Civil registration, census, demography and family history authority for Scotland.
Population growth in Scotland has slowed to a near standstill, driven by a widening gap between births and deaths. Net migration has fallen, with international and UK-to-Scotland flows both down. Officials warn that without renewed inward movement, Scotland faces a longer-term decline, threatening NHS and social care stability.
Vivienne Jolie-Pitt has filed for a name change in Los Angeles, listing the reason as personal; siblings Maddox and Zahara have published name-change notices. The family’s past conflict following the 2016 plane incident is referenced, with ongoing legal steps and public comment sought.
New statistics show Scotland’s births have fallen to a record low for the third year, while deaths outnumber births for an eleventh consecutive year. Fertility rates have dropped to 1.23, and migration is driving population growth. Stillbirths and infant deaths show small shifts, with adoptions dipping.
Scotland has the highest drug-deaths rate in Europe, with 1,133 drug-related deaths in 2025. The government has described the rise as unacceptable and intolerable and is pursuing harm-reduction measures, including decriminalisation in some form. Westminster controls drugs policy, limiting Scotland’s options. Leaders across parties are calling for action and accountability as the issue remains a central political flashpoint.