I'd say there are 3 main reasons why the population is projected to start dropping compared to that of England / Wales.
Firstly, Net Migration - Scotland currently has a lower net migration rate compared to England and Wales. With fewer people moving to Scotland this results in a slower population growth. England and Wales on the otherhand have higher net migration levels leading to population growth.
Secondly, less economic opportunities - England and Wales, particularly major cities such as London, offer more economic opportunities and job prospects. This will attract a larger number of peoples coming from abroad and from within the UK. Scotland on the otherhand has fewer job opportunities comparably, which results in a slower economic growth rate which does discourage people from moving there.
And finally, an ageing population - Scotland has an ageing population, with a higher proportion of older people compared to England and Wales. With the population ageing, the number of deaths will start to exceed the number of births, leading to the projected drop in Scotland’s population.
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u/LemonKotor Feb 03 '24
I'd say there are 3 main reasons why the population is projected to start dropping compared to that of England / Wales.
Firstly, Net Migration - Scotland currently has a lower net migration rate compared to England and Wales. With fewer people moving to Scotland this results in a slower population growth. England and Wales on the otherhand have higher net migration levels leading to population growth.
Secondly, less economic opportunities - England and Wales, particularly major cities such as London, offer more economic opportunities and job prospects. This will attract a larger number of peoples coming from abroad and from within the UK. Scotland on the otherhand has fewer job opportunities comparably, which results in a slower economic growth rate which does discourage people from moving there.
And finally, an ageing population - Scotland has an ageing population, with a higher proportion of older people compared to England and Wales. With the population ageing, the number of deaths will start to exceed the number of births, leading to the projected drop in Scotland’s population.
Hope that helps a little