Urban Rural Classification (6-Fold)
type: Dataset
description: The Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification provides a consistent way of defining urban and rural areas across Scotland. The classification is based upon two main criteria: (i) population as defined by the National Records of Scotland, and (ii) accessibility based on drive time analysis to differentiate between accessible and remote areas in Scotland. The classification distinguishes between urban, rural and remote areas within Scotland and includes the following categories: 1 - Large Urban Areas Settlements of over 125,000 people; 2 - Other Urban Areas Settlements of 10,000 to 125,000 people; 3 - Accessible Small Towns Settlements of between 3,000 and 10,000 people and within 30 minutes drive of a settlement of 10,000 or more; 4 - Remote Small Towns Settlements of between 3,000 and 10,000 people and with a drive time of over 30 minutes to a settlement of 10,000 or more; 5 - Accessible Rural Settlements of less than 3,000 people and within 30 minutes drive of a settlement of 10,000 or more; 6 - Remote Rural Settlements of less than 3,000 people and with a drive time of over 30 minutes to a settlement of 10,000 or more. Starting with the 2016 version of the classification the name format was changed to a single year. The single year refers to the date of the mid-year estimates on which the population statistics for the Settlements are based. The change to the name format was made in order to make it clearer in the title of the classification the date of the statistics used. Further information can be found on the [Urban Rural Classification](https://www.gov.scot/collections/agriculture-fisheries-and-rural-statistics/#urbanruralclassification) section of the Scottish Government website .
issued: 2026-08-20T16:43:19.009211
modified: 2026-08-20T16:49:50.903304
version notes: Not assessed
contact point: Kind
contact point: Organization
theme: Geography
accuracy: Data zones are assigned to the 6-fold urban rural classification. Each data zone has been assigned to the category of the classification within which its population weighted centroid falls. This is line with [Pillar 4 of the GSS Geography Policy](https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/ef22f5d6c51d4e899fa3a5ffa0818639/about). Data zones were not designed to nest within the urban rural classification and as a result some data zones do straddle the urban rural classification. A measure of the effect of straddling can be determined by the percentage of output areas which are assigned to the same category under the data zone classification and the census output area classification.
comment: Urban Rural Classification (6-Fold)
completeness: A data zone lookup is released in text file format when the urban rural classification is updated. It can be accessed from the [Urban Rural Classification](https://www.gov.scot/collections/agriculture-fisheries-and-rural-statistics/#urbanruralclassification) section of the Scottish Government website. A postcode lookup is also temporarily released in text file format when the urban rural classification is updated. When it is available, it can also be accessed from the [Urban Rural Classification](https://www.gov.scot/collections/agriculture-fisheries-and-rural-statistics/#urbanruralclassification) section of the Scottish Government website. When the next release of the National Records of Scotland (NRS) Scottish Postcode Directory (SPD) happens after the publication of a new Urban Rural Classification the postcode lookup is from removed from the Urban Rural Classification supporting documents as it no longer contains the current set of postcodes. Users are advised to access the latest [SPD](https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/geography-products/) from the NRS website, which will have a postcode to Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification lookup incorporated.
confidentiality: Not assessed
consistency: The urban rural classification is the standard definition used to define rural areas in Scotland.
geographical coverage: S01
license id: uk-ogl
next update: 2028-01-01
quality management: Not assessed
reference period: PeriodOfTime
  end date: 2022
  start date: 2003
timeliness: This classification is updated to incorporate the most recent Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities produced by National Records of Scotland.
uniqueness: Not assessed
update frequency: annual
validity: The Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification provides a standard definition of rural areas in Scotland. The Scottish Government acknowledges that issues such as transport, education and health can have a particular impact on rural communities and seeks to reflect this in mainstream policy development. This classification aids in developing our understanding of the issues facing urban, rural and remote Scotland.
will be updated: true

urban-rural-classification.csv
type: Distribution
description: Data file for Urban Rural Classification (6-Fold)
format: CSV
issued: 2026-08-20T16:49:50.918851
modified: 2026-08-20T16:49:50.912676
table schema: Schema
  column: Column
    datatype: text
    name: GeographyName
  column: Column
    datatype: text
    name: GeographyCode
  column: Column
    datatype: text
    name: Measurement
  column: Column
    datatype: text
    name: GeographyType
  column: Column
    datatype: text
    name: Units
  column: Column
    datatype: text
    name: DateCode
  column: Column
    datatype: text
    name: Value
access URL: https://admin.data.gov.scot/resource/33c98e2d-9a3b-4e27-9a30-db435dc2ef29/download
comment: Urban Rural Classification (6-Fold)
dictionary: Column
  column: Measurement
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Units
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyType
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: DateCode
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyCode
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Value
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyName
  type: text

Scottish Government
type: Agent

Geography
type: Concept