SCOTLAND’S population is set to rise to 5.7 million over the next 25 years – but some areas will experience a fall, forecasters say.

According to the Registrar General for Scotland, the number of people living in the country will increase by seven per cent by 2039.

However, this is subject to major variations across the country, with Midlothian expected to experience the largest rise. At 26 per cent, this will take the population to 108,369.

Meanwhile, Glasgow will remain the most populous area, with a seven per cent increase taking numbers there to 639,847, and in capital city Edinburgh a 21 per cent jump will see its total hit 594,712.

Only Renfrewshire and North Lanarkshire are predicted to remain static, while nine areas will suffer a population decline.

In Na h-Eileanan Siar, where experts expect the biggest fall, officials yesterday called for help to stop the prediction being realised.

A 14 per cent fall is set to reduce the number people living in the Outer Hebrides to just 23,515.

The projections come as the council is preparing for a population conference early next month.

The authority’s leader, Councillor, Angus Campbell said: “Population decline is the biggest threat facing our islands and action must be taken to stop and reverse the decline in numbers and the demographic imbalance.

“The comhairle is doing everything in its power to make our islands an attractive place to live and work but we need more assistance from government at a UK and Scottish level to turn our aspirations into reality.

“Issues such as realising the renewable energy potential – which is dependent on a new interconnector – and control over the Crown Estate revenues and management will help give us the tools to do the job.

“Otherwise our people will continue to be forced to leave the islands to seek work and we will be left with an increasingly elderly population and the stresses that puts on services in an ever more challenging financial climate.”

The national breakdown also reveals a large rise in the number of people aged over 75, something common to all areas.

At 131 per cent, West Lothian will experience the biggest increase, followed by Clackmannanshire, while the report shows the number of children aged 15 and under is expected to rise in only 12 council areas.

The report is based on assumptions about future fertility, mortality and migration taken from past trends, but officials warn they do not consider the impact of “any future effects due to the recent vote to leave the

European Union”. Registrar General Tim Ellis said: “These new figures from National Records of Scotland show that over the next 25 years, if current trends continue, the population of Scotland is projected to increase by about seven per cent.

“But this varies across the country, with some areas like City of Edinburgh and Aberdeen City council areas projected to have relatively large increases compared with other large urban areas such as Glasgow and Dundee, while in some areas the population is projected to fall.”

Reacting to the forecast, Age Scotland said: “These figures support what we already knew, that Scotland’s older population is growing.

“Older people contribute hugely to society through volunteering and caring, giving up their free time to support good causes and their own families.

“In return, we should recognise the needs of a growing older population, the risk posed by loneliness and isolation, and the risk of not cultivating an age-friendly society.

“Older people who feel more connected to their communities and lead more active lives are likely to have fewer health problems, which in turn will ease pressure on the NHS and public services. Age Scotland has a vision of a country where everyone can love later life.It is now time for political leadership to make that vision a reality.”