View source for Subdivisions of Scotland

{{short description|Present or former administrative subdivisions of Scotland}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox subdivision type
| name               = Council areas of Scotland
| alt_name           = 
| map                = {{Location map+|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|width=300px|caption=|position=center|places =

  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|59.75|-1.75}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Shetland]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|58.9|-2.65}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Orkney]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|57.81|-3.71}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Moray]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|57.8|-2.50}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Aberdeenshire]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|57.16|-2.24}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Aberdeen City (council area)|Aberdeen City]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|56.63|-2.52}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Angus, Scotland|Angus]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|56.40|-1.51}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Dundee City (council area)|Dundee<br>City]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|56.34|-2.66}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Fife]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|55.31|-2.65}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Scottish Borders]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|54.81|-3.61}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Dumfries and Galloway|{{nobreak|Dumfries and}}<br>Galloway]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|54.57|-5.45}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[East Ayrshire|{{nobreak|East Ayrshire}}]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|54.97|-7.49}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[South Ayrshire]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|55.95|-7.83}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Argyll and Bute]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|56.4|-8.82}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Perth and Kinross|Perth<br>and<br>Kinross]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|58.1|-8.67}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Outer Hebrides]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|58.72|-5.72}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Highland (council area)|Highland]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|59.77|-8.66}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[North Ayrshire|N.<br>Ayrsh.]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.12|-8.52}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Inverclyde|IVC]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|59.92|-8.0}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Renfrewshire|RFW]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.24|-8.01}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[West Dunbartonshire|WDU]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.22|-7.2}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[East Dunbartonshire|EDU]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|59.97|-7.30}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Glasgow City (council area)|GLG]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|59.7|-7.63}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[East Renfrewshire|ERW]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.1|-6.61}}|position=right|label={{left|'''[[North Lanarkshire|{{pad|0.6em}}N.<br>Lanark.]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.32|-6.13}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Falkirk (council area)|Falk.]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.18|-5.58}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[West Lothian|W.<br>Loth.]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.17|-4.8}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[City of Edinburgh (council area)|EDH]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.02|-4.45}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Midlothian|Mid-<br>lothian]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.3|-3.65}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[East Lothian|East<br>Lothian]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.72|-6.0}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Clackmannanshire|CLK]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.68|-7.4}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[Stirling (council area)|Stirling]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}
  {{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|59.59|-6.85}}|position=right|label={{center|'''[[South Lanarkshire|{{nobreak|South Lanark.}}]]'''}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

}}

| category           = Administrative unit
| territory          = [[Scotland]]
| start_date         =
| current_number     = 32
| number_date        =
| population_range   = {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000023}} ([[Orkney Islands]]) – {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000049}} ([[Glasgow]])
| area_range         = {{Convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000042}}|km2|abbr=on}} ([[Dundee]]) – {{Convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000017}}|km2|abbr=on}} ([[Highland (council area)|Highland]])
| government         = Council government
| subdivision        = None
}}

{{Politics of Scotland}}

For [[Local government in Scotland|local government]] purposes, [[Scotland]] is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" ({{langx|gd|comhairlean}}), which are all governed by [[unitary authority|single-tier authorities]] designated as "councils".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local government facts and figures: Scotland |url=https://lgiu.org/local-government-facts-and-figures-scotland/ |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=lgiu.org |language=en-GB}}</ref> They have the option under the Local Government (Gaelic Names) (Scotland) Act 1997<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1997/1997006.htm|title=Local Government (Gaelic Names) (Scotland) Act 1997}}</ref> of being known (but not re-designated) as a "''comhairle''" when opting for a Gaelic name; only ''[[Comhairle nan Eilean Siar]]'' (Council of the Western Isles) has chosen this option, whereas the [[Highland Council]] (''Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd'') has adopted its Gaelic form alongside its English equivalent, informally.

