List of towns and cities in Scotland by population


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. 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.

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.
RankLocalityPopulation StatusCouncil areaHistoric County
1GlasgowCityGlasgow CityLanarkshire
2EdinburghCityCity of EdinburghMidlothian
3AberdeenCityAberdeen CityAberdeenshire
4DundeeCityDundee CityAngus
5PaisleyTownRenfrewshireRenfrewshire
6East KilbrideTownSouth LanarkshireLanarkshire
7LivingstonTownWest LothianWest Lothian
8DunfermlineCityFifeFife
9HamiltonTownSouth LanarkshireLanarkshire
10CumbernauldTownNorth LanarkshireLanarkshire
11KirkcaldyTownFifeFife
12InvernessCityHighlandInverness-shire
13PerthCityPerth and KinrossPerth
14KilmarnockTownEast AyrshireAyrshire
15AyrTownSouth AyrshireAyrshire
16CoatbridgeTownNorth LanarkshireLanarkshire
17GreenockTownInverclydeRenfrewshire
18GlenrothesTownFifeFife
19StirlingCityStirlingStirlingshire
20AirdrieTownNorth LanarkshireLanarkshire
21FalkirkTownFalkirkStirlingshire
22IrvineTownNorth AyrshireAyrshire
23DumfriesTownDumfries and GallowayDumfriesshire
24MotherwellTownNorth LanarkshireLanarkshire
25RutherglenTownSouth LanarkshireLanarkshire
26CambuslangTownSouth LanarkshireLanarkshire
27WishawTownNorth LanarkshireLanarkshire
28BearsdenTownEast DunbartonshireDunbartonshire
29Newton MearnsTownEast RenfrewshireRenfrewshire
30ClydebankTownWest DunbartonshireDunbartonshire
31ElginTownMorayMoray
32RenfrewTownRenfrewshireRenfrewshire
33BishopbriggsTownEast DunbartonshireLanarkshire
34BathgateTownWest LothianWest Lothian
35ArbroathTownAngusAngus
36KirkintillochTownEast DunbartonshireDunbartonshire
37MusselburghTownEast LothianMidlothian
38DumbartonTownWest DunbartonshireDunbartonshire
39BellshillTownNorth LanarkshireLanarkshire
40PeterheadTownAberdeenshireAberdeenshire
41St AndrewsTownFifeFife
42BonnyriggTownMidlothianMidlothian
43BarrheadTownEast RenfrewshireRenfrewshire
44BlantyreTownSouth LanarkshireLanarkshire
45PenicuikTownMidlothianMidlothian
46GrangemouthTownFalkirkStirlingshire
47KilwinningTownNorth AyrshireAyrshire
48BroxburnTownWest LothianWest Lothian
49JohnstoneTownRenfrewshireRenfrewshire
50ViewparkTownNorth LanarkshireLanarkshire
51LarkhallTownSouth LanarkshireLanarkshire
52ErskineTownRenfrewshireRenfrewshire

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 43 settlements with a population over 15,000 are listed below.
RankUrban sub-areaPopulation LocalitiesCouncil areas
1Greater GlasgowBarrhead, Bearsden, Bishopbriggs, Bowling, Brookfield, Busby, Cambuslang, Clarkston, Clydebank, Duntocher & Hardgate, Elderslie, Faifley, Giffnock, Glasgow, Johnstone, Kilbarchan, Linwood, Milngavie, Netherlee, Newton Mearns, Old Kilpatrick, Paisley, Renfrew, Rutherglen, Stamperland, Stepps, ThornliebankGlasgow City, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire
2EdinburghEdinburgh, Musselburgh, WallyfordCity of Edinburgh, East Lothian
3AberdeenAberdeen, Cove Bay, Dyce, Milltimber, PeterculterAberdeen City
4DundeeDundee, Monifieth, InvergowrieDundee City, Angus, Perth and Kinross
5Motherwell & WishawBellshill, Carfin, Holytown, Motherwell, New Stevenston, Newarthill, Newmains, Viewpark, WishawNorth Lanarkshire
6FalkirkBrightons, Carron, Carronshore, Falkirk, Grangemouth, Larbert, Laurieston, Maddiston, Polmont, Redding, Reddingmuirhead, Rumford, Stenhousemuir, Wallacestone, WestquarterFalkirk
7Coatbridge & AirdrieAirdrie, Bargeddie, Chapelhall, CoatbridgeNorth Lanarkshire
8HamiltonBlantyre, Bothwell, Hamilton, UddingstonSouth Lanarkshire
9DunfermlineCrossgates, Dunfermline, Inverkeithing, RosythFife
10East KilbrideEast KilbrideSouth Lanarkshire
11LivingstonLivingston, Mid Calder, Polbeth, West CalderWest Lothian
12GreenockGourock, Greenock, Port GlasgowInverclyde
13InvernessBalloch, Culloden, Milton of Leys, Inverness, Smithton, WesthillHighland
14AyrAyr, Monkton, PrestwickSouth Ayrshire
15Bonnyrigg, Dalkeith & GorebridgeBonnyrigg, Dalkeith, Gorebridge, Mayfield, NewbattleMidlothian
16CumbernauldCroy, CumbernauldNorth Lanarkshire
17KilmarnockCrookedholm, Hurlford, KilmarnockEast Ayrshire
18KirkcaldyKirkcaldy & DysartFife
19StirlingBannockburn, Bridge of Allan, StirlingStirling
20PerthPerthPerth and Kinross
21GlenrothesCoaltown of Balgonie, Glenrothes, Leslie, Markinch, ThorntonFife
22IrvineDreghorn, IrvineNorth Ayrshire
23DumfriesDumfriesDumfries and Galloway
24SaltcoatsArdrossan, Saltcoats, StevenstonNorth Ayrshire
25Methil, Leven & BuckhavenBuckhaven, Kennoway, Leven, Methil, WindygatesFife
26KirkintillochKirkintilloch, LenzieEast Dunbartonshire
27BathgateBathgate, BlackburnWest Lothian
28BonnybridgeBanknock, Bonnybridge, Denny, Dennyloanhead, Dunipace, Greenhill, Haggs, Head of Muir, High Bonnybridge, LongcroftFalkirk
29ElginElginMoray
30Vale of LevenAlexandria, Balloch & Haldane, Bonhill, RentonWest Dunbartonshire
31ArbroathArbroathAngus
32DumbartonDumbarton, MiltonWest Dunbartonshire
33AlloaAlloa, SauchieClackmannanshire
34CowdenbeathCowdenbeath, Lochgelly, LumphinnansFife
35PeterheadPeterheadAberdeenshire
36St AndrewsSt AndrewsFife
37ErskineErskine, InchinnanRenfrewshire
38LarkhallAshgill, LarkhallSouth Lanarkshire
39PenicuikPenicuikMidlothian
40KilwinningKilwinningNorth Ayrshire
41BroxburnBroxburnWest Lothian
42GalashielsGalashiels, Langlee, TweedbankScottish Borders
43HelensburghHelensburgh, RhuArgyll and Bute