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Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas

{{short description|Present or former administrative subdivisions of Scotland}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}

{{Infobox subdivision type

| name = Council areas of Scotland

| alt_name =

| map = {{Location map+|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|width=300px|caption=|position=center|places =

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|59.75|-1.75}}|position=right|label={{center|Shetland}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|58.9|-2.65}}|position=right|label={{center|Orkney}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|57.81|-3.71}}|position=right|label={{center|Moray}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|57.8|-2.50}}|position=right|label={{center|Aberdeenshire}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|57.16|-2.24}}|position=right|label={{center|Aberdeen City}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|56.63|-2.52}}|position=right|label={{center|Angus}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|56.40|-1.51}}|position=right|label={{center|Dundee
City}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|56.34|-2.66}}|position=right|label={{center|Fife}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|55.31|-2.65}}|position=right|label={{center|Scottish Borders}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|54.81|-3.61}}|position=right|label={{center|Dumfries and Galloway}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|54.57|-5.45}}|position=right|label={{center|East Ayrshire}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|54.97|-7.49}}|position=right|label={{center|South Ayrshire}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|55.95|-7.83}}|position=right|label={{center|Argyll and Bute}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|56.4|-8.82}}|position=right|label={{center|Perth
and
Kinross}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|58.1|-8.67}}|position=right|label={{center|Outer Hebrides}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|58.72|-5.72}}|position=right|label={{center|Highland}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|59.77|-8.66}}|position=right|label={{center|N.
Ayrsh.}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.12|-8.52}}|position=right|label={{center|IVC}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|59.92|-8.0}}|position=right|label={{center|RFW}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.24|-8.01}}|position=right|label={{center|WDU}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.22|-7.2}}|position=right|label={{center|EDU}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|59.97|-7.30}}|position=right|label={{center|GLG}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|59.7|-7.63}}|position=right|label={{center|ERW}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.1|-6.61}}|position=right|label={{left|North Lanarkshire}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.32|-6.13}}|position=right|label={{center|Falk.}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.18|-5.58}}|position=right|label={{center|W.
Loth.}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.17|-4.8}}|position=right|label={{center|EDH}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.02|-4.45}}|position=right|label={{center|Mid-
lothian}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.3|-3.65}}|position=right|label={{center|East
Lothian}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.72|-6.0}}|position=right|label={{center|CLK}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|60.68|-7.4}}|position=right|label={{center|Stirling}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|UK Scotland subdivisions 1996|coordinates = {{coord|59.59|-6.85}}|position=right|label={{center|South Lanarkshire}}|marksize=0|label_size=80}}

}}

| category = Administrative unit

| territory = Scotland

| start_date =

| current_number = 32

| number_date =

| population_range = {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000023}} (Orkney Islands) – {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000049}} (Glasgow)

| area_range = {{Convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000042}}|km2|abbr=on}} (Dundee) – {{Convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000017}}|km2|abbr=on}} (Highland)

| government = Council government

| subdivision = None

}}

{{Politics of Scotland}}

For local government purposes, Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" ({{langx|gd|comhairlean}}), which are all governed by single-tier authorities designated as "councils".{{Cite web |title=Local government facts and figures: Scotland |url=https://lgiu.org/local-government-facts-and-figures-scotland/ |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=lgiu.org |language=en-GB}} They have the option under the Local Government (Gaelic Names) (Scotland) Act 1997{{Cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1997/1997006.htm|title=Local Government (Gaelic Names) (Scotland) Act 1997}} of being known (but not re-designated) as a "comhairle" when opting for a Gaelic name; only Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Council of the Western Isles) has chosen this option, whereas the Highland Council (Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd) has adopted its Gaelic form alongside its English equivalent, informally.

The council areas have been in existence since 1 April 1996, under the provisions of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. Historically, Scotland was divided into 34 counties or shires. Although these no longer have any administrative function, they are still used to some extent in Scotland for cultural and geographical purposes, and some of the current council areas are named after them. There are also a number of other administrative divisions, some of which are handled by joint boards of the councils.

At the most local level, Scotland is divided into civil parishes, which are now used only for statistical purposes such as the census. The lowest level of administrative subdivision are the communities, which may elect community councils.

History of the subdivisions of Scotland

{{further|Burgh#History|History of local government in Scotland}}

Traditionally burghs have been the key unit of the local government of Scotland, being highly autonomous entities, with rights to representation in the old Parliament of Scotland. Even after the Acts of Union 1707, burghs continued to be the principal subdivision. Until 1889, administration was on a burgh and parish basis.

