Why is Inverclyde experiencing a steady population decline?

FOR more than 20 years Inverclyde’s population has been declining and in a special series this week, Tele examines the impact this is having on the community.

Population size can impact the economy, job opportunities and finance, for example. And the Tele wants to shine a light on the region’s steady depopulation to stimulate discussion about why it matters, how it affects people’s lives and what possible solutions there are to improve the region’s prospects.

Our investigative reporter Norman Silvester spoke to business owners, entrepreneurs, travel industry representatives, estate agents, the local authority and many more to find out their views on depopulation and its impact on Inverclyde.

In the first discussions, it quickly became clear that traffic is a key problem that is causing problems for the entrepreneurs. They also have bold ideas about how important a solution is.

Our investigation is not intended to attack Inverclyde, Tele wants Inverclyde to thrive. And people are the most important part of that. So we want to know why people are leaving Inverclyde and what impact that is having.

A picture of depopulation

Figures from the Tele from National Records of Scotland and the Office for National Statistics paint a bleak picture of Inverclyde’s long-term population decline.

Since 1987, the area’s total population has declined, while Scotland’s population has increased over the same period.

Inverclyde suffered a decline of 8.9 percent between 2001 and 2021 and a decline of 5.6 percent between 2011 and 2021.

Inverclyde and Western Isles are the only two communities in Scotland where more people will leave their areas than move in by 2028.

In four years, Inverclyde’s population is expected to fall from 78,150 in 2018 to 73,418.

A decrease of 6.1 percent compared to an estimated increase of 1.8 for Scotland as a whole.

By 2037, Inverclyde’s population is expected to rise to 65,014, compared to 80,210 in 2013.

The current number is around 76,500, with the largest age group being the 45-64 age group.

In Inverclyde, too, the birth rate has declined in recent years.

In 2022, there were 654 compared to 902 in 2005.