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People and Communities

Demographics

Table 1: Population by Geographic Area, 2001, 2006

Source: General Register Office for Scotland, 2007 (mid-year estimates based on data zones)
(Both 2001 and 2006 figures are based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)

Just over 5 million people live in Scotland, with almost 1 million of them living in rural areas.

Table 1 shows that between 2001 and 2006, the population in all areas of Scotland has increased. The greatest increase in population has been in accessible rural areas, with a 6.3% increase between 2001 and 2006, compared to an increase of 4.0% in remote rural areas and 0.1% in the rest of Scotland.

Figure 1: Percentage of Population and Land by Geographic Area, 2006

Source: General Register Office for Scotland, 2007 (2006 mid-year estimates based on data zones)
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)

The total land mass of Scotland is approximately 7.8 million hectares. Figure 1 shows that although rural Scotland accounts for 18% of the total population in Scotland (6% in remote rural and 12% in accessible rural), it accounts for 95% of the land mass in Scotland (69% in remote rural and 26% in accessible rural). In contrast the rest of Scotland accounts for 82% of the population of Scotland but only 5% of the land mass.

Figure 2: Differences in Age Distribution of Population of Rural Areas, Relative to the Rest of Scotland, 2006

Source: General Register Office for Scotland, 2007 (2006 mid-year estimates on data zones)
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)

Table 2: Age Distribution of Population in Rest of Scotland, 2006

Source: General Register Office for Scotland, 2007 (2006 mid-year estimates based on data zones)
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)

Figure 2 shows that relative to the rest of Scotland (as displayed in Table 2), the population of rural areas has a different age distribution. Specifically, rural areas have a lower percentage of the population in the age bands 15-34 but a higher population in the age bands 40-69.

Table 3: Internal Population Change and Net-Migration by Geographic Area, 2005/2006

Source: General Register Office for Scotland, 2005/2006
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)

Table 3 shows that there were more births than deaths in accessible rural areas and more deaths than births in remote rural. However, as percentages of the relevant populations, the number of births and deaths were roughly equal in all areas of Scotland.

Net-migration refers to the number of in-migrants minus out-migrants. Table 3 shows that, in all three areas of Scotland, the number of in-migrants has been greater than the number of out-migrants, resulting in positive net-migration. Proportionately net-migration is greatest in the accessible rural areas.

Table 3 also shows that net-migration accounts for 0.6% of the population in remote rural areas, 1% of the accessible rural population, and 0.3% of the population for the rest of Scotland.

Table 4: Country of Birth by Geographic Area, 2007

Source: Annual Population Survey in Scotland, 2007
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)

Table 4 shows the composition of Scotland's current population that were born in Scotland, in the rest of the United Kingdom and in the rest of the world. A relatively high proportion of the people in rural areas were born in the rest of the UK, although a lower percentage were born outside the UK.

Households

Table 5: Household Size by Geographic Area, 2007

Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2007
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007)

Table 5 shows that, relative to the rest of Scotland, there are considerably fewer single person households in rural Scotland. There are also higher percentages of households in rural areas with a household size of 2 people.

Table 6: Household Type by Geographic Area, 2007

Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2007
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)

Table 6 shows that, relative to the rest of Scotland, remote and accessible rural Scotland have lower percentages of single adult households. Rural Scotland also has a higher percentage of 'older smaller' households, that is, with one or both adults of pensionable age.

Table 7: Children Living in Workless Households by Geographic Area, 2007

Source: Annual Population Survey, 2007
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)

The proportion of dependent children aged under 19 years who were living in households where no one was in work was estimated to be 5% in remote rural Scotland in 2007. This is just under a third of the proportion in the rest of Scotland.

Figure 3: Fuel Poverty by Geographic Area, 2005/2006

Source: Scottish House Condition Survey, 2005/2006
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)

A household is defined as being in fuel poverty if it would be required to spend more than 10% of its income (including Housing Benefit or Income Support for Mortgage Interest) on all household fuel use. 'Extreme fuel poverty' is defined as a household having to spend more than 20% of its income on fuel.

Figure 3 shows that households in rural areas are much more likely to be at risk of being classed as being fuel poor or extreme fuel poor than in the rest of Scotland. In the rest of Scotland 79% of households have been classed as 'not fuel poor' compared to 70% in accessible rural and 57% in remote rural Scotland.

Neighbourhood and Community

Figure 4: Rating of Neighbourhood as a Place to Live by Geographic Area, 2007

Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2007
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)

Figure 4 shows that relative to the rest of Scotland, a higher percentage of people in rural Scotland rate their neighbourhood as very good or fairly good. This is especially apparent in remote rural areas, where 79% of people rate their neighbourhood as a very good place to live, compared to 69% in accessible rural areas and 49% in the rest of Scotland. Nonetheless, in rural areas and in the rest of Scotland, over 90% rate their neighbourhood as a very good or a fairly good place to live.

Table 8: Experience of Neighbourhood Problems by Geographic Area, 2007
(% saying they have personal experience of problem)

Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2007
Columns add to more than 100% since multiple responses were allowed
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)

Table 8 displays that in every category of neighbourhood problems, apart from 'abandoned or burnt out vehicles', a lower percentage of people in remote and accessible rural areas have experienced such problems. For example, only 3% and 5% respectively in remote and accessible rural areas say they have had a problem with noisy neighbours or loud parties while the figure is 9% in the rest of Scotland. Similarly, 11% and 16% respectively in remote rural and accessible rural areas, state that rubbish or litter lying around is a problem whilst 23% state this is a problem in the rest of Scotland.

Table 9: Perceptions of Safety when at Home Alone at Night by Geographic Area, 2007

Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2007
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)

Table 9 shows that, relative to the rest of Scotland, people in rural Scotland perceive where they live to be safer when at home alone at night. For example, 87% in remote rural and 80% in accessible rural feel very safe while at home compared to 71% in the rest of Scotland. Having said this, over 95% of people in all 3 areas of Scotland feel either 'very' or 'fairly' safe when are home alone at night.

Table 10: Whether Gave Up Time to Help as an Organiser/Volunteer in the Past 12 Months by Geographic Area, 2007

Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2007
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)

In rural Scotland, more people give up their time to help as a volunteer or organiser than in the rest of Scotland. 45% of people in remote rural areas and 39% in accessible rural areas have given up time in the past 12 months to help as an organiser/volunteer, compared to 28% in the rest of Scotland.

Physical Environment

Table 11: Percentage of Population Living in Proximity to Derelict Sites by Geographic Area, 2007

Source: Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey, 2007 (2006 mid-year population estimates based on data zones)
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)

Table 11 shows that a higher percentage of people in the rest of Scotland live within 500 metres of land classified as being derelict relative to people in rural Scotland. Derelict land (and buildings) is that which has been so damaged by development or use that it is incapable of being developed for beneficial use without rehabilitation, and which is not being used for either the purpose for which it is held, or for a use acceptable in a local plan.

Table 12: Percentage of Population Living in Proximity to Sites on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory ( SPRI) by Geographic Area, 2005

Source: Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics, 2008 (2004 mid-year population estimates based on data zones)
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)

Sites that report to the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory include Pollution Prevention and Control ( PPC) Part A processes; Radioactive Substances Act ( RSA) Band A and Band B sites, such as nuclear power stations, hospitals and universities; waste water treatment works; waste management sites and caged marine fish farms.

Table 12 shows that 47% of people in the rest of Scotland live within 2000 metres of a site on the SPRI register compared to 15% in accessible rural areas and 4% in remote rural areas.

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