The years following 1889 saw the introduction of a hierarchy of local government administration comprising counties, counties of cities, large burghs and small burghs.

With effect from 16 May 1975 and until 31 March 1996 the local government divisions of Scotland consisted of an upper tier of regions each containing a lower tier of districts except for the single-tier island council areas. Since 1996 there has only been a single tier of government, and the former island council areas are of equal status to the other councils.

Council areas

{{sticky header}}{{static row numbers}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! class="unsortable" |Coat of arms

! Council area

! Council

! Population ({{UK subdivision statistics year}}){{UK subdivision statistics citation}}

! Area (km2)

! Administrative centre

align="center" | 40px

|align="left" | Aberdeen City

|align="left" | Aberdeen City Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000033}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000033}}

|align="center" | Aberdeen

align="center" | –

|align="left" | Aberdeenshire

|align="left" | Aberdeenshire Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000034}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000034}}

|align="center" | Aberdeen

align="center" | 20px

|align="left" | Angus

|align="left" | Angus Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000041}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000041}}

|align="center" | Forfar

align="center" | 20px

|align="left" | Argyll and Bute

|align="left" | Argyll and Bute Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000035}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000035}}

|align="center" | Lochgilphead

align="center" | 20px

|align="left" | Clackmannanshire

|align="left" | Clackmannanshire Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000005}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000005}}

|align="center" | Alloa

align="center" | 40px

|align="left" | Dumfries and Galloway

|align="left" | Dumfries and Galloway Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000006}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000006}}

|align="center" | Dumfries

align="center" | 40px

|align="left" | Dundee City

|align="left" | Dundee City Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000042}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000042}}

|align="center" | Dundee

align="center" | 40px

|align="left" | East Ayrshire

|align="left" | East Ayrshire Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000008}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000008}}

|align="center" | Kilmarnock

align="center" | 40px

|align="left" | East Dunbartonshire

|align="left" | East Dunbartonshire Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000045}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000045}}

|align="center" | Kirkintilloch

align="center" | 20px

|align="left" | East Lothian

|align="left" | East Lothian Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000010}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000010}}

|align="center" | Haddington

align="center" | –

|align="left" | East Renfrewshire

|align="left" | East Renfrewshire Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000011}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000011}}

|align="center" | Giffnock

align="center" | 40px

|align="left" | City of Edinburgh

|align="left" | City of Edinburgh Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000036}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000036}}

|align="center" | Edinburgh

align="center" | 20px

|align="left" | Falkirk

|align="left" | Falkirk Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000014}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000014}}

|align="center" | Falkirk

align="center" | 40px

|align="left" | Fife

|align="left" | Fife Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000047}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000047}}

|align="center" | Glenrothes

align="center" | 40px

|align="left" | Glasgow City

|align="left" | Glasgow City Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000049}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000049}}

|align="center" | Glasgow

align="center" | 40px

|align="left" | Highland

|align="left" | Highland Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000017}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000017}}

|align="center" | Inverness

align="center" | 20px

|align="left" | Inverclyde

|align="left" | Inverclyde Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000018}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000018}}

|align="center" | Greenock

align="center" | 40px

|align="left" | Midlothian

|align="left" | Midlothian Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000019}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000019}}

|align="center" | Dalkeith

align="center" | 20px

|align="left" | Moray

|align="left" | Moray Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000020}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000020}}

|align="center" | Elgin

align="center" | 40px

|align="left" | Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)

|align="left" | Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000013}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000013}}

|align="center" | Stornoway

align="center" | 20px

|align="left" | North Ayrshire

|align="left" | North Ayrshire Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000021}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000021}}

|align="center" | Irvine

align="center" | 20px

|align="left" | North Lanarkshire

|align="left" | North Lanarkshire Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000050}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000050}}

|align="center" | Motherwell

align="center" |

|align="left" | Orkney

|align="left" | Orkney Islands Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000023}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000023}}

|align="center" | Kirkwall

align="center" | 40px

|align="left" | Perth and Kinross

|align="left" | Perth and Kinross Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000048}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000048}}

|align="center" | Perth

align="center" | 20px

|align="left" | Renfrewshire

|align="left" | Renfrewshire Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000038}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000038}}

|align="center" | Paisley

align="center" |

|align="left" | Scottish Borders

|align="left" | Scottish Borders Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000026}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000026}}

|align="center" | Newtown St Boswells

align="center" |

|align="left" | Shetland Islands

|align="left" | Shetland Islands Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000027}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000027}}

|align="center" | Lerwick

align="center" | 40px

|align="left" | South Ayrshire

|align="left" | South Ayrshire Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000028}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000028}}

