Around 176,100 UK Armed Forces veterans living in Scotland amid new statistics from National Records

Around 176,100 UK Armed Forces veterans are living in Scotland according to new statistics from National Records.

The new data marks the first time census data has been collected on veterans living across the UK, with figures showing 3.9% of people aged 16 and over having previously served in the army.

The census in England and Wales found a similar percentage (3.8%) said they had served.

In Scotland, half of all veterans (50.4%) were aged 65 and over and just under one third (30.6%) were aged 50 to 64.

Director of Census Statistics for NRS Jon Wroth-Smith said the data provides a “unique insight” that will enable government and local authorities and charities to support veterans and their families.

“The high percentage of veterans in the oldest groups is explained by war service up to 1948 and National Service which operated from 1939 to 1960.

“Around one in five people aged 85 and over had previously served in the UK Armed Forces.

“If we look specifically at males, we see that over half of all males aged 85 and over had previously served,” Mr Wroth-Smith said.

The majority of veterans in Scotland were male (88%), the census recorded 20,600 female veterans across Scotland.

The local authorities with the highest percentage of the population of veterans were found to be areas with larger military bases, showing some veterans choose to stay in the area they were based.

Moray has the highest with 9% of the population aged 16 and over having previously served.

In City of Edinburgh and Glasgow City council areas, veterans make up a smaller proportion of the population but they are among the areas with the largest numbers of veterans.

Fife, the third biggest council area by population, had the highest number of veterans with 17,200.

6.7% of households in Scotland included at least one UK Armed Forces veteran.

The majority of veterans in Scotland (72%) served in the regular UK Armed Forces with a further 22% having served in the reserve Armed Forces and 6% served in both.

The NRS is set to release census data on further topics including housing, employment and health later in 2024.

Minister for Veterans Graeme Dey welcomes the publication of the data adding that it represents an “important milestone” in how Government can understand the veteran community.

“I look forward to the publication, this winter, of further Census data covering characteristics of veterans such as employment status, housing, health and disability status which will also help inform future planning,” he added.