Scotland's birth rate falls to lowest level since 1855
Scotland’s birth rate has dropped to its lowest level since records began nearly 170 years ago, according to new figures from the National Records of Scotland (NRS).
In 2023, there were 45,763 live births, down 172 from the previous year and the lowest number recorded since 1855. The country’s total fertility rate (TFR) — the average number of children per woman — also fell, slipping from 1.27 in 2022 to 1.25 in 2023, far below the 2.1 rate needed for a population to replace itself without migration.
“Births, fertility, stillbirth, and mortality rates are all at their lowest level since our records began,” said Phillipa Haxton, head of vital events statistics at NRS.
“These statistics represent long-term population shifts. Scotland has seen more deaths than births for the past decade, and the gap has continued to widen.”
More Deaths Than Births
Last year, 16,528 more people died than were born in Scotland. The last time the country recorded more births than deaths was in 2014.
The stillbirth rate remained at a joint-record low of 3.3 per 1,000 total births, while the infant mortality rate also fell to 3.3 per 1,000 live births, down from 4.0 in 2022.
Changing Patterns of Motherhood
The statistics also highlight how motherhood has shifted over time:
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In the 1960s, most births were to women in their 20s, whereas since 2010, the 30–34 age group has recorded the highest proportion of births.
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In 2023, 35.7% of babies were born to mothers aged 30–34.
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Over half of births (51.7%) were to parents who were unmarried.
Regional Differences
Fertility rates varied sharply across Scotland’s local authorities.
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Lowest fertility rates: Edinburgh (0.99), Glasgow (1.05), Aberdeen (1.06).
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Highest fertility rates: Midlothian (1.66), East Renfrewshire (1.56), Na h-Eileanan Siar (1.51).
Adoption levels remained stable at 369 in 2023, the same as the previous year, though the long-term trend shows fewer adoptions over time.
