Source: Scottish Government Labour Market Trends, March 2026
Financial Services GVA (2024)
0
Financial and professional services account for ~10% of Scotland's economy and employ 149,000 people.
Source: The Scotsman; Scottish Financial News
Scotch Whisky Exports (2025)
0
Scotch Whisky is Scotland's most valuable export: £5.36bn globally in 2025 (43 bottles every second). US exports fell 15% after April 2025 tariffs.
Source: Scotch Whisky Association, 2025
Food & Drink Exports (2024)
0
Scotland accounts for 30% of the UK's total food and drink export value. Total sector turnover reached a record £19bn in 2025.
Source: Scotland Food & Drink, 2025
Life Sciences Contribution
0
Scotland's life sciences sector contributes £10.1bn to the economy, with 51,000 jobs across 700+ businesses.
Source: Scottish Government: Life Sciences, March 2026
Tourism Total Spend (2024)
0
Total visitor spend across 92 million tourism visits to Scotland in 2024.
Source: VisitScotland Tourism Performance 2024
North Sea Revenue (2024–25)
0
North Sea oil and gas revenue in 2024–25. Production has declined ~75% from its 1999 peak.
Source: GERS 2024–25, Scottish Government