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Scotland

Information about Scotland

Summary

Scotland is the second most populous country in the United Kingdom after England, with a population of just over 5.4 million people as of the 2022 census. Below you can find demographic data for Scotland as a whole, based on the 2022 census.

People

Gender

Gender
Male 2,642,353
Female 2,797,322
Total 5,439,675

Age Groups

Age Groups
0-4 248,693
5-9 282,489
10-14 301,759
15-19 299,617
20-24 341,421
25-29 337,384
30-34 357,096
35-39 346,769
40-44 334,249
45-49 328,916
50-54 390,980
55-59 408,979
60-64 371,679
65-69 314,699
70-74 285,007
75-79 218,262
80-84 142,093
85+ 130,637
Total 5,440,729

Relationship Status

Figures for relationship status do not include those aged under 16, or those family members aged 16-18 who are in full-time education. Following the Civil Partnership Act that came into force in 2019, census figures for 2021/2022 no longer categorise same sex relationships as a separate category. Civil partnerships are now included within the figures for the other categories (Married, Divorced and so forth).

Relationship Status
Single 1,734,081
Married 2,001,265
Separated 111,282
Divorced 381,649
Widowed 320,269
Total 4,548,546

Culture

Ethnic Group

Ethnic Group
White 5,084,785
Mixed Ethnicity 60,839
Indian 52,878
Pakistani 72,860
Bangladeshi 6,904
Chinese 47,276
Other Asian 39,489
Black African 59,667
Black Caribbean 2,220
Other Black/African/Caribbean 4,697
Arab 22,278
Other 28,613
Total 5,482,506

Country of Birth

Country of Birth
United Kingdom 4,886,892
European Union 237,922
Rest of Europe 15,268
Africa 72,210
Middle East and Asia 163,654
The Americas (North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean) 49,591
Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and nearby islands) 14,377
Total 5,439,914

Length of Residence

The length of time a person has been resident in the UK has been calculated from the time a resident most recently arrived in the UK (excluding holidays/short stays outside the UK). However, residents that were born in the UK but emigrated and then later returned will still be counted as "Born in the United Kingdom".

Length of Residence
Born in The United Kingdom 4,884,808
10+ Years 276,301
5-10 Years 103,447
2-5 Years 82,630
Less Than 2 Years 92,773
Total 5,439,959

Passport(s) Held

Note that an individual may hold one or more passports, so this table does not include a total.

Passport(s) Held
None 962,769
United Kingdom 4,093,878
Republic of Ireland 30,980
European Union 212,742
Rest of Europe 8,734
African Countries 29,258
Middle East or Asia 72,953
The Americas (North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean) 23,677
Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and nearby islands) 4,678

Religion

Religion
No Religion 2,780,882
Church Of Scotland 1,107,708
Catholic 723,310
Other Christian 279,435
Buddhist 15,527
Hindu 29,961
Jewish 5,829
Muslim 120,104
Sikh 10,984
Other Religion 31,660
Not Stated 334,740
Total 5,440,140

Scots Language

Figures for Scots speaking and understanding are based on responses for all usual residents aged 3 years and over on census day 2022.

Scots Speaking Ability
Speaks, Reads, Writes and Understands Scots 1,176,152
Speaks and Reads but Does Not Write Scots 157,740
Speaks but Does Not Read or Write Scots 174,104
Understands but Does Not Read, Write or Speak Scots 722,646
Other Combination of Scots Skills 213,315
No Ability in Scots 2,850,187

Gaelic Language

Figures for Gaelic speaking and understanding are based on responses for all usual residents aged 3 years and over on census day 2022.

Gaelic Speaking Ability
Speaks, Reads, Writes and Understands Gaelic 43,690
Speaks and Reads but Does Not Write Gaelic 7,667
Speaks but Does Not Read or Write Gaelic 18,298
Understands but Does Not Read, Write or Speak Gaelic 46,649
Other Combination of Gaelic Skills 13,960
No Ability in Gaelic 5,164,198