Scottish Emigration

In the 19th century, Scotland's population saw steady growth, increasing from 1,608,000 in 1801 to 2,889,000 in 1851 and reaching 4,472,000 by 1901. Despite industrial development, the availability of quality jobs could not keep pace with the growing population. Consequently, from 1841 to 1931, approximately 2 million Scots emigrated to North America and Australia, while another 750,000 relocated to England. This significant emigration resulted in Scotland losing a much higher proportion of its population compared to England and Wales, with up to 30.2 percent of its natural increase from the 1850s onwards being offset by emigration. Almost every Scottish family experienced the loss of members due to emigration, which predominantly involved young males, thereby affecting the country's sex and age ratios.

Scottish emigrants played crucial roles in the foundation and development of several countries. In the United States, notable Scots-born figures included cleric and revolutionary John Witherspoon, sailor John Paul Jones, industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, and scientist and inventor Alexander Graham Bell. In Canada, influential Scots included soldier and governor of Quebec James Murray, Prime Minister John A. Macdonald, and politician and social reformer Tommy Douglas. Australia's prominent Scots included soldier and governor Lachlan Macquarie, governor and scientist Thomas Brisbane, and Prime Minister Andrew Fisher. In New Zealand, significant Scots were politician Peter Fraser and outlaw James McKenzie. By the 21st century, the number of Scottish Canadians and Scottish Americans roughly equaled the five million people remaining in Scotland.