The council areas have been in existence since 1 April 1996, under the provisions of the [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]]. Historically, Scotland was divided into 34 [[Shires of Scotland|counties or shires]]. Although these no longer have any administrative function, they are still used to some extent in Scotland for cultural and geographical purposes, and some of the current council areas are named after them. There are also a number of other administrative divisions, some of which are handled by joint boards of the councils.

At the most local level, Scotland is divided into [[List of civil parishes in Scotland|civil parishes]], which are now used only for statistical purposes such as the census. The lowest level of administrative subdivision are the [[community council|communities]], which may elect ''community councils''.

==History of the subdivisions of Scotland==
{{further|Burgh#History|History of local government in Scotland}}

Traditionally burghs have been the key unit of the [[Local government in Scotland|local government of Scotland]], being highly [[Autonomous entity|autonomous]] entities, with rights to representation in the old [[Parliament of Scotland]]. Even after the [[Acts of Union 1707]], burghs continued to be the principal subdivision. Until 1889, administration was on a [[burgh]] and [[parish]] basis.

The years following 1889 saw the introduction of a hierarchy of local government administration comprising [[Counties of Scotland|counties]], [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889|counties of cities]], [[large burghs]] and small burghs.

With effect from 16 May 1975 and until 31 March 1996 the local government divisions of Scotland consisted of an upper tier of ''[[Regions and districts of Scotland|regions]]'' each containing a lower tier of ''[[Regions and districts of Scotland|districts]]'' except for the single-tier ''[[Island council areas of Scotland|island council areas]]''. Since 1996 there has only been a single tier of government, and the former island council areas are of equal status to the other councils.

