Administratively, Scotland is divided into 32 Councils (similar to Counties in the US) that are responsible for local governance and development issues in their respective areas.
32 Councils of Scotland
Council: GlasgowCouncil HQ: Glasgow
Population of Glasgow City is 615,070 (2016) which represents 11.4% of total population.
Council: Edinburgh
Council HQ: Edinburgh
Edinburgh City is Scotland’s capital and has a population of 507,170 (2016), 9.4% of total population.
Council: Aberdeen City
Council HQ: Aberdeen City
Population of Aberdeen City is 229,840 (2016), 4.3% of total population.
Council: Aberdeenshire
Council HQ: Presently Aberdeen City but will be relocating to Inverurie
Population of Aberdeenshire is 262,190 (2016), 4.9% of total population.
Council: Dundee
Council HQ: Dundee
Population of Dundee is 148,270 (2016), 2.7% of total population.
Council: Renfrewshire
Council HQ: Paisley
Population of Renfrewshire is 175,930 (2016), 3.3% of total population.
Council: West Lothian
Council HQ: Livingston
Population of West Lothian is 180,130 (2016), 3.3% of total population.
Council: South Lanarkshire
Council HQ: Hamilton
Population of South Lanarkshire is 317,100 (2016), 5.9% of total population.
Council: South Ayrshire
Council HQ: Ayr
Population of South Ayrshire is 112,470 (2016), 2.1% of total population.
Council: East Ayrshire
Council HQ: Kilmarnock
Population of East Ayrshire is 122,200 (2016), 2.3% of total population.
Council: Inverclyde
Council HQ: Greenock
Population of Inverclyde is 79,160 (2016), 1.5% of total population.
Council: Perthshire and Kinross
Council HQ: Perth
Population of Perthshire and Kinross is 150,680 (2016), 2.8% of total population.
Council: Highland
Council HQ: Inverness
Population of Highland is 234,770 (2016), 4.3% of total population.
Council: Fife
Council HQ: Glenrothes
Population of Fife is 370,330 (2016), 6.9% of total population.
Council: Falkirk
Council HQ: Falkirk
Population of Falkirk is 159,380 (2016), 2.9% of total population.
Council: North Ayrshire
Council HQ: Irvine
Population of North Ayrshire is 135,890 (2016), 2.5% of total population.
Council: Stirling
Council HQ: Stirling
Population of Stirling is 93,750 (2016), 1.7% of total population.
Council: Dumfries and Galloway
Council HQ: Dumfries
Population of Dumfries and Galloway is 149,520 (2016), 2.8% of total population.
Council: North Lanarkshire
Council HQ: Motherwell
Population of North Lanarkshire is 339,390 (2016), 6.3% of total population.
Council: Moray
Council HQ: Elgin
Population of Moray is 96,070 (2016), 1.8% of total population.
Council: West Dunbartonshire
Council HQ: Dumbarton
Population of West Dunbartonshire is 89,860 (2016), 1.7% of total population.
Council: East Dunbartonshire
Council HQ: Kirkintilloch
Population of East Dunbartonshire is 107,540 (2016), 2.0% of total population.
Council: Clackmannanshire
Council HQ: Alloa
Population of Clackmannanshire is 51,350 (2016), 1.0% of total population.
Council: East Renfrewshire
Council HQ: Giffnock
Population of East Renfrewshire is 93,810 (2016), 1.7% of total population.
Council: Angus
Council HQ: Forfar
Population of Angus is 116,520 (2016), 2.2% of total population.
Council: Midlothian
Council HQ: Dalkeith
Population of Midlothian is 88,160 (2016), 1.6% of total population.
Council: East Lothian
Council HQ: Haddington
Population of East Lothian is 104,090 (2016), 1.9% of total population.
Council: Shetland Islands
Council HQ: Lerwick
Population of Shetland Islands is 23,200 (2016), 0.4% of total population.
Council: Orkney Islands
Council HQ: Kirkwall
Population of Orkney Islands is 21,670 (2016), 0.4% of total population.
Council: Argyll and Bute
Council HQ: Lochgilphead
Population of Argyll and Bute is 87,130 (2016), 1.6% of total population.
Council: Scottish Borders
Council HQ: Newton St Boswells
Population of Scottish Borders is 114,030 (2016), 2.1% of total population.
Council: Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)
Council HQ: Stornoway
Population of Eileanan Star is 26,900 (2016), 0.5% of total population.
Last Updated : February 22, 2020
