Statistics of companies in UK

Companies population in Scotland

Number of companies in region Scotland is 567,716, which is 5.1% of all 11,170,551 companies in UK. Scotland is ranked 9th among 12 regions in the number of companies. Last update of company data was on 31/03/2025.

Companies location and business activity breakdown in Scotland

The region with the highest number of companies - 113,665 is Glasgow City. Orkney Islands has the lowest number of companies - 1,299. The top three most frequently registered business activities are Science - 14.7%, Wholesale, retail - 12.1% and Construction - 10.2%.

Number of companies by county 567,716 companies with data in Scotland

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Glasgow City
113,665
20.0%
City of Edinburgh
100,731
17.7%
South Lanarkshire
32,782
5.8%
Aberdeen City
32,684
5.8%
Fife
26,993
4.8%
North Lanarkshire
23,839
4.2%
Aberdeenshire
22,890
4.0%
Highland
20,629
3.6%
Dundee City
19,083
3.4%
Renfrewshire
16,186
2.9%
West Lothian
13,695
2.4%
Falkirk
12,124
2.1%
Perth and Kinross
11,267
2.0%
South Ayrshire
9,923
1.7%
East Renfrewshire
9,462
1.7%
Stirling
9,302
1.6%
East Ayrshire
9,166
1.6%
North Ayrshire
8,252
1.5%
East Dunbartonshire
8,096
1.4%
The Scottish Borders
7,718
1.4%
East Lothian
7,691
1.4%
Dumfries and Galloway
7,263
1.3%
Midlothian
6,988
1.2%
West Dunbartonshire
6,159
1.1%
Argyll and Bute
5,941
1.0%
Moray
5,878
1.0%
Angus
5,559
1.0%
Inverclyde
5,307
0.9%
Clackmannanshire
3,333
0.6%
Shetland Islands
1,911
0.3%
Eilean Siar
1,900
0.3%
Orkney Islands
1,299
0.2%

Business activity overview 511,871 companies with data in Scotland

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Science
83,691
14.7%
Wholesale, retail
68,747
12.1%
Construction
57,923
10.2%
Administrative
51,507
9.1%
Accommodation
47,626
8.4%
Real Estate
38,368
6.8%
ICT
36,881
6.5%
Service
32,928
5.8%
Manufacturing
25,446
4.5%
Transportation
16,820
3.0%
Arts
16,270
2.9%
Health
16,121
2.8%
Financial
13,126
2.3%
Dormant
12,635
2.2%
Education
9,235
1.6%
Agriculture
7,910
1.4%
Mining
5,299
0.9%
Energy
2,831
0.5%
Home
2,633
0.5%
Water
1,947
0.3%
Public
1,013
0.2%
Extraterritorial
158
0.0%

Industrial classification of companies in Scotland

The Standard Industrial Classification code (SIC code) is a system of classifying industries in UK by business activities. Each company can operate under multiple SIC codes. The top three business activities for the whole of the UK are Other business support service - 5.3%, Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate - 5.0% and Management consultancy exl. financial - 4.5%.

Distribution of companies by SIC CODE 511,871 companies with data in Scotland

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Companies population incorporation and dissolution trend in Scotland

The highest number of incorporated companies in any one month is 4,110 in in March 2023. There are usually fewer dissolved companies than incorporated, the highest number recorded being for September 2020 - 6,904 companies were dissolved.

Incorporation and dissolution of companies by month Scotland

Created with Highstock 6.2.02 7652 7652 8632 8632 5732 5731 6761 6762 3912 3913 3033 3033 7023 7023 0513 0513 6493 6493 2843 2843 1883 1882 4192 4192 7472 7473 1253 1253 7183 7183 2753 2752 8482 8482 8972 8972 4402 4402 8422 8422 8392 8392 7552 7552 8212 8212 3132 3132 9942 9943 1173 1173 6183 6182 8892 8893 2293 2292 9632 9632 7542 7543 2773 2772 9622 9622 9952 9953 1043 1042 1872 1873 1903 1903 3813 3814 1104 1103 2443 2443 4083 4083 2163 2163 2673 2673 5623 5623 3593 3593 3943 3943 3723 3722 6722 6723 6713 6713 9013 9013 9573 9574 0134 0133 2593 2592 7562 7563 1273 1273 2153 2153 1063 1063 2663 2663 0223 0222 4132 4133 2183 2183 5513 5513 9083 9082 0362 0361 9851 9852 2842 28437537591919494909080806 9046 9043 9753 9751 1511 1511 7521 7524 7674 7671071073 9223 9221 6921 6921 2911 2913 1743 1742 0542 0542 6912 6912 6062 6062 4172 4172 9032 9032 0082 0082 7412 7412 1622 1622 5752 5752 4862 4862 4232 4232 4162 4162 1622 1622 8072 8072 2642 2642 0592 0596206202 6242 6243 5773 5772 2422 2422 2002 2002 1022 1023 0283 0282 6582 6582 3762 3762 7982 7982 1712 1712 7302 7302 0662 0662 5602 5602 8812 8812 3782 3782 1512 1512 7292 7292 4172 4172 5002 5002 9622 9622 3462 3462 2412 2413 1103 1102 3462 3463 2493 2492 5422 5422 5522 5522 3942 394Incorporated companiesDissolved companiesJan 2020Mar 2020May 2020Jul 2020Sep 2020Nov 2020Jan 2021Mar 2021May 2021Jul 2021Sep 2021Nov 2021Jan 2022Mar 2022May 2022Jul 2022Sep 2022Nov 2022Jan 2023Mar 2023May 2023Jul 2023Sep 2023Nov 2023Jan 2024Mar 2024May 2024Jul 2024Sep 2024Nov 2024Jan 2025Mar 202502 5005 0007 500
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Persons with significant control
in companies in Scotland