==Council areas==
{{table alignment}}{{static row numbers}}
{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-numbers-center col1center col6right"
|+ Council areas of Scotland
! rowspan=2 class="unsortable" | [[Armorial of local councils in Scotland|Coat of arms]]
! rowspan=2 | Council area
! rowspan=2 | Council
! colspan=2 | Land area<ref name="popstats">{{UK subdivision statistics citation}}</ref>
! rowspan=2 | Population ({{UK subdivision statistics year}})<ref name="popstats"/>
! colspan=2 | Density<ref name="popstats"/>
! rowspan=2 | Administrative centre
|-
! (km<sup>2</sup>)
! (mi<sup>2</sup>)
! (/km<sup>2</sup>)
! (/mi<sup>2</sup>)
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_arms_of_Aberdeen.svg|40px]]
| [[Aberdeen City council area|Aberdeen City]]
| [[Aberdeen City Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000033}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000033}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000033}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Aberdeen]]
|-
| 
| [[Aberdeenshire]]
| [[Aberdeenshire Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000034}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000034}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000034}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Aberdeen]]
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of the Angus Area Council.svg|20px]]
| [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]]
| [[Angus Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000041}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000041}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000041}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Forfar]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_Arms_Argyll_%26_Bute.svg|20px]]
| [[Argyll and Bute]]
| [[Argyll and Bute Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000035}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000035}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000035}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Lochgilphead]]
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of Clackmannanshire.svg|20px]]
| [[Clackmannanshire]]
| [[Clackmannanshire Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000005}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000005}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000005}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Alloa]]
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of the Dumfries and Galloway area council 1996.svg|40px]]
| [[Dumfries and Galloway]]
| [[Dumfries and Galloway Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000006}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000006}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000006}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Dumfries]]
|-
| [[File:CoA of Dundee ext.svg |40px]]
| [[Dundee City council area|Dundee City]]
| [[Dundee City Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000042}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000042}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000042}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Dundee]]
|-
| [[File:Coat of Arms of East Ayrshire.svg|40px]]
| [[East Ayrshire]]
| [[East Ayrshire Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000008}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000008}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000008}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Kilmarnock]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_arms_of_East_Dunbartonshire.svg|40px]]
| [[East Dunbartonshire]]
| [[East Dunbartonshire Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000045}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000045}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000045}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Kirkintilloch]]
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of East Lothian.svg|20px]]
| [[East Lothian]]
| [[East Lothian Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000010}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000010}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000010}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Haddington, East Lothian|Haddington]]
|-
| 
| [[East Renfrewshire]]
| [[East Renfrewshire Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000011}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000011}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000011}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Giffnock]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_Arms_of_the_Edinburgh_City_Council.svg|40px]]
| [[City of Edinburgh council area|City of Edinburgh]]
| [[City of Edinburgh Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000036}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000036}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000036}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Edinburgh]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Falkirk.svg|20px]]
| [[Falkirk council area|Falkirk]]
| [[Falkirk Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000014}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000014}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000014}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Falkirk]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_Arms_of_the_Fife_Area_Council.svg|40px]]
| [[Fife]]
| [[Fife Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000047}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000047}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000047}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Glenrothes]]
|-
| [[File:Glasgow_Coat_of_Arms_1996.svg|40px]]
| [[Glasgow|Glasgow City]]
| [[Glasgow City Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000049}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000049}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000049}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Glasgow]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_Arms_of_the_Highland_Area_Council.svg|40px]]
| [[Highland council area|Highland]]
| [[Highland Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000017}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000017}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000017}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Inverness]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_Arms_Inverclyde.svg|20px]]
| [[Inverclyde]]
| [[Inverclyde Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000018}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000018}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000018}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Greenock]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_arms_of_Midlothian_District_Council.svg|40px]]
| [[Midlothian]]
| [[Midlothian Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000019}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000019}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000019}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Dalkeith]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_arms_of_Moray_Area_Council.svg|20px]]
| [[Moray]]
| [[Moray Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000020}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000020}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000020}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Elgin, Moray|Elgin]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_Arms_of_the_Na_h-Eileanan_Siar_(Outer_Hebrides).svg|40px]]
| [[Outer Hebrides|Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)]]
| [[Comhairle nan Eilean Siar]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000013}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000013}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000013}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Stornoway]]
|-
| [[File:North Ayrshire coat of arms.svg|20px]]
| [[North Ayrshire]]
| [[North Ayrshire Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000021}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000021}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000021}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Irvine, North Ayrshire|Irvine]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_arms_of_North_Lanarkshire_Council.svg|20px]]
| [[North Lanarkshire]]
| [[North Lanarkshire Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000050}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000050}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000050}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Motherwell]]
|-
| 
| [[Orkney]]
| [[Orkney Islands Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000023}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000023}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000023}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Kirkwall]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_Arms_of_the_Area_Council_of_Perth_and_Kinross.svg|40px]]
| [[Perth and Kinross]]
| [[Perth and Kinross Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000048}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000048}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000048}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Renfrewshire.svg|20px]]
| [[Renfrewshire]]
| [[Renfrewshire Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000038}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000038}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000038}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]]
|-
| 
| [[Scottish Borders]]
| [[Scottish Borders Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000026}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000026}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000026}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Newtown St Boswells]]
|-
| 
| [[Shetland Islands]]
| [[Shetland Islands Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000027}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000027}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000027}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Lerwick]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_arms_of_South_Ayrshire.svg|40px]]
| [[South Ayrshire]]
| [[South Ayrshire Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000028}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000028}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000028}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Ayr]]
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of South Lanarkshire.svg|20px]]
| [[South Lanarkshire]]
| [[South Lanarkshire Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000029}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000029}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000029}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Hamilton, South Lanarkshire|Hamilton]]
|-
| 
| [[Stirling council area|Stirling]]
| [[Stirling Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000030}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000030}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000030}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Stirling]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_arms_of_West_Dunbartonshire.svg|20px]]
| [[West Dunbartonshire]]
| [[West Dunbartonshire Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000039}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000039}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000039}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Dumbarton]]
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of West Lothian Council.svg|40px]]
| [[West Lothian]]
| [[West Lothian Council]]
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000040}}|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000040}}
| {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000040}}|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Livingston, West Lothian|Livingston]]
|}
{{clear}}

==Other subdivisions==
Scotland has several other administrative divisions, some of which are handled by joint boards of the councils.

