New figures have revealed the number of Scottish households is continuing to increase.

The National Records of Scotland's (NRS) 'Estimates of Households and Dwellings in Scotland' publication shows there were 2.43 million households in 2015, rising by around 160,000 over the last decade.

However, while Scotland's population has risen by 5%, household numbers have increased 7%.

In addition, the average number of people per home has fallen to 2.17 compared to 2.21 in 2005.

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Local authorities have also experienced an increase in households numbers, with the largest increases in the Orkney Islands and Highland (13.6% and 12.7% respectively).

Tim Ellis, the Chief Executive of National Records of Scotland, said: "These latest figures from the National Records of Scotland show household numbers continue to rise but the level of growth has changed, with the number of households rising by a much smaller amount each year after the beginning of the economic downturn.

"In most council areas, average household size continues to fall, but average household sizes are now rising in the four city council areas of Aberdeen City, Dundee City, City of Edinburgh and Glasgow City, and in Perth and Kinross.

"This may be linked to the trend we are seeing of more young adults living with their parents or renting rather than buying a home."

(LM)