Persons with Significant Control (PSC) have been registered in Companies House since April 2016. PSC have various functions, e.g. ownership of shares or voting rights. In this section we analyse companies with at least one Person with Significant Control from a foreign country.

Top countries with local PSCs in companies in Scotland

The most popular country, as regards to PSC origin, is Switzerland. In March 2025, there were 1,322 companies with at least one PCS from Switzerland. Other popular countries are Ukraine, United States and Russia.

Top 10 countries with local PSCs Scotland

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52152152152153153153153155155156156159159159159159159160160161161160160161161161161SwitzerlandUkraineUnited StatesRussiaPakistanChinaFranceIrelandCanadaGermanyApr 2016Jun 2016Aug 2016Oct 2016Dec 2016Feb 2017Apr 2017Jun 2017Aug 2017Oct 2017Dec 2017Feb 2018Apr 2018Jun 2018Aug 2018Oct 2018Dec 2018Feb 2019Apr 2019Jun 2019Aug 2019Oct 2019Dec 2019Feb 2020Apr 2020Jun 2020Aug 2020Oct 2020Dec 2020Feb 2021Apr 2021Jun 2021Aug 2021Oct 2021Dec 2021Feb 2022Apr 2022Jun 2022Aug 2022Oct 2022Dec 2022Feb 2023Apr 2023Jun 2023Aug 2023Oct 2023Dec 2023Feb 2024Apr 2024Jun 2024Aug 2024Oct 2024Dec 2024Feb 202505001 0001 500
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Percentage of companies with foreign PSCs being incorporated each month in the Scotland

The highest proportion of companies with a foreign PSC to be incorporated in one month was in October 2022 - 4.18%. Since 2017 the number of dissolutions has exceeded the number of new incorporations. The highest proportion to be dissolved in one month was 7.14% was in October 2016. The low number of dissolutions in 2016 is the result of only a small number of companies registering their PSC in Company House in that year.

Percentage of companies with foreign persons (PSC) incorporated and dissolved each month Scotland