===Electoral and valuation===
There are several joint boards for [[Electoral registration in the United Kingdom|electoral registration]] and the purposes of property valuation for assessing [[council tax]] and [[rates (tax)|rates]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.saa.gov.uk/|title=Scottish Assessors – Scottish Assessors Association website}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Joint board area !! Council areas
|-
|[[Ayrshire and Arran|Ayrshire]]|| [[East Ayrshire]], [[North Ayrshire]], [[South Ayrshire]]
|-
|[[Scottish Borders|Borders]]
|[[Scottish Borders]]
|-
|[[Central Region, Scotland|Central Scotland]] || [[Clackmannanshire]], [[Falkirk (council area)|Falkirk]], [[Stirling (council area)|Stirling]]
|-
|[[Dumfries and Galloway]]
|Dumfries and Galloway
|-
|[[Dunbartonshire and Argyll & Bute]] || [[Argyll and Bute]], [[East Dunbartonshire]], [[West Dunbartonshire]]
|-
|[[Fife]]
|Fife
|-
|[[Grampian]] || [[Aberdeen City (council area)|Aberdeen City]], [[Aberdeenshire (council area)|Aberdeenshire]], [[Moray]]
|-
|[[Glasgow City (council area)|Glasgow]]
|Glasgow City
|-
|[[Highlands and Islands]]
|[[Highland (council area)|Highland]] and [[Outer Hebrides|Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)]]
|-
|[[Lanarkshire]] || [[North Lanarkshire]], [[South Lanarkshire]]
|-
|[[Lothian]]     || [[East Lothian]], [[City of Edinburgh (council area)|City of Edinburgh]], [[Midlothian]], [[West Lothian]]
|-
|Orkney and Shetland
|[[Orkney Islands]] and [[Shetland Islands]]
|-
|[[Renfrewshire (historic)|Renfrewshire]] || [[East Renfrewshire]], [[Inverclyde]], [[Renfrewshire]]
|-
|[[Tayside]]      || [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]], [[Dundee City (council area)|Dundee City]], [[Perth and Kinross]]
|}

===Health===
See also ''[[NHS Scotland]]''

{|Class=wikitable
|-
! Health board area
! Council areas
|-
| [[NHS Ayrshire and Arran|Ayrshire and Arran]]
| [[East Ayrshire]], [[North Ayrshire]] and [[South Ayrshire]]
|-
| [[NHS Borders|Borders]]
| [[Scottish Borders]]
|-
| [[NHS Dumfries and Galloway|Dumfries and Galloway]]
| [[Dumfries and Galloway]]
|-
| [[NHS Fife|Fife]]
| [[Fife]]
|-
| [[NHS Forth Valley|Forth Valley]]
| [[Clackmannanshire]], [[Falkirk (council area)|Falkirk]] and [[Stirling (council area)|Stirling]]
|-
| [[NHS Grampian|Grampian]]
| [[Aberdeenshire (council area)|Aberdeenshire]], [[Aberdeen City (council area)|Aberdeen City]] and [[Moray]]
|-
| [[NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde|Greater Glasgow and Clyde]]
| [[Glasgow City (council area)|Glasgow City]], [[East Dunbartonshire]], [[East Renfrewshire]], <br /> [[Inverclyde]], [[Renfrewshire]] and [[West Dunbartonshire]]
|-
| [[NHS Highland|Highland]]
| [[Argyll and Bute]] and [[Highland (council area)|Highland]]
|-
| [[NHS Lanarkshire|Lanarkshire]]
| [[North Lanarkshire]] and [[South Lanarkshire]]
|-
| [[NHS Lothian|Lothian]]
| [[City of Edinburgh (council area)|City of Edinburgh]], [[East Lothian]], [[Midlothian]] and [[West Lothian]]
|-
| [[NHS Orkney|Orkney]]
| [[Orkney Islands]]
|-
| [[NHS Shetland|Shetland]]
| [[Shetland Islands]]
|-
| [[NHS Tayside|Tayside]]
| [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]], [[Dundee City (council area)|Dundee City]] and [[Perth and Kinross]]
|-
| [[NHS Western Isles|Western Isles (Eileanan Siar)]]
| [[Outer Hebrides|Western Isles (Na h-Eileanan Siar)]]
|}
Until 1 April 2014 the towns of [[Cambuslang]] and [[Rutherglen]] were in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area despite being located in South Lanarkshire. They are now part of NHS Lanarkshire.

