Migration has more than doubled in Scotland in a single year, hitting its highest level in a decade, according to government figures released on Tuesday.
A total of 36,300 more people moved to Scotland from outside the UK than left during 2021–2022, compared with 13,300 the previous year.
The major cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh saw the largest influxes over that time period.
The report showed that the increase in migration was largely driven by international students arriving to study in Scotland, with the largest contingent of around 20,800 coming from China in 2021–2022.
That figure is more than double the 9,500 Chinese students who were studying in the country during the year 2017–2018.
India was in second place in terms of students, with 10,200 coming to study in Scotland, and the United States in third with 6,300.
Conversely, there has been a decline in students from EU nations coming to Scotland in the wake of the UK leaving the EU.
Net migration to Scotland from within the UK also climbed to 12,500 people over the same period, compared with 8,900 in the previous year.
The NRS also published revised population estimates for Scotland for 2011 to 2021, with new figures showing that Scotland’s population increased by 2.2 percent between mid-2011 and mid-2021.
NRS head of population and migration statistics, Esther Roughsedge, said: “Today’s report shows that net migration more than doubled between mid-2021 and mid-2022 due to an increase in international migration.
“This increase is likely to be the result of a substantial rise in the number of international students studying at universities in Scotland.
“International migration is highest into the big cities, particularly Glasgow and Edinburgh.”
She added: “More people move to Scotland each year from other parts of the UK than leave, averaging around 9,000 people per year over the last decade.
“This figure rose to 12,500 people in the most recent year.
‘Attractive and Welcoming’
Scottish Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart welcomed the news saying it showed Scotland was an “attractive and welcoming” destination for migrants.The SNP MSP said: “Those who choose Scotland as their home help to build our economy, increase our productivity, and contribute to their local communities.
“In many parts of Scotland, the population is falling and it is clear that we need continued migration to support our economy and help our nation to prosper.
“These statistics also reflect the contribution that Scotland has made in offering a warm welcome to people fleeing war and persecution.”
She added: “Since Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine, over 27,000 people sponsored by an individual in Scotland or the Scottish Government have arrived in the UK.
“Scotland has also continued to welcome refugees arriving through UK resettlement and relocation programmes and I am proud of how Scotland has responded to humanitarian crises.”
During the last census in 2022 Scotland’s population was estimated at around 5,436,600, making it the second most populous nation in the UK after England.
The migration estimates for 2023 show 11 percent came from EU countries, while 82 percent arrived from outside the EU and the remaining 7 percent were UK nationals moving to the UK.
As in Scotland, the majority of migrants from non-EU countries were students, with 423,000 travelling for that purpose.
