Birth and fertility rates reach record lows in Scotland

Key Points

Live births registered in Scotland lowest annual total since 1855
Fertility rate falls to lowest on record
Scotland has had more deaths than births for over a decade
Birth rate remains ‘static’ in Scotland, says NRS

Birth and fertility rates in Scotland have reached record lows, according to new statistics from the National Records of Scotland (NRS).

In 2024, 45,763 live births were registered – the lowest annual total since records began in 1855.

The NRS said 2024’s birth figures were 172 fewer than in 2023, showing a 0.3% decrease.

The total fertility rate fell to 1.25, which was also the lowest on record.

The stillbirth rate was 3.5 for every thousand live and still births, the joint lowest recorded. The infant death rate also fell to 3.5 per thousand live births, down from a recent high of 4.0 in 2023.

In 2024, 62,291 deaths were registered, 2% fewer than in 2023. The age-standardised mortality rate fell to 1,105 per 100,000 people, the lowest on record. Mortality was higher for males than for females.

In 2024, there were 16,528 more deaths than births. Scotland last had more births than deaths in 2014, and the gap has generally widened since then.

Phillipa Haxton, head of vital events statistics for NRS, said: “The annual figures for 2024 show a year of record lows. Births, fertility, stillbirths and age-standardised mortality rates are all at their lowest levels since our records began.

“These figures reflect long-term changes in our population. Scotland has had more deaths than births for over a decade. The gap has widened over time, but there was a small narrowing in the most recent year due to a static birth rate and fewer deaths.”