The Improvement Service has published a new set of sub-council area population projections for all 32 councils. These projections can be used by councils and partners to understand what the future size and structure of the population within councils could be if recent trends continue. Population size and structure can vary considerably across different areas in the council, therefore these projections provide valuable insight to prioritise resources and support a wide range of local level decision making and planning. The projections align with the most recent National Records of Scotland (NRS) 2022 based sub-national population projections, ensuring council-level consistency with NRS data, while providing a more detailed and granular picture within council areas.
Detailed projections for each council are available on the Improvement Service website alongside methodological information. An interactive visualisation tool is also available which utilises maps, graphs and data downloads to allow users to easily analyse the projections. Users can create bespoke selections to help ask questions such as:
- Which areas in my council are projected to have the fastest growth in population?
- Which areas within my council are projected to have the largest elderly population?
- What factors are driving changes in the population within my council?
If you’d like to hear more about the sub-council area population projections, the Improvement Service are hosting a launch event on the 16th of June. This event will provide an opportunity to hear more about how the projections were produced, ask questions and hear how local authorities and partners are making use of the projections within their areas. You can sign up for the event.
We hope you will find these projections useful. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact us at research@improvementservice.org.uk.