===Transport===
{{see also|Transport Scotland}}
The Scottish Government has created seven "Regional Transport Partnerships", for establishing transport policy in the regions. They broadly follow council area groupings.

{|Class=wikitable
|-
! RTP area
! Council areas
|-
| [[NESTRANS]]
| Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
|-
| [[TACTRAN]]
| Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Stirling
|-
| [[HITRANS]]
| Argyll and Bute (except Helensburgh and Lomond), Highland, Moray, Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles), Orkney
|-
| [[Shetland|ZetTrans]]
| Shetland
|-
| [[SEStran]]
| Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, East Lothian, Falkirk, Midlothian, Fife, Scottish Borders, West Lothian
|-
| [[SWESTRANS]]
| Dumfries and Galloway
|-
| [[Strathclyde Partnership for Transport|SPT]]
| Argyll and Bute (Helensburgh and Lomond only), West Dunbartonshire, East Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire
|}

===Eurostat NUTS===
In the [[Eurostat]] [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics]] (NUTS), Scotland is a level-1 NUTS region, coded "UKM", which is subdivided as follows:<ref>{{cite web| url=https://boundaries.scot/sites/default/files/NUTS_LAU_Scotland.pdf | title=Information Paper - European statistical areas (NUTS and LAU) in Scotland| publisher=Boundaries Scotland | year=2022}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:gold; text-align:left;"
! NUTS 1
! Code
! NUTS 2
! Code
! NUTS 3
! Code
|-
| Scotland
| UKM
| rowspan=8 | Eastern Scotland
| rowspan=8 | UKM2
| [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]] and [[Dundee]]
| UKM21
|-
| rowspan="22" colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| [[File:NUTS 3 regions of central and southern Scotland map.svg|240px]]<br /><br />[[File:NUTS 3 regions of Scotland map.svg|240px]]
| [[Clackmannanshire]] and [[Fife]]
| UKM22
|-
| [[East Lothian]] and [[Midlothian]]
| UKM23
|-
| [[Scottish Borders]]
| UKM24
|-
| [[Edinburgh]]
| UKM25
|-
| [[Falkirk (council area)|Falkirk]]
| UKM26
|-
| [[Perth and Kinross]], and [[Stirling (council area)|Stirling]]
| UKM27
|-
| [[West Lothian]]
| UKM28
|-
| rowspan=8 | South Western Scotland
| rowspan=8 | UKM3
| [[East Dunbartonshire]], [[West Dunbartonshire]], and [[Helensburgh|Helensburgh and Lomond]]
| UKM31
|-
| [[Dumfries and Galloway]]
| UKM32
|-
| [[East Ayrshire|East]] and [[North Ayrshire]] mainland
| UKM33
|-
| [[Glasgow]]
| UKM34
|-
| [[Inverclyde]], [[East Renfrewshire]], and [[Renfrewshire]]
| UKM35
|-
| [[North Lanarkshire]]
| UKM36
|-
| [[South Ayrshire]]
| UKM37
|-
| [[South Lanarkshire]]
| UKM38
|-
| North Eastern Scotland
| UKM5
| [[Aberdeen]] and [[Aberdeenshire]]
| UKM50
|-
| rowspan=6 | [[Highlands and Islands]]
| rowspan=6 | UKM6
| [[Caithness]] and [[Sutherland]], and [[Ross and Cromarty]]
| UKM61
|-
| [[Inverness]], [[Nairn (district)|Nairn]], [[Moray]], and [[Badenoch and Strathspey]]
| UKM62
|-
| [[Lochaber]], [[Skye and Lochalsh]], [[Isle of Arran|Arran]] and [[The Cumbraes|Cumbrae]], and [[Argyll and Bute]] (except Helensburgh and Lomond)
| UKM63
|-
| [[Eilean Siar]] (Western Isles)
| UKM64
|-
| [[Orkney Islands]]
| UKM65
|-
| [[Shetland Islands]]
| UKM66
|}

