Age trends

Glasgow's age structure, 2021
Glasgow has a relatively high proportion of young adults in its population, particularly in the 20-34 year old age group, reflecting in part a high student population. In contrast, there are relatively fewer children and older people.

Population trends by age group over four decades
Glasgow’s population continued to decline through the 1980s and 1990s, in line with a long-term trend that began in the 1950s. Since 2007 there has been a steady rise in the city’s population, although the population decreased slightly in 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.   

Over the last 39 years, the proportion of children and older people (65+ years) in the city has reduced as the working age population (aged 16-64 years) has risen since the early 2000s. In 2021, 71% of the population were aged 16-64 years, compared to 63% in 1981.

Population trends by sex and age group, 1981-2021
Between 1981 and 2021 Glasgow lost population across all age bands for men and women. There are now 50,000 fewer children in the city than there were in 1981 and 26,000 fewer older people (aged 65 and over). The size of Glasgow's working age population has remained relatively stable over this period.

Among the older population, there were approximately 11,400 more women than men in 2021.

Glasgow's population age structure compared to Scotland
In comparison to Scotland, Glasgow has a larger ‘working age’ population (aged 16-64) and a lower proportion of older people. Much of this difference can be accounted for by the large student population who attend colleges and universities in Glasgow.