Number of Highland households significantly up according to census data
Almost a quarter of Highland residents are aged 65 and over as well according to the data.
The first data from the census held in Scotland last year have been released by the National Records of Scotland (NRS)
Across the country as a whole, between 2011 – when the last census was held – to 2022 Scotland's population had increased to 5,436,600 on the day of the census itself.
This is the largest population ever recorded by Scotland’s Census, though the increase of 141,200 people (+2.7 per cent) is slower than that between 2001 and 2011 when an increase of 233,400 people was recorded.
Without migration the population of Scotland would have decreased by around 49,800 since 2011.
Rate of growth in the Highlands between 2011 and 2022 was slower than the rest of Scotland, at just 1.4 per cent across the Highland Council region. NRS has not provided figures for what this means in terms of actual numbers of people now living here.
Almost a quarter of the Highland population is aged 65 or over – 23.7 per cent – placing it at the upper end of the scale for that measure.
The largest proportion of elderly people is to be found in Argyll and Bute (27.2 per cent), with the lowest in Glasgow where 65s and over make up 14 per cent of the population.
On the overall picture for Scotland Jon Wroth-Smith, director of census statistics at NRS, said: "People aged 65 and over outnumber people under 15.
- Scotland’s Census 2022 launches with a call for households to complete their return
- More than 86 per cent of Highland households have filled in returns
- 'Census only reveals one aspect of our spirituality'
"It is important that we understand how our population is ageing so we can prepare for it. These changes will put greater demand on health and social care services."
Across Scotland a total of 20.1 per cent of people were aged 65 or over on census day compared to 15.3 per cent who were under 15.
Despite the Highland population growing by just over one per cent from 2011-2022 the number of individual households increased at a far greater rate – up 9.4 per cent.
Nationally statisticians say this is likely to be at least partly down to the growing number of elderly people – who are more likely to live alone.
Population density in the Highlands remained one of the lowest in the country, at 9.2 people per square km. In neighbouring Moray it was 41.7 people. The only place where it was lower was in the Western Isles where the rate was 8.6 people per sq km.
NRS chief executive Janet Egdell said: "This is an exciting milestone for Scotland’s Census and the results paint a fascinating picture of how Scotland and our communities are changing.
“Census data is vital for planning health services, education and transport and the information published through our results will help local and central government, businesses and charities to shape Scotland for years to come.”