===Land registration===
The current [[Registers of Scotland|land registration system]] in Scotland divides Scotland into 33 [[Registration county#Scotland|Registration Counties]],<ref>Registers of Scotland publication - Land Register Counties and Operational Dates</ref> each coming into effect on various dates between 1981 and 2003. These areas in most cases resemble those of the pre-1975 administrative counties with Glasgow being the only current city to form a registration county.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Registration county || Operational from
|-
| [[Renfrewshire (historic)|County of Renfrew]] || 6 April 1981 
|-
| [[Dunbartonshire|County of Dunbarton]] || 4 October 1982 
|-
| [[Lanarkshire|County of Lanark]] || 3 January 1984 
|-
| [[Glasgow|County of the Barony and Regality of Glasgow]] || 30 September 1985 
|-
| [[Clackmannanshire|County of Clackmannan]] || 1 October 1992 
|-
| [[Stirlingshire|County of Stirling]] || 1 April 1993 
|-
| [[West Lothian|County of West Lothian]] || 1 October 1993 
|-
| [[Fife|County of Fife]] || 1 April 1995
|-
| [[Aberdeenshire (historic)|County of Aberdeen]] || 1 April 1996
|-
| [[Kincardineshire|County of Kincardine]] || 1 April 1996
|-
| [[Ayrshire|County of Ayr]] || 1 April 1997 
|-
| [[Dumfriesshire|County of Dumfries]] || 1 April 1997 
|- 
| [[Kirkcudbrightshire|County of Kirkcudbright]] || 1 April 1997
|- 
| [[Wigtownshire|County of Wigtown]] || 1 April 1997 
|-
| [[Angus, Scotland|County of Angus]] || 1 April 1999 
|-
| [[Kinross-shire|County of Kinross]] || 1 April 1999 
|-
| [[Perthshire|County of Perth]] || 1 April 1999
|-
| [[Berwickshire|County of Berwick]] || 1 October 1999
|-
| [[East Lothian|County of East Lothian]] || 1 October 1999
|-
| [[Peeblesshire|County of Peebles]] || 1 October 1999
|-
| [[Roxburghshire|County of Roxburgh]] || 1 October 1999
|-
| [[Selkirkshire|County of Selkirk]] || 1 October 1999 
|-
| [[Argyll|County of Argyll]] || 1 April 2000
|-
| [[County of Bute]] || 1 April 2000
|-
| [[Midlothian (historic)|County of Midlothian]] || 1 April 2001
|-
| [[Inverness-shire|County of Inverness]] || 1 April 2002
|-
| [[County of Nairn]] || 1 April 2002
|-
| [[Banffshire|County of Banff]] || 1 April 2003
|-
| [[Caithness|County of Caithness]] || 1 April 2003
|-
| [[County of Moray]] || 1 April 2003
|-
| Counties of [[Orkney]] and [[Shetland|Zetland]] || 1 April 2003
|-
| [[Ross and Cromarty|County of Ross and Cromarty]] || 1 April 2003
|-
| [[Sutherland|County of Sutherland]] || 1 April 2003
|}

