Record number of Scots aged 90 and above, figures show

Women continue to make up the majority of the oldest people in Scotland, but the figures show the gender gap is narrowing.

PA Media

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Scotland has its highest ever number of people aged 90 and above, new population statistics reveal.

The National Records of Scotland (NRS) figures show the country was home to 45,550 people aged 90 or older as at June 30, 2023.

This is an increase of 590, or 1.3%, on the year before, and an increase of more than 7,800, or 20%, on a decade earlier.

The record-breaking figure includes 44,450 people in their 90s and 1,000 aged 100 or above, making Scotland home to 18 centenarians for every 1,000 people.

Women continue to make up the majority of those aged 90 and above, accounting for two out of three people in this age group – but the figures indicate the gap between men and women is getting smaller.

Andrew White, NRS head of population and migration statistics, said: “In the last 20 years the number of men aged 90 years and over increased by 133%, while the number of women increased 29%.”

Despite seeing its highest number of people aged 100 and above, Scotland had the second-lowest proportion of centenarians out of the four UK nations.

Northern Ireland has the lowest, with 15 centenarians per 1,000 people, while England was second with 24 and Wales the highest with 26.

NRS statistics are produced by independent, professional statisticians and meet the standard for Accredited National Statistics.