Created with Highstock 6.2.00.64 %0.64 %0.67 %0.67 %0.86 %0.86 %1.04 %1.04 %1.70 %1.70 %0.97 %0.97 %1.51 %1.51 %0.69 %0.69 %0.98 %0.98 %0.89 %0.89 %0.70 %0.70 %1.06 %1.06 %1.21 %1.21 %0.62 %0.62 %1.87 %1.87 %1.52 %1.52 %1.30 %1.30 %2.18 %2.18 %2.28 %2.28 %2.59 %2.59 %1.86 %1.86 %1.44 %1.44 %2.30 %2.30 %2.87 %2.87 %1.32 %1.32 %1.80 %1.80 %3.43 %3.43 %1.02 %1.02 %0.81 %0.81 %0.83 %0.83 %2.27 %2.27 %1.61 %1.61 %1.73 %1.73 %0.81 %0.81 %2.47 %2.47 %0.97 %0.97 %1.36 %1.36 %0.84 %0.84 %1.90 %1.90 %1.12 %1.12 %2.50 %2.50 %1.01 %1.01 %0.87 %0.87 %2.78 %2.78 %1.34 %1.34 %0.69 %0.69 %0.89 %0.89 %0.81 %0.81 %0.87 %0.87 %1.13 %1.13 %2.28 %2.28 %0.64 %0.64 %0.64 %0.64 %1.20 %1.20 %0.85 %0.85 %2.60 %2.60 %1.16 %1.16 %0.83 %0.83 %2.51 %2.51 %1.36 %1.36 %1.26 %1.26 %2.86 %2.86 %1.32 %1.32 %1.28 %1.28 %2.53 %2.53 %0.87 %0.87 %0.83 %0.83 %1.43 %1.43 %4.12 %4.12 %1.51 %1.51 %1.09 %1.09 %2.64 %2.64 %0.68 %0.68 %1.34 %1.34 %2.91 %2.91 %1.05 %1.05 %2.56 %2.56 %0.80 %0.80 %4.18 %4.18 %2.20 %2.20 %2.40 %2.40 %0.90 %0.90 %2.72 %2.72 %1.71 %1.71 %0.99 %0.99 %1.37 %1.37 %1.50 %1.50 %2.69 %2.69 %1.75 %1.75 %1.32 %1.32 %2.60 %2.60 %1.27 %1.27 %3.02 %3.02 %2.22 %2.22 %1.66 %1.66 %1.09 %1.09 %1.16 %1.16 %1.48 %1.48 %1.41 %1.41 %2.48 %2.48 %0.86 %0.86 %0.96 %0.96 %0.94 %0.94 %1.72 %1.72 %3.43 %3.43 %1.10 %1.10 %0.69 %0.69 %2.19 %2.19 %0.00 %0.00 %0.00 %0.00 %7.14 %7.14 %0.00 %0.00 %0.00 %0.00 %2.25 %2.25 %3.30 %3.30 %0.80 %0.80 %0.00 %0.00 %1.07 %1.07 %0.41 %0.41 %2.41 %2.41 %1.53 %1.53 %3.11 %3.11 %0.89 %0.89 %1.82 %1.82 %0.67 %0.67 %1.18 %1.18 %2.03 %2.03 %2.40 %2.40 %2.04 %2.04 %2.06 %2.06 %1.42 %1.42 %1.87 %1.87 %1.38 %1.38 %1.63 %1.63 %1.64 %1.64 %2.02 %2.02 %1.72 %1.72 %1.46 %1.46 %1.93 %1.93 %2.35 %2.35 %1.42 %1.42 %1.92 %1.92 %0.90 %0.90 %1.06 %1.06 %1.98 %1.98 %1.09 %1.09 %1.05 %1.05 %1.23 %1.23 %1.54 %1.54 %0.77 %0.77 %1.37 %1.37 %1.06 %1.06 %2.26 %2.26 %2.86 %2.86 %0.00 %0.00 %0.00 %0.00 %3.23 %3.23 %0.90 %0.90 %1.00 %1.00 %0.79 %0.79 %0.90 %0.90 %1.13 %1.13 %5.71 %5.71 %1.15 %1.15 %1.62 %1.62 %0.77 %0.77 %1.60 %1.60 %0.73 %0.73 %1.23 %1.23 %1.02 %1.02 %0.69 %0.69 %0.79 %0.79 %0.46 %0.46 %1.21 %1.21 %1.29 %1.29 %1.14 %1.14 %1.13 %1.13 %1.03 %1.03 %1.06 %1.06 %0.89 %0.89 %0.69 %0.69 %1.35 %1.35 %0.94 %0.94 %1.04 %1.04 %1.35 %1.35 %1.29 %1.29 %1.54 %1.54 %1.53 %1.53 %1.11 %1.11 %1.01 %1.01 %2.02 %2.02 %1.56 %1.56 %1.35 %1.35 %0.95 %0.95 %1.08 %1.08 %1.24 %1.24 %1.54 %1.54 %2.24 %2.24 %1.23 %1.23 %1.13 %1.13 %2.79 %2.79 %1.25 %1.25 %1.21 %1.21 %1.40 %1.40 %1.76 %1.76 %1.40 %1.40 %2.40 %2.40 %2.19 %2.19 %1.12 %1.12 %2.04 %2.04 %1.71 %1.71 %3.08 %3.08 %Incorporated companiesDissolved companiesApr 2016Apr 2016Jun 2016Aug 2016Oct 2016Dec 2016Feb 2017Apr 2017Jun 2017Aug 2017Oct 2017Dec 2017Feb 2018Apr 2018Jun 2018Aug 2018Oct 2018Dec 2018Feb 2019Apr 2019Jun 2019Aug 2019Oct 2019Dec 2019Feb 2020Apr 2020Jun 2020Aug 2020Oct 2020Dec 2020Feb 2021Apr 2021Jun 2021Aug 2021Oct 2021Dec 2021Feb 2022Apr 2022Jun 2022Aug 2022Oct 2022Dec 2022Feb 2023Apr 2023Jun 2023Aug 2023Oct 2023Dec 2023Feb 2024Apr 2024Jun 2024Aug 2024Oct 2024Dec 2024Feb 20250.002.505.007.50
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