===Sheriffdoms===
[[Sheriffdom]]s are judicial areas. Since 1 January 1975, these have been six in number:<ref>The Sheriffdoms Reorganisation Order 1974 S.I. 1974/2087 (S.191)</ref>

*[[Glasgow and Strathkelvin]]
*[[Grampian, Highland and Islands]]
*[[Sheriff Principal of Lothian and Borders|Lothian and Borders]]
*[[North Strathclyde]]
*[[South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway]]
*[[Tayside, Central and Fife]]

===Lieutenancy areas===
The [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland]] are the areas used for the ceremonial [[Lord Lieutenant|lord-lieutenants]], the [[British monarch|monarch]]'s representatives.  The areas are similar to the Historic Counties and the Registration Counties, but are not identical to either.  Most notably, the four cities of [[Aberdeen]], [[Dundee]], [[Edinburgh]], and [[Glasgow]] form separate areas from the surrounding countryside, with the [[Lord Provost]] of each city acting ''[[ex officio]]'' as the lord-lieutenant.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;"
|-
! colspan="2" | Lieutenancy areas of Scotland
|- valign=top
| {{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
#[[Aberdeen]]
#[[Aberdeenshire (historic)|Aberdeenshire]]
#[[Angus, Scotland|Angus]]
#[[Argyll and Bute]]
#[[Ayrshire and Arran]]
#[[Banffshire]]
#[[Berwickshire]]
#[[Caithness]]
#[[Clackmannanshire]]
#[[Dumfries]]
#[[Dunbartonshire]]
#[[Dundee]]
#[[East Lothian]]
#[[Edinburgh]]
#[[Fife]]
#[[Glasgow]]
#[[Lord Lieutenant of Inverness|Inverness]]
#[[Kincardineshire]]
#[[Lanarkshire]]
#[[Midlothian]]
#[[Moray]]
#[[Nairn (lieutenancy)|Nairn]]
#[[Perth and Kinross]]
#[[Renfrewshire (historic)|Renfrewshire]]
#[[Ross and Cromarty]]
#[[Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale]]
#[[Stirling and Falkirk]]
#[[Sutherland]]
#[[The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright]]
#[[Tweeddale]]
#[[West Lothian]]
#[[Western Isles]]
#[[Wigtown]]
'''Not shown:'''
* [[Orkney]]
* [[Shetland]]
}}
| [[File:ScotlandLieutenancies.png|350px]]
|}

=== Former police and fire services ===
The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 resulted in the merger of local [[police]] and [[fire department|fire services]] on 1 April 2013 to form the [[Police Scotland|Police Service of Scotland]] ([[Scottish Gaelic]]: {{lang|gd|Seirbheis Phoilis na h-Alba}}) and the [[Scottish Fire and Rescue Service]] (SFRS, Scottish Gaelic: {{lang|gd|Seirbheis Smàlaidh agus Teasairginn na h-Alba}}).

Prior to 1975 policing was the responsibility of the Cities and Burghs of Scotland (see [[List of burghs in Scotland]]).  Between 1975 and 2013 Scotland was subdivided into [[Police]] and [[firefighter|fire]] service areas based on the [[regions and districts (Scotland)|regions and districts]] and [[island council areas (Scotland)|island council areas]] that were also formed in 1975. The police and fire service regions used between 1975 and 2013 are listed below.

