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This list of towns and cities in Scotland with a population of more than 15,000 is ordered by population, as defined and compiled by the National Records of Scotland organisation. Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland by population, whilst the capital city, Edinburgh, is the second largest by population and largest by area (although the Aberdeen and Edinburgh local authority areas contain far more undeveloped land and have a lower population density than the council areas of Dundee and Glasgow; these are the only four city-districts in the country). The city of Stirling has the smallest population amongst Scotland's cities, with an estimated population of just over 37,000 inhabitants. In total, Scotland consists of eight cities, with multiple larger towns, the largest town being Paisley.

The section "Localities" contains a list of basic populated areas ordered by population. The section "Settlements" is a list of populated urban areas, some of which are composed of more than one locality, and which may span across the boundaries of more than one council area.

All localities are either settlements themselves, or contained within larger settlements. As of 2020, there are 656 localities in Scotland, and 514 settlements (i.e. 142 of the localities combine as elements of larger settlements).

Localities

In Scotland, "locality" refers to a populated area composed of contiguous postcodes with populations of at least 500. The 52 localities with a population over 15,000 are listed below.

1. The definition as per National Records of Scotland does not always correspond to other definitions. For example, the adjoining East Renfrewshire localities of Busby, Clarkston, Netherlee, and Stamperland with a combined population of 21,270 are each counted separately, despite normally being unified as Clarkston. The same occurs in nearby Giffnock and Thornliebank. The total population for this agglomeration across its six NRS localities is 37,690. Conversely, the distinct villages of Easthouses and Newtongrange in Midlothian are not listed at all, presumably included in the figure of adjoining Mayfield; however, the smaller village of Newbattle is listed. Also noteworthy is Viewpark, which appears to include Birkenshaw and Tannochside under a single North Lanarkshire locality in this data.

Settlements

In Scotland, 'settlement' refers to a collection of contiguous high density postcodes bounded by low density postcodes whose population was 500 or more. For example, the area of Ayr includes the adjoining localities of Ayr, Monkton and Prestwick. However, most settlements coincide to a single locality. The 44 settlements with a population over 15,000 are listed below.

1. The definition as per National Records of Scotland does not always correspond to other definitions. For example, the Greater Glasgow settlement under NRS stretches as far as Bowling, Kilbarchan and Newton Mearns due to the continuous chain of populated postcodes, but does not encompass places as close as Bargeddie, Chryston, Erskine, Kirkintilloch or Uddingston due to small gaps in this chain. If these gaps were counted, Greater Glasgow would extend as far as Ferniegair, Wishaw, Neilston, Denny, Airdrie and Bishopton. In other examples, Cleland, Gowkthrapple and Overtown are not included in the wider NRS 'Motherwell & Wishaw' settlement while distinct towns such as Bellshill and Viewpark are included, and Inverkeithing and Rosyth are counted in the Dunfermline settlement but Dalgety Bay is not.
2. As named, defined and grouped by NRS in Localities list above.
3. Does not include Carmunnock or Gartloch.
4. Does not include Kirkliston, Newbridge & Ratho Station, Ratho or South Queensferry.
5. Does not include Kingswells.
6. Does not include Glen Village/Hallglen.
7. Often known collectively as Monklands but not referred to as such by NRS.
8. Mayfield with Easthouses and Newtongrange
9. Often known collectively as the Three Towns but not referred to as such by NRS.
10. Often known collectively as Levenmouth but not referred to as such by NRS.
11. Denny is the settlement's largest locality but Bonnybridge is the name chosen by NRS.

See also

• Local government in Scotland
• Subdivisions of Scotland
• List of towns and cities in England by population
• List of built-up areas in Wales by population
• List of settlements on the island of Ireland by population

References

1. ^ Data Tables , National Records of Scotland, 31 March 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022
2. "NRS – Background Information Settlements and Localities" (PDF). National Records of Scotland. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
3. "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
4. ^ "Department of Constitutional Affairs". Retrieved 9 September 2009.
5. "Dunfermline is now officially a city". Dunfermline Press. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022. 'Letters Patent' will now be prepared which will confer each of the awards formally and will be presented to winners later in the year.
6. "Perth wins Diamond Jubilee contest to be named seventh Scottish city". BBC News. 14 March 2012.
7. "A Beginners Guide to UK Geography (2023)". Open Geography Portal. Office for National Statistics. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023. Built-up areas of Scotland, where the population is 500 or more, are defined as 'settlements'.
8. "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.

• Scotland geography-related lists
• Cities in Scotland
• Demographics of Scotland
• 2001 United Kingdom census
• Towns in Scotland
• United Kingdom lists by population
• Lists of cities in the United Kingdom
• Lists of cities by population