On 21 May 2024, the National Records of Scotland released further findings from the Census that was conducted on March 2022. These include demographic data on faith and ethnic communities.
The analysis conducted by the Muslim Council of Britain highlights the younger age profile of the country’s Muslim population and also its religious diversity.
The Muslim roots in Scotland run deep, beginning with the intrepid pedlars cycling from town to town in the 1920s selling their wares, and the merchant seamen docking on the Clyde deciding to settle on land.
So now, almost 100 years later, the Census marks where we are today after a remarkable journey from humble beginnings.
Some key highlights:
- Population of Scotland in 2022: total 5,439,842; Muslim population: 119,878; Muslims form 2.2 % of the population.
- Population of Scotland in 2011: total 5,295,403; Muslim population: 76,737; Muslims form 1.4% of the population.
- Increase in Muslim Population between 2011 and 2022 – 43,141 [56.2%]
– Age Sex pyramids with median age – all Scottish and Muslim Scottish
Median age All:40-44
Median age Muslims:25-29
– % of Scotland’s population 19 years or under: 21% compared with Scottish Muslims 19 years or under: 37%
– % of Scotland’s population 65 years or over: 20.0% compared with Scottish Muslims 65 years or over: 4.1%
– Muslim population in some select Councils
|
Top 5 Scottish Councils with highest Muslim population |
Number |
% of Muslim population |
|
Glasgow City |
48,766 |
40.7 |
|
City of Edinburgh |
18,034 |
15.0 |
|
Aberdeen City |
6,465 |
5.4 |
|
Dundee City |
6,232 |
5.2 |
|
North Lanarkshire |
5,526 |
4.6 |
70.9% of Muslims in Scotland live in the above 5 councils.
29.1% reside in the remaining councils – with 46 in the Shetland Islands!
– bar chart showing 2022 minority faiths % (exclude Christian, No Religion, No response)
Further analysis and supporting spreadsheet spreadsheets available from MCB.