THE Lothians saw the country's biggest population rise last year as the number of people living in Scotland reached its highest level for 25 years.
The statistics put Scotland's population at 5,144,200 in the middle of last year – a rise of 27,300 on 2006.
For the first time in a decade, births outnumbered deaths with a net gain of 1100.
Most of the increase, however, was due to migration.
More than 63,000 people left Scotland, but nearly 90,000 moved here, mostly from other parts of the UK.
The net migration gain was over 26,000 – the highest since records began in the early 1950s.
9000 moved to Scotland from elsewhere in the UK, while 17,000 migrated here from overseas.
Lothian's 1.1 per cent population increase – up from 801,310 to 809,764 – was equalled by the Borders, but other parts of the country showed much lower growth rates, with Glasgow recording a rise of just 0.1 per cent.
East Lothian showed a 1.7 per cent increase, up from 92,830 to 94,440, the second biggest in the country after Clackmannanshire.
Edinburgh's population grew one per cent over the year, from 463,510 to 468,070.
Meanwhile, West Lothian's was up 1.2 per cent over the past year from 165,700 to 167,770.
The Capital's population is now five per cent higher than the figure it stood at ten years ago, while East Lothian's population is 7.6 per cent higher.
Finance Secretary John Swinney today said Scotland's growing population would be a key contributor to a more vibrant society and a more dynamic economy.
He said: "For over four decades, Scotland has been a country of substantial net out-migration.
"Crucially, over the last ten years in particular, our population growth has lagged well behind that of the UK, but these latest very positive population estimates show that we are beginning to turn the corner.
"Fewer people are leaving Scotland; large numbers are choosing to come here; and our birth rate is rising. An increasing population and a vibrant labour market have the potential to boost Scotland's economic growth and help our nation prosper."
He also said the Scottish Government recognised there was more to do and was developing policies to ensure Scotland continued to attract skilled workers and retained home-grown talent.
"Attracting and retaining skilled workers is key to increasing sustainable economic growth and turning around decades of demographic decline," he said.
On today's figures from the Scottish Government, Scotland's population has risen 1.6 per cent since 2001, where the total was just about the five million mark.
Over the year, 51,500 people came to Scotland from England, Wales and Northern Ireland while 42,700 left Scotland to go in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile, more than 37,800 people, including asylum seekers, came to Scotland from overseas and 21,000 left Scotland to go overseas.
