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Population, Age, Sex, Ethnicity, Marriage and Civil Partnership, Pregnancy and Maternity, Religion or Belief

Total Population

On 30 June 2021, the population of Midlothian was estimated as 94,680 (National Records of Scotland, 2023). This is an increase of 1.6% from 93,150 in 2020. Over the same period, the population of Scotland increased by 0.3%.

Projected Population

Population projections are estimates of the growth or decline in the number and characteristics of people living in an area. They consider things like the local birth rate and how many people are coming to live in the area or leaving it each year.

Midlothian is projected to have the 22nd highest population out of the 32 council areas in Scotland in 2028.

Total projected population (%) Midlothian and Scotland, 2018-2028
Source: National Records of Scotland, 2023 

Line graph showing that Midlothian's total projected population percentage change from 2018 is bigger than Scotlands. By 2028 it is predicted to be just under 14% and Scotland's is just under 2%.

All estimates are based on making assumptions about future migration and birth rates.  There is reason to believe that the National Records of Scotland estimates of future population growth are too low as they do not consider the Scottish Government’s Minimum All Tenure Housing Land Requirement for Midlothian. National Planning Framework 4 places an expectation that the Minimum All Tenure Housing Land Requirement will allocate housing land for a minimum of 8,850 new homes in Midlothian for its 10-year lifespan of 2026-2036. Based on this housing expectation, and making certain assumptions about the number of people who will live in new builds, the 2023 to 2036 population increase could potentially be 27%, from 98,600 to 125,300 people (Midlothian Council, 2023) compared to the National Records of Scotland estimate of 13.8% in 2028.

 

Age

Between 2018 and 2028, each age group increased in size (National Records of Scotland, 2023).
The 75 and over age group is projected to see the largest percentage increase (+40.9%).
In terms of size, 25 to 44 is projected to become the largest age group.

 

Sex

The female proportion of the population increases with age. This has implications for pensioner poverty as, historically, women have smaller retirement pensions. We do not have reliable local figures for sexual orientation and Trans and other gender identities (Scottish Government, 2022). Scotland’s Census 2022 included a set of voluntary questions that may provide more information when the figures are released in due course.

Population of Midlothian by Age and Gender (2021) 
Data source: National Records of Scotland

Bar graph showing the population of Midlothian by age and gender. Number of females are bigger in age groups 30-75+ and males are higher in 0-29 years old.

Ethnicity

Data on ethnicity at a Midlothian level from the 2022 census is still to be released so the 2011 census still provides the most recent view of the ethnic make-up of the population. 

1.8% of the population belonged to a Minority Ethnic Community, compared with 4% of the Scottish population (Scottish Census, National Records Scotland, 2011). For both Midlothian and Scotland these figures are double those of the 2001 census.

 

Marriage and Civil Partnership

Marriages have declined in Midlothian, from 701 in 2005 to 319 in 2021.
Civil Partnerships have also declined since their introduction in 2005, averaging 5 per year from 2006-2014 and recording 5 in total from 2015-2021 (National Records of Scotland, 2023).

 

Pregnancy and maternity

Births per 1,000 population for Midlothian and Scotland from 1991-2022
Data source: National Records of Scotland

Line graph showing Midlothian standardised birth rate being higher than the Scotland rate between 2011 to 2021. With an increase of 9.4% from 2020 to 2021.

In 2021, there were 1,071 births in Midlothian (National Records of Scotland, 2023). This is an increase of 9.4% from 979 births in 2020.

In Midlothian, the standardised birth rate increased from 10.8 per 1,000 population in 2020 to 11.7 in 2021.

In comparison, the rate in Scotland overall increased from 8.6 to 8.7 (National Records of Scotland, 2023).

In 2021, Midlothian was the council area with the highest standardised birth rate (National Records of Scotland, 2023).

 

Religion or Belief

In 2011 in Midlothian the most common religion was Church of Scotland (33.7%), followed by Roman Catholic (9.8%), other Christian (4%), Muslim (0.6%), other religion (0.5%). 45.2% of people reported no religion and 6.2% did not state their religion (Scottish Census, National Records Scotland, 2011).

 

Page updated: May 2024