Isles MP Angus Brendan MacNeil has expressed concern the population in Na h-Eileanan an Iar has fallen 5.5 per cent in the last 10 years, the largest fall in Scotland. Overall the population of Scotland was estimated to be 5,436,600 on Census Day 2022, according to new data released by National Records of Scotland (NRS). The population of Scotland grew by 141,200 (2.7 per cent) since the previous census in 2011. “Without migration the population of Scotland would have decreased by around 49,800 since 2011,” NRS said. Ariane Burgess, Green MSP for the Highlands & Islands, said the Census “clearly demonstrates the value of migration to rural Scotland”.

Source: The Times September 19, 2023 18:11 UTC