The number of births registered from 1 April to 30 June this year was lower than average.
The new figures from National Records of Scotland show that the total number of births was 5.2% lower than the average, and the number of deaths was also 7.2% lower than the average.
There were 10,832 births compared to the quarter two average of 11,397 births.
And there were 14,461 deaths in the same time period, which is lower than the expected number of deaths – 15,577. (The expected number of deaths is an estimate which takes into account the growing and ageing population.)
For all broad age groups, the number of deaths was lower than the expected number for this quarter. Female deaths were 7.5% lower than the expected number and male deaths were 6.8% lower than expected.
These figures mask heartbreak among expectant parents with 40 stillbirths, just below the quarter two average of 41, and 32 infant deaths, lower than the quarter two average of 42.
Head of vital events statistics, Phillipa Haxton, said:“In quarter two of this year, 28% of all deaths were from cancer. Respiratory diseases, coronary heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias were each responsible for 10% of deaths. Taken together, those four groups caused almost 60% of deaths.”
There were 7,633 marriages. This was 0.3% higher than the quarter two average. Of these, 4.2% were same-sex marriages, compared with a five-year average of 3.5% of all marriages.
Since June 2021 mixed-sex couples have been able to form a civil partnership. Of the 223 civil partnerships registered in the second quarter of 2025, 85% involved mixed-sex couples. There were 34 same-sex civil partnerships, compared with an average of 28.
