AN area in the town centre of Falkirk has the largest proportion of pensioners in Scotland.
Almost four out of five (79%) residents were aged 65 and over in a small area covering part of the town centre and Callendar Park, according to new figures from National Records of Scotland (NRS).
The Falkirk town centre and Callendar Park data zone had the highest median age of residents – 72 – with the area containing a number of developments aimed at older people.
NRS analysed the Scottish population using data zones, splitting the country into 6976 small areas, each with a population of somewhere between 500 and 999 people.
The data revealed that, by the end of June 2019, Scotland’s population had increased to a record 5,463,300 – a rise of 4.4% over the last decade.
But over the 10-year period it found that population had decreased in “mainly rural and island council areas, as well as areas in the west of Scotland”.
Over the decade between June 2009 and June 2019, it found that the population shrank in almost four out of five (79%) data zones in the Inverclyde Council area, with 75% of zones in the Argyll and Bute area and West Dunbartonshire also experiencing population falls.
In contrast, the population increased in 76% of the data zones in the Edinburgh City Council area.
There were also a number of data zones where more than half the population was aged 65 or over – in Blairgowrie West in Perth and Kinross (57%); an area covering Ayr South Harbour and town centre (54%); a zone in Earlsferry in Fife (52%); a zone in Kessington West in East Dunbartonshire (52%); and in Bothwell South in South Lanarkshire (51%).
Every council area in Scotland, apart from Dundee City, saw an increase in the average median age of its data zones between mid-2009 and mid-2019, reflecting Scotland’s ageing population, NRS found.
In the Western Isles the median age increased in 94% of its data zones between 2009 and 2019, according to the report.
Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “As these statistics starkly illustrate, while Scotland’s total population is the highest it’s ever been (5.46 million), we face a number of challenges.
“Against a backdrop of a record low in the birth rate, Scotland’s population is ageing and it is welcome that people are living longer. Many local communities have experienced population decline, particularly those in rural areas and parts of the West of Scotland.”
She added: “With all of Scotland’s population growth predicted to come from migration, the impact of Brexit means that in the future we may not have enough people of the right ages in the right places.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel