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List of towns and cities in Scotland by population facts for kids

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For an overview and list of Scottish cities, see Cities of Scotland.
Scotland topographic map-en
Map of Scotland showing some of the major towns and cities

This article lists the biggest towns and cities in Scotland based on how many people live there. This information comes from the National Records of Scotland. Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland by population. The capital city, Edinburgh, is the second largest.

Scotland has eight official cities. There are also many large towns. The biggest town is Paisley. The city of Stirling has the smallest population among Scotland's cities, with just over 37,000 people.

What are Scotland's Biggest Cities and Towns?

When we talk about places where people live, there are two main ways to describe them in Scotland: "localities" and "settlements." These terms help us understand how different areas are counted.

Understanding Localities

Dawn over Glasgow (48659596342)
Glasgow is Scotland's largest city and locality.

In Scotland, a "locality" is an area where people live close together. It is made up of connected postcodes and must have at least 500 people. Think of it as a single town or a part of a very large city.

Here are some of the largest localities in Scotland, with more than 15,000 people:

There are 52 localities in Scotland with more than 15,000 people. The full list is much longer, but these are some of the most populated.

What are Settlements?

Edinburgh (14756698736)
Edinburgh is the second largest settlement and capital city.

A "settlement" is a larger area that might include several "localities" that are very close together. It's like a big urban area where different towns or parts of a city blend into one. For example, the settlement of Ayr includes the towns of Ayr, Monkton, and Prestwick, because they are all connected.

Here are some of the largest settlements in Scotland:

There are 44 settlements in Scotland with populations over 15,000. These larger areas show how many towns and cities are connected and form bigger urban spaces.

Images for kids

  • Paisley, White Cart Water, from Seedhill

    Paisley is the fifth most populous locality in Scotland, and the largest town by population.

  • Stirling with Wallace-Monument

    Stirling has the smallest population of Scotland's cities.

  • Train Station Panorama

    Kilmarnock is the 14th most populous locality in Scotland, and the largest in East Ayrshire.

  • Aberdeen from Tollohill Woods

    Aberdeen is both the third largest locality and settlement.

  • Street Modernization - geograph.org.uk - 3045085

    Motherwell is the 24th most populous locality, but anchors a defined settlement covering much of North Lanarkshire that is Scotland's 5th largest.

See also

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List of towns and cities in Scotland by population Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.