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Publication - Research and analysis

Trends in Rural Scotland: a working paper (2025)

Published
28 January 2025
From
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, +5 more … Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Cabinet Secretary for Transport
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate, +1 more … Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Economy, Education, +7 more … Energy, Environment and climate change, Farming and rural, Health and social care, Housing, Marine and fisheries, Transport
ISBN
9781836912354

This compilation of time-series data shows Rural Scotland trends. It is accompanied by a data sheet. Key trends are shown for Agriculture, Marine, Transport, Housing, Population, Skills, Environment, Climate Change, Economy, Digital, Health, Social Care, Culture and Social Justice.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

3. Housing

Proportion (%) of all dwellings that are second homes

The percentage of dwellings that are second homes has slightly decreased on average across Scotland by 0.5 percentage points from 2007-2023 but has increased by 0.6 percentage points for accessible small towns and 0.3 percentage points for accessible rural areas. Remote rural areas had a consistently significantly higher proportion of second homes compared to other areas in Scotland. In 2022 this figure was 6.4%, compared to 1.9% in remote small towns (the second highest figure) and 0.3% in other urban areas (the lowest figure).

Proportion (%) of all dwellings that are short-term or long-term vacant homes

The percentage of dwellings that are vacant has slightly increased on average across Scotland by 0.6 percentage points from 2007-2023, relatively uniformly across all areas. Remote rural areas had a consistently significantly higher proportion of second homes compared to other areas in Scotland. In 2022 this figure was 5.9%, compared to 4.7% in remote small towns (the second highest figure) and 2.8% in accessible small towns (the lowest figure).

Average residential property price

Average residential property prices are increasing across all areas in Scotland, and are highest in accessible rural areas, followed by remote rural areas.

Energy performance ratings of rural households

The average energy efficiency profile of rural properties is lower than that for urban properties (56% of household rated Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C or above in urban areas compared with 33% in rural areas). Across scotland the average Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of dwellings is increasing. 52% of all properties in 2022 were rated C or better under SAP 2012 (Revised Standard Assessment Procedure (RdSAP) v9.93), compared to 45% in 2019.

Percentage of dwellings with urgent disrepair to critical elements

In 2022, rates of urgent disrepair to one or more critical elements stood at 20% for rural areas, similar to 2019 levels and the 2020 urban rate of 17%.

Contact

Email: Socialresearch@gov.scot

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