population has hit a record high, new figures show, amid “unprecedented demographic shifts”.

Statistics from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show the number of people living in Scotland has risen to 5.55 million while there has been an all-time low in babies born.

The population increase was caused by net migration sitting at 56,400.

For the ninth year in a row, according to the figures, the number of deaths in 2024 exceeded the number of births.

NRS estimates show a substantial increase in the over-75 population in the next two decades, rising by 68.6% to more than 800,000 in 2047 while younger age groups could see a decline.

Both the under-15 age group and those aged between 16 and 29 will see a decrease, according to the estimates, of 9% and 6.2%.

The demographic change

See Full Page