Map of Scotland Counties

Scotland is a constituent unit of the United Kingdom with a total land area covering 30,087 sq miles. Located towards the north of England, it comprises several islands with the Atlantic Ocean on its west and north side and the North Sea to its east, with several estuaries dotting its west side. As per 2011 figures, total population of Scotland is 5,295,400.

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: Glasgow

Council 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.