Scottish cities

Birth trends in selected Scottish cities

Over the last 30 years, Glasgow has had the highest birth rate among Scotland's largest cities and a higher birth rate than in Scotland as a whole. The other Scottish cities had similar birth rates to Scotland throughout the time period. In the last decade, birth rates have been declining in Scotland as a whole and in Scotland's four largest cities.

There was a further drop in the birth rate in 2020, coinciding with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Birth rates reduced across the UK in 2020. Birth rates in Scottish cities, except for Dundee, recovered slightly in 2021. In 2023, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen had higher birth rates than the Scottish average.

Notes

More detailed data on births in Scotland can be accessed from National Records of Scotland.

Last updated November 2024.