SOUTH Ayrshire’s population has grown slightly, according to new figures from National Records of Scotland (NRS).

Statistics released this week estimated that there were 111,830 people living in the region on June 30, 2023, up 270 from the total 12 months previously.

Between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, there were 758 births recorded in the area and 1,685 deaths.

There was a net migration of 1,190 people into the area during this time, from an 'inflow' of 3,930 and an 'outflow' of 2,740.

The net migration into the area came mostly from within Scotland, with 870 people coming from the rest of the UK and 390 from abroad.

Net migration out of the area was also mostly to Scotland, with 510 heading to other parts of the UK and 220 abroad.

A further seven arrivals are listed under the ‘other changes’ section of the NRS data, which includes changes in the prison population and in armed forces personnel based in Scotland, as well as the effects of rounding.

At a national level, Scotland’s population rose faster than at any time since the 1940s.

The country’s population was at 5,490,100 on June 30 last year, according to the NRS mid-year population estimates for 2023.

That is up 43,100 from the middle of 2022, a 0.8 per cent increase, and the biggest jump in one year since 1946-1947.

NRS' head of demographic statistics, Esther Roughsedge, said: “The main driver of population growth over the year was people moving to Scotland from abroad and other parts of the UK.

"Almost two-thirds of people moving to Scotland came from outside the UK. We also saw a fall in the number of people leaving Scotland.

“Without migration into Scotland, the population would have fallen. Deaths outnumbered births by the highest amount on record. There were 19,100 more deaths than births.”