Population and care experienced data
The population of Scotland is estimated to be 6.03 million. Scotland covers an area of 78,782 square kilometres including mainland and islands. Around 70% of the population live in the central belt but there are lots of remote and rural communities.
In 2023-24 - 11,844 children were looked after in Scotland of whom 20% were placed at home and 80% away from home. The most common placements away from home were kinship care (35%), foster care (32%), and residential accommodation (11%).
Of the 11,844 children who were looked after, 46% were female and 54% were male. The proportion of males being looked after is higher amongst the older age groups. For instance, males make up half of the looked after population under 1 years old, but nearly two thirds of the looked after population over 16 years old.
On 31 July 2024, 2,129 children were on the child protection register.The most common concerns identified for children registered during the year were domestic abuse (45%), neglect (42%), parental substance use (39%), parental mental ill health (37%), and emotional abuse (33%).
