In February 2019, we updated our methodology for allocating datazones to higher geographies to align with Government Statistical Service Geography Policy. This resulted in revisions to some aggregated figures at Electoral Ward and Scottish Parliament Constituency level.
The National Records of Scotland (NRS) is responsible for the organisation and administration of the records of births in Scotland. Data on births for calendar years relate to the date of registration of the event and not the date of occurrence. Data on births between mid points of years are based on date of occurrence and refer to the number of births which occurred between 1 July of the previous year and 30 June of the year specified in the data. Births are counted on the basis of the area of usual residence of the mother if that is in Scotland, otherwise they are counted on the basis of the place of birth. Further information on births statistics, and other vital events, is available on [the NRS website.](https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/births-deaths-marriages-and-life-expectancy/#)
The UK Statistics Authority has designated NRS vital events statistics as National Statistics, in line with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics [(available on the UK Statistics Authority website).](https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/code-of-practice/) National Statistics status means that official statistics meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and public value.
Number of births by gender that were registered in a calendar year, or occurred in a mid-year period (1 July to 30 June).
Statistical information about births and other vital events is available in alternative formats, such as tables and reports, from [the vital events pages on the NRS website.](https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/births-deaths-marriages-and-life-expectancy/#)
This dataset does not contain any sensitive or personal information.
These figures are on a different basis from the vast majority of NRS published statistics of births, which are based on the calendar year in which the birth was registered. The \"mid-year to mid-year\" basis is used only in connection with population estimates and projections. Details on other data sources for birth statistics are available on [the NRS website.](https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20240926182404/https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/births/birth-statistics-on-other-websites)
Information about the quality management process for births data are available on [the NRS website.](https://webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk/20240926181747/https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/births/background-information)
This dataset will be updated annually, typically in late summer or early autumn.