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).[1]
Localities
In Scotland, "locality" refers to a populated area composed of contiguous
postcodes with populations of at least 500.[a][2] 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.[1] 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.[1] 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.[a] However, most settlements coincide to a single locality. The 44 settlements with a population over 15,000 are listed below.[1]
^"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.