Household Estimates
type: Dataset
conforms to: http://mlcommons.org/croissant/1.0
contact point: ContactPoint
date modified: 2026-08-20T16:02:52.324078
date published: 2026-08-20T15:54:05.593387
description: This dataset contains information on the number ('count') of dwellings in each data zone and council area in Scotland, and the percentages ('ratio') that are occupied, vacant, unoccupied and exempt from paying council tax, long-term empty, second homes, are occupied and exempt from paying council tax, and that are receiving a 'single adult' council tax discount (i.e. dwellings subject to a Council Tax discount of 25 per cent). The estimates are based on two Council Tax data collections carried out each year in September. Council Tax data contains information on the various discounts/exemptions awarded to each dwelling in Scotland. From these we can determine which dwellings are occupied and which are vacant or second homes. Council area and Scotland level estimates are produced using data provided by each council to the Scottish Government, using the Council Tax Base form, 'Ctaxbase', available from the Scottish Government website. Data zone level estimates are produced using data provided by each council to National Records of Scotland (NRS) at data zone or postcode level. Data zone level estimates are constrained so that they sum to the Council Tax Base totals for a council area, unless a council has advised otherwise. For full details of the methods used see the 'Estimates of Households and Dwellings in Scotland' publications on the [NRS website](https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/publications/households-and-dwellings-in-scotland-2024/#). The number of occupied dwellings is roughly equivalent to the number of households in an area, which is why we refer to this dataset as 'Household Estimates'. This dataset provides the best source of information on the number of occupied dwellings or households at data zone level each year. However, for information on numbers of households in council areas and Scotland, separate mid-year household estimates are available on [statistics.gov.scot](https://statistics.gov.scot/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fdata%2Fmid-ye…
accuracy: Figures have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Totals for council areas and Scotland may not equal the sum of the data zone level figures as a result of this rounding. Estimates are missing for Data Zones in some local authorities in some years. This should be taken into account if Data Zone level estimates are aggregated to produce estimates for higher geographies. For most data zones, the data is aggregated from postcode level information. For a small number of postcodes, it has not be possible to allocate a data zone. This, combined with some other issues experienced by Councils, means that the Council level figures collected as part of the Scottish Government's Council Tax Base return are generally considered more accurate. As a result we constrain the Data Zone level information for each Council so that it sums to the Council Tax Base totals, unless a Council has advised otherwise. The number of occupied dwellings is used as a proxy for the number of households. However, one occupied dwelling may not always equal one household. One reason for the differences is that some occupied dwellings may be shared by more than one household; each household would be counted by the census but only the dwelling itself would be counted in Council Tax data. Another reason is that certain communal establishments (e.g. student halls of residence, barracks or prisons) may be included in the count of occupied dwellings from Council Tax systems but would not be classified as households in the census. There are inconsistencies between the ways in which some Councils record Council Tax discounts and exemptions. Changes over time in categories of Council Tax discounts and exemptions can occur because a Council area has carried out a review and identified cases where a dwelling has been incorrectly categorised rather than as a result of real change 'on the ground'. In 2013, many Councils re-classified long-term empty properties and second homes, which resulted in an apparent ri…
comment: Number and percentage of total dwellings that are occupied, vacant, unoccupied and exempt from paying council tax, long-term empty, second homes, are occupied and exempt from paying council tax, and that are receiving Single Adult Council Tax discount. An 'occupied dwelling' is roughly equivalent to a household.
completeness: It is the policy of the NRS to make its website and products accessible according to published guidelines. It is the policy of the NRS to make its website and products accessible according to published guidelines. More information is available in the Accessibility section of the [NRS website]( https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/accessibility).
confidentiality: This dataset does not contain any directly identifiable personal information.
consistency: The statistics are also provided in Excel, PDF and CSV formats on the [NRS website](https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/publications/households-and-dwellings-in-scotland-2024/#). They are designed to be consistent, and incorporate comparable historical data where appropriate.
geographical coverage: S12
geographical coverage: S08
geographical coverage: S02
geographical coverage: S16
geographical coverage: S01
geographical coverage: S13
geographical coverage: S92
geographical coverage: S03
license id: uk-ogl
next update: 2026-06-01
quality management: Data from the Council Tax base collection and NRS council tax collection are compared. Explanations for discrepancies are sought from local authorities. Total dwellings per Data Zone are compared with earlier years' data, and with dwellings data extracted from the Assessor's Portal, to identify any potential issues. Explanations for large changes in total dwellings are sought from local authorities.
reference period: PeriodOfTime
  end date: 2024
  start date: 2001
timeliness: Data is received from Council Tax billing systems on the first Monday of September each year and published the following summer.
uniqueness: Not assessed
update frequency: annual
validity: The statistics are mainly used for informing Councils' decisions about housing need and service provision. They are also used as the denominator for other statistics (e.g. the percentage of households receiving benefits).
will be updated: true
included in data catalog: CKAN
keywords: Housing
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
record set: records

National Records of Scotland
type: Organization
contact point: ContactPoint
  contact type: customer service

GeographyType
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: GeographyType

household-estimates.csv
type: FileObject
description: Data file for Household Estimates
comment: Number and percentage of total dwellings that are occupied, vacant, unoccupied and exempt from paying council tax, long-term empty, second homes, are occupied and exempt from paying council tax, and that are receiving Single Adult Council Tax discount. An 'occupied dwelling' is roughly equivalent to a household.
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyType
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Units
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyName
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: DateCode
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Measurement
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Indicator(Dwellings)
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Value
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyCode
  type: text
encoding format: CSV

Units
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: Units

GeographyName
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: GeographyName

Measurement
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: Measurement

GeographyCode
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: GeographyCode

Indicator(Dwellings)
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: Indicator(Dwellings)

Value
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: Value

DateCode
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: DateCode