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Services
! Original area (former regions)
! Council areas
!Police Scotland Division<ref>{{Cite web |last=geo.fyi |date=2021-04-05 |title=Police Scotland Commands, Divisions and Subdivisions |url=https://geo.fyi/2021/04/05/police-scotland-commands-divisions-and-subdivisions/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=geo.fyi |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[Central Scotland Police]] <br /> [[Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service]]
| [[Central Region, Scotland|Central]]
| [[Clackmannanshire]], [[Falkirk (council area)|Falkirk]] and [[Stirling (council area)|Stirling]]
|Forth Valley (C Division)
|-
| [[Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary]] <br /> [[Dumfries and Galloway Fire and Rescue Service]]
| [[Dumfries and Galloway]]
| Dumfries and Galloway
|Dumfries & Galloway (V Division)
|-
| [[Fife Constabulary]] <br /> [[Fife Fire and Rescue Service]]
| [[Fife]]
| Fife
|Fife (P Division)
|-
| [[Grampian Police]] <br /> [[Grampian Fire and Rescue Service]]
| [[Grampian]]
| [[Aberdeen City (council area)|Aberdeen City]], [[Aberdeenshire]] and [[Moray]]
|Aberdeenshire (A Division)
|-
| [[Lothian and Borders Police]] <br /> [[Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service]]
| [[Lothian]]s and the [[Scottish Borders]]
| [[City of Edinburgh (council area)|City of Edinburgh]], [[East Lothian]], [[Midlothian]], [[Scottish Borders]], [[West Lothian]]
|Lothian & Borders (J Division)
Edinburgh City (E Division)
|-
| [[Northern Constabulary]] <br /> [[Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service]]
| [[Highland (council area)|Highland]], [[Orkney]], [[Shetland]] and [[Outer Hebrides|Western Isles]]
| Highland, [[Outer Hebrides|Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)]], Orkney <br /> and Shetland
|Highland & Islands (N Division)
|-
| [[Strathclyde Police]] <br /> [[Strathclyde Fire and Rescue]]
| [[Strathclyde]]
| [[Argyll and Bute]], [[East Ayrshire]], [[East Dunbartonshire]] <br /> [[East Renfrewshire]], [[Glasgow City (council area)|Glasgow City]], [[Inverclyde]], <br /> [[North Ayrshire]], [[North Lanarkshire]], [[Renfrewshire]], <br /> [[South Ayrshire]], [[South Lanarkshire]] and [[West Dunbartonshire]]
|Argyll & West Dunbartonshire (L Division)
Renfrewshire & Inverclyde (K Division)

Ayrshire (U Division)

Greater Glasgow (G Division)

Lanarkshire (Q Division)
|-
| [[Tayside Police]] <br /> [[Tayside Fire and Rescue Service]]
| [[Tayside]]
| [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]], [[Dundee City (council area)|Dundee City]] and [[Perth and Kinross|Perth & Kinross]]
|Tayside (D Division)
|}

==Lower level subdivisions==
{{see also|Local government in Scotland}}
Scotland is divided into [[List of civil parishes in Scotland|871 civil parishes]] which often resemble same-named but legally different ecclesiastical parishes. Although they have had no administrative function since 1930, they still exist and are still used for statistical purposes such as the census. Many former civil parish areas also continued to form [[registration district]]s until 1 January 2007. Many boundary changes have occurred over the years and an area currently derived from an old parish might no longer contain a place previously within that parish. Similarly, county boundaries (as still used for land registration) have also changed over the years such that a parish mentioned historically (generally before the 1860s) as being in one county (or sometimes two due to straddling a border) might now be in a neighbouring county and consequentially in a different succeeding council area.

For most administrative purposes, the base level of sub-division in Scotland is now that of [[Community council|communities]], which may elect ''community councils''. The main role of these bodies is to channel and reflect local opinion to other bodies; they otherwise have very limited powers. There are around 1,200 communities in Scotland. Not all communities have councils; some have joint councils.

Scottish communities are the nearest equivalent to [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]]es in England.

==See also==
*[[List of local governments in the United Kingdom]]
*[[ISO 3166-2:GB]], subdivision codes for the United Kingdom
*[[Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions]]
*[[Scottish Westminster constituencies]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Scottish subdivisions}}{{Geography of Scotland}}{{Scotland topics}}
{{UK subdivisions}}
{{List of Settlements in the UK}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Subdivisions of Scotland}}
[[Category:Administrative divisions of Scotland| ]]