Scotland's Census: Inverclyde Population Shrinks Again

Inverclyde has recorded one of the sharpest rates of population decline in Scotland over the past decade, according to data from last year's census.

The National Records of Scotland (NRS) statistics - the first set of figures released following the 2022 national survey - reveal that the region's population has shrunk by almost four percent since 2011, from 81,485 to 78,400.

The area has the second lowest total population of the country's mainland local authorities, with more women (40,700) than men (37,700). The figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Nearly a quarter of Inverclyde's residents (17,600) are aged over 65, sharing the national trend of an ageing population with more than one million pensioners nationwide - an increase of 22.5 percent since the previous census.

Meanwhile, around 11,000 people who live in the local district are aged 14 and under.

The stats also highlight Inverclyde's high population density - the number of residents per square kilometre - of 488.7, compared to the national average of 69.8.

Although the deadline for completing the 2022 census was extended last year, Inverclyde (85.7 percent) had the joint third-lowest return rate of Scotland’s 32 local authorities, with only West Dunbartonshire and Glasgow recording fewer responses.

The population of Scotland was estimated to be 5,436,600 on census day last year - the largest population ever recorded for the country and a rise of 141,200 or 2.7 percent since 2011.

This is a slower rate of growth than between 2001 and 2011, when the population grew by 233,400 (4.6 percent). Without migration, the population of Scotland would have decreased by around 49,800 since 2011.

The other UK censuses showed higher rates of population growth than in Scotland. The population increased by 6.3 percent in England and Wales and by 5.1 percent in Northern Ireland between 2011 and 2021.

NRS will publish further results from the census from spring 2024 onwards.

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.”

This article appeared in the Greenock Telegraph.