Largest Cities in Scotland – By Size and Population

Want to know which is the biggest city in Scotland? Here’s an updated list of the largest cities in Scotland by size and population in 2020.

There are only four major cities in Scotland that have a population of more than 100.000 people. Interestingly enough, only Perth, Inverness, and Stirling hold the status of a city in addition to the four major Scottish cities. 

In total, there are 655 localities where Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston, Hamilton, Dunfermline, Cumbernauld, and Kirkcaldy are listed as the biggest towns in Scotland.

Glasgow

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland both in terms of size and population with a total of 612,040 residents. It’s also the third most populated city in the United Kingdom and has a relatively high population density at 9,210/sq mi (3,555/km2).

Glasgow has been transformed in recent years from an industrial center to a vibrant and artsy city. Additionally, the city is also home to the famous football teams Glasgow Rangers and Celtic.   

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the second-largest city with a total population of 488,050 inhabitants. The old town attracts visitors from all over the world, and every year, the city also hosts the largest Hogmanay celebrations. 

Edinburgh is growing fast and experts estimate that it will become the most populated city in Scotland in the future. Edinburgh is also the capital of Scotland and features several educational institutions.  

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is located in the northeastern part of the country and has a population of 200,680 residents. It’s often cited as the happiest city in Scotland although Aberdeen is also known for its moody weather and chilly climate.

Dundee

Dundee is an upcoming city that is located northeast of Edinburgh. It’s the fourth largest city in Scotland with a total population of 148,280 residents. In recent years, Dundee has reinvented itself with an aim to become a cultural center in the country. 

List of the most populated cities and towns in Scotland

Here’s a list of the 25 largest urban areas in Scotland and their total population as well as their council area. There is a total of 7 towns that have more than 50 000 residents, which means they would easily pass as cities in most countries.

Rank	Name	Population	Council area
1	Glasgow	612,040	Glasgow City
2	Edinburgh	488,050	City of Edinburgh
3	Aberdeen	200,680	Aberdeen City
4	Dundee	148,280	Dundee City
5	Paisley	77,220	Renfrewshire
6	East Kilbride	75,120	South Lanarkshire
7	Livingston	57,030	West Lothian
8	Hamilton	54,080	South Lanarkshire
9	Dunfermline	53,100	Fife
10	Cumbernauld	50,920	North Lanarkshire
11	Kirkcaldy	50,010	Fife
12	Perth	47,430	Perth and Kinross
13	Inverness	47,290	Highland
14	Ayr	46,780	South Ayrshire
15	Kilmarnock	46,770	East Ayrshire
16	Coatbridge	43,960	North Lanarkshire
17	Greenock	42,680	Inverclyde
18	Glenrothes	38,510	Fife
19	Stirling	37,610	Stirling
20	Airdrie	37,410	North Lanarkshire
21	Falkirk	35,850	Falkirk
22	Irvine	34,090	North Ayrshire
23	Dumfries	33,440	Dumfries and Galloway
24	Motherwell	32,590	North Lanarkshire
25	Rutherglen	31,190	South Lanarkshire

Which is the biggest city in Scotland?

Glasgow is the biggest city in Scotland, both in size and population. The city’s total area is 142.3 sq mi (368.5 km²) compared to Edinburgh’s 102 sq mi (264 km²). 

Which is the biggest town in Scotland?

Paisley is the most populated town in Scotland with 77,220 residents. It is also one of the largest towns in the UK, which hasn’t yet been granted the official city status. 

The future of Scottish cities

Many of the Scottish cities will see further growth in population in the coming years. The city of Edinburgh is estimated to grow 7.7% by 2026 according to the National Records of Scotland.

Furthermore, Aberdeen and Perth are some of the fastest-growing cities in Scotland, and the counties of Midlothian, East Lothian, and East Renfrewshire are also expected to increase their number of residents by 2026 by several percentages.

More reading from Scotland

• Interesting facts about Scotland
• Loch Ness

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How many of the largest cities in Scotland did you know about? Leave a comment below!