Newly released figures have suggested that the total number of households in Scotland is to increase by a sixth over the next 25 years, to 2.78 million.

The statistics, published by the National Records of Scotland (NRS), also reveal that around a quarter of people, aged 16 or over, are projected to live alone by 2037. This compares to just one in five people in 2012. In addition, the number of people aged 65 or over and who live alone will also increase by half. Those figures more than double for people aged 85 or over.

Over the next 25 years, one-adult households are estimated to increase by 300,000, while households containing one adult with children are to rise by 41,000, and those containing just two adults are to grow by 139,000. In contrast, the number of larger households is set to fall by 84,000.

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The largest increases are among older households, due to the country's ageing population, but the report found that the rate of household growth is slower than it used to be.

Elsewhere, there are said to be more one-adult households – with or without children – in the most deprived areas of Scotland, and more two-adult households in less deprived areas. More deprived areas also tend have a higher density of housing, more flats, and more dwellings in the lower value Council Tax bands. Across Scotland in general, some 2.8% of dwellings are vacant and 1.4% are second homes. These figures are higher in remote rural areas, at 4.9% and 6.8%, respectively.

Looking at the different authorities, most Council areas are projected to have an increase in the number of households over the next 25 years, with the City of Edinburgh (39%) and Aberdeen City (35%) having the largest increases. Inverclyde (10%), Argyll and Bute (6%) and North Ayrshire (1%) are set to experience a fall in the number of households.

Commenting on the findings, Tim Ellis, Chief Executive of National Records of Scotland, said: "The number of households in Scotland is projected to grow by nearly 400,000 over the next 25 years. Most of this increase is in the older age groups.

"Scotland's population is growing, but the number of households is increasing faster, due to changes in the types of households people are living in, and the ageing population."

(JP/MH)