Council areas of Scotland facts for kids

Map of Scotland showing its 32 council areas.

Scotland is divided into special areas for its local government. These areas are called council areas. There are 32 of them across Scotland. Each one is managed by a single local government body, which is simply called a "council".

These council areas were created on April 1, 1996. This happened because of a law passed in 1994, called the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act. Even though the law calls them local authority areas, most people just call them council areas.

Some council areas can choose to use a Gaelic name for their council. The Gaelic word for council is comhairle. Only one area, Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar (which means Council of the Western Isles), has chosen to use this Gaelic name fully. The Highland Council also uses a Gaelic name, Comhairle na Gaidhealtachd, alongside its English name.

What Are Council Areas For?

Council areas are important because they help manage local services for people living there. This includes things like schools, roads, libraries, and collecting rubbish. Each council works to make sure these services run smoothly for the people in its area.

How Big Are the Council Areas?

The council areas in Scotland vary a lot in size and how many people live in them. Some are very small and have many people, like cities. Others are very large with fewer people, especially in the countryside or on islands.

Here is a table showing the different council areas, their size, and how many people lived there in 2001, along with a more recent estimate.