Eighty-six per cent of Highland households have filled in Census returns as new deadline looms
In excess of 86 per cent of Highland households have completed their returns for Scotland's Census as it enters the final full week.
Aberdeenshire and the Western Isles have both now exceeded a 90 per cent return rate and a total of 19 out of 32 council areas have reached 85 per cent, National Records of Scotland (NRS) confirmed.
The national completion rate stands at 2,210,265 households, with more than four in every five households having completed across 30 areas.
The deadline was extended by a month in April because of low completion rates.
Census returns must be submitted by the end of May and failure to do so could result in prosecution and a fine of up to £1000.
Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture said thousands of households were continuing to submit their returns before the deadline.
"It’s great that we are seeing this increase in census response rates right across Scotland, but it is vital that we secure as high a rate as possible so that the census can be effective in delivering its many benefits for future public services," he said.
"Census data informs how and where public money is spent on vital services, from the building of new schools and hospitals to improving transport links and understanding health needs.
"I would urge everyone who has not completed their census to do so immediately and before the end of May, to avoid the risk of prosecution.
"Our field teams are out each day visiting those addresses across Scotland where we know we have not received a return and offering to fill in your census return there and then, supporting those who still need help."
Local authority household return rate:
Aberdeen City – 84.6 per cent
Aberdeenshire – 90.2 per cent
Angus – 86.9 per cent
Argyll and Bute – 84.6 per cent
City of Edinburgh – 85.8 per cent
Clackmannanshire – 84.8 per cent
Dumfries and Galloway – 87.9 per cent
Dundee City – 80.8 per cent
East Ayrshire – 84.5 per cent
East Dunbartonshire – 87.4 per cent
East Lothian – 87.3 per cent
East Renfrewshire – 86.9 per cent
Falkirk – 86.8 per cent
Fife – 84.6 per cent
Glasgow City – 77.8 per cent
Highland – 86.4 per cent
Inverclyde – 80.6 per cent
Midlothian – 86.3 per cent
Moray – 88 per cent
Na h-Eileanan Siar – 91.1 per cent
North Ayrshire – 82.8 per cent
North Lanarkshire – 81.9 per cent
Orkney Islands – 89.9 per cent
Perth and Kinross – 85.8 per cent
Renfrewshire – 82.5 per cent
Scottish Borders – 87.5 per cent
Shetland Islands – 85.7 per cent
South Ayrshire – 88.5 per cent
South Lanarkshire – 84.3 per cent
Stirling – 86.8 per cent
West Dunbartonshire – 78.5 per cent
West Lothian – 86 per cent
Paul Lowe, NRS chief executive thanked everyone across Scotland who had already done their bit and completed their return.
"We are making good progress but we need more in our communities to step forward and complete, to help achieve the important and long lasting benefits of the census," he said.
"Census data informs how and where public money is spent and where services are delivered in our local communities. These decisions rely on good census information."
The 2022 census, which is set to benefit Scotland for many years, asks questions on a range of topics, including the types of accommodation people stay in, household relationships, age, sex, health and employment status.
New questions for the 2022 census include use of British Sign Language (BSL), passports held, previous armed forces history and new voluntary questions on sexual orientation and trans status.
Help is available online at census.gov.scot or by calling the free helpline on 0800 030 8308 if you have specific questions or need a paper questionnaire.
Field teams have undertaken more than 1.4 million visits to households to support completion, and are carrying out community events across Scotland throughout the coming week to support census completion.
