New figures published by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that Scotland’s population increased by 25,200 people as of June 30, 2019, a growth of 0.5% over the year.

The NRS said 30,200 more people moved to Scotland than leaving, from both overseas and the rest of the UK, in the year to mid-2019. In contrast, there was no natural growth in the population with 5,600 more deaths than births over the same period.

Three quarters of council areas (24 out of 32) experienced population growth, with eight areas seeing population decline in the last year. Most of the latest population growth was in Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as their neighbouring council areas. Population decline affected some island and mainly rural areas, as well as areas in the west of Scotland.

The figures also show that Scotland’s population is ageing. In mid-2019, 19% of the population were aged 65 and over compared with 17% a decade earlier in mid-2009. Over the same period, the population aged 65 and over increased in all council areas.