Edinburgh’s population grew 9.4% in the 10 years to 2024, from an estimated 485,270 to an estimated 530,680, according to the latest Edinburgh by Numbers report.

In the same time period, Scotland’s population grew by 4%.

Edinburgh’s population showed growth in each age group, including a small growth in the child population.

Child population decreased in Scotland by 1.2%. Edinburgh and Scotland saw increases of over 15% in the older population.

Edinburgh’s unemployment rate, at 2.5%, is lower than it has been at any point in the last decade.

Edinburgh’s population is projected to grow to 585,838 by 2047.

“Ten years ago, the unemployment rate was more than double,” said the report.

“The median hourly pay has risen to £20.49 which is the highest of the major UK cities excluding London.”

The population of the ‘Edinburgh City Region’ — defined as Edinburgh, East Lothian, West Lothian, Midlothian, Fife, and the Scottish Borders — rose 6.9 % to 1.424 million in the 10 years to 2024.

“Overseas migration continues to be the main driver of population change in Edinburgh,” said the report.

“The net effect of births and deaths on Edinburgh’s population from 2013 to 2023 was 4,485. The net effect of migration was more than ten times higher at 51,540.

“Edinburgh’s net birth and death rate reduced from a net increase of 1,261 in 2013/14 to a net increase of 20 in 2022/23.

“The size of overseas migration to Edinburgh reduced from the period 2021/22 (12,130) to 7,920 in 2022/23, while the net migration within UK continued to decrease.”

Edinburgh has the highest life expectancy and healthy life expectancy compared with other Scottish cities, with female population expected to live to an average of just over 82 years old and male population to 78 years old.

Both male and female population in Edinburgh spend an average of around 80% of their lives in good health. The percentage of people in relative poverty in Edinburgh continues to sit below the Scottish average and has not changed in the last five years.

Over 85% of enterprises in Edinburgh are small companies with under 10 employees, while less than 1% are enterprises with 250 or more employees.

Nearly half of Edinburgh’s workers are in high skilled occupations (42%) while just around 11% work in low skilled occupations.

57,000 people in Edinburgh are employed in the health industry. This makes up 15% of all jobs in Edinburgh. In 2024, 11.3% of people employed in Edinburgh worked in finance and insurance. This is more than double the average across other major UK cities.

“Edinburgh relative to other UK cities has higher employment in accommodation and food services, information and communication and arts, entertainment, recreation and other services but less relative employment in construction and manufacturing,” said the report.

Finance and insurance industry in Edinburgh provides more Gross Value Added (GVA) (£8.8bn) than the next three largest sectors combined: real estate (£3.4bn), human health and social care (£2.7bn) and education (£2.4bn). In terms of GVA per capita, Edinburgh (£65.5k) has 40% more per person than Glasgow (£46.5k).

In 2024/25 the number of students enrolled in an Edinburgh university (72,365) was higher than the number in schools (60,657). In 2024/25 there were almost 160,000 pupils or students in Edinburgh based education institutions, including schools, universities and colleges.

In 2024, 64.6% of higher education students in Edinburgh were from the UK. Compared to other major UK cities, Edinburgh has the second highest proportions of Higher Education students per 1,000 population. In 2024, 73.2% of the Edinburgh workforce in employment was educated to degree level or above.

Almost 70% of the short trips made by people in Edinburgh in 2024 were either cycling or walking. 65% of residents walk between three and five days every week. Just over half of them walk as a method of transport but 28% do it for pleasure.