Net migration - rate per 1,000 population (c03)

• This measures the number of people coming into North Lanarkshire minus the number of people leaving.
• Figures are published by the National Records of Scotland and relate to total net migration, i.e. the difference between immigration (people moving into a country or area to live, work, or study) and emigration (people moving out of a country or area to live somewhere else). This includes asylum seekers, refugees, and rounding adjustments.
• Following the publication of the 2022 Census results, and a national review of international and internal migration for Scotland, local authority and national population estimates were re-based from 2011 onwards to ensure a more accurate and up to date position moving forward. 

Why this matters

• Measuring net migration shows whether an area is attracting people for opportunities or losing them due to limited prospects. Positive net migration suggests people see opportunities in an area - such as jobs, safety, and quality of life - while negative net migration can highlight underlying challenges.
• Monitoring migration trends also help identify key labour‑market gaps. The statistics also highlight demand for housing, schools, health and social care, and transport. Understanding these patterns strengthens community cohesion by supporting effective integration and enabling proactive planning for services and support.

Latest performance

How North Lanarkshire has performed

Net migration in North Lanarkshire has generally been positive in recent years, with more people moving into the area than moving out.  This can be seen in Figure 03b in terms of the number of people migrating into the area.

• Recent figures show a positive change with an increase of +8.2 per 1,000 population in 2023-24 and +7.6 in 2023-24, which although a small decrease from the previous year it still shows significant growth in North Lanarkshire’s population in the year.
• Over the period of The Plan for North Lanarkshire migration growth now sits at +7.6 per 1,000 population compared to the baseline of +2.3, an estimated increase over the period of around 10,000 people (Figure 03b).

Figure 03a shows that historically the trend in North Lanarkshire has mirrored that of the national position (which currently sits at 10.2 per 1,000 population) - and also the comparative average for the group of similar councils (which currently sits at 8.2 per population) - albeit migration in North Lanarkshire has remained at a slightly lower growth rate than the national position. 

The National Records of Scotland (NRS) report that net migration was positive in all of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas over the latest year, with migration into Scotland - both international and from the rest of the UK - being heavily concentrated in urban areas, particularly Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Impact of delivering The Plan for North Lanarkshire

Improving net migration rates means more people, skills, and spending power are coming into an area. A growing population supports local businesses, fills labour shortages, and boosts productivity, while also increasing demand for housing, schools, transport and services -stimulating further job creation. 

Improving net migration helps stabilise areas experiencing demographic decline, protecting the sustainability of schools, health services, and local businesses.  Attracting people of working age expands the tax base, enabling greater investment in infrastructure and community programmes.