|align="center" | Ayr

align="center" | 20px

|align="left" | South Lanarkshire

|align="left" | South Lanarkshire Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000029}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000029}}

|align="center" | Hamilton

align="center" |

|align="left" | Stirling

|align="left" | Stirling Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000030}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000030}}

|align="center" | Stirling

align="center" | 20px

|align="left" | West Dunbartonshire

|align="left" | West Dunbartonshire Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000039}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000039}}

|align="center" | Dumbarton

align="center" | 40px

|align="left" | West Lothian

|align="left" | West Lothian Council

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000040}}

|align="center" | {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000040}}

|align="center" | Livingston

{{clear}}

Other subdivisions

Scotland has several other administrative divisions, some of which are handled by joint boards of the councils.

=Electoral and valuation=

There are several joint boards for electoral registration and the purposes of property valuation for assessing council tax and rates.{{Cite web|url=https://www.saa.gov.uk/|title=Scottish Assessors – Scottish Assessors Association website}}

class="wikitable"
Joint board areaCouncil areas
AyrshireEast Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire
Borders

|Scottish Borders

Central ScotlandClackmannanshire, Falkirk, Stirling
Dumfries and Galloway

|Dumfries and Galloway

Dunbartonshire and Argyll & ButeArgyll and Bute, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire
Fife

|Fife

GrampianAberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Moray
Glasgow

|Glasgow City

Highlands and Islands

|Highland and Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)

LanarkshireNorth Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire
LothianEast Lothian, City of Edinburgh, Midlothian, West Lothian
Orkney and Shetland

|Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands

RenfrewshireEast Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire
TaysideAngus, Dundee City, Perth and Kinross

=Health=

See also NHS Scotland

Class=wikitable
Health board area

! Council areas

Ayrshire and Arran

| East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire

Borders

| Scottish Borders

Dumfries and Galloway

| Dumfries and Galloway

Fife

| Fife

Forth Valley

| Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling

Grampian

| Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City and Moray

Greater Glasgow and Clyde

| Glasgow City, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire,
Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire

Highland

| Argyll and Bute and Highland

Lanarkshire

| North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire

Lothian

| City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian

Orkney

| Orkney Islands

Shetland

| Shetland Islands

Tayside

| Angus, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross

Western Isles (Eileanan Siar)

| Western Isles (Na h-Eileanan Siar)

Until 1 April 2014 the towns of Cambuslang and Rutherglen were in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area despite being located in South Lanarkshire. They are now part of NHS Lanarkshire.

=Transport=

{{see also|Transport Scotland}}

The Scottish Government has created seven "Regional Transport Partnerships", for establishing transport policy in the regions. They broadly follow council area groupings.

Class=wikitable
RTP area

! Council areas

NESTRANS

| Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

TACTRAN

| Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Stirling

HITRANS

| Argyll and Bute (except Helensburgh and Lomond), Highland, Moray, Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles), Orkney

ZetTrans

| Shetland

SEStran

| Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, East Lothian, Falkirk, Midlothian, Fife, Scottish Borders, West Lothian

SWESTRANS

| Dumfries and Galloway

SPT

| Argyll and Bute (Helensburgh and Lomond only), West Dunbartonshire, East Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire

=Eurostat NUTS=

In the Eurostat Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS), Scotland is a level-1 NUTS region, coded "UKM", which is subdivided as follows:{{cite web| url=https://boundaries.scot/sites/default/files/NUTS_LAU_Scotland.pdf | title=Information Paper - European statistical areas (NUTS and LAU) in Scotland| publisher=Boundaries Scotland | year=2022}}

class="wikitable"
style="background:gold; text-align:left;"

! NUTS 1

! Code

! NUTS 2

! Code

! NUTS 3

! Code

Scotland

| UKM

| rowspan=8 | Eastern Scotland

| rowspan=8 | UKM2

| Angus and Dundee

| UKM21

rowspan="22" colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 240px

240px

| Clackmannanshire and Fife

| UKM22

East Lothian and Midlothian

| UKM23

Scottish Borders

| UKM24

Edinburgh

| UKM25

Falkirk

| UKM26

Perth and Kinross, and Stirling

| UKM27

West Lothian

| UKM28

rowspan=8 | South Western Scotland

| rowspan=8 | UKM3

| East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, and Helensburgh and Lomond

| UKM31

Dumfries and Galloway

| UKM32

East and North Ayrshire mainland

| UKM33

Glasgow

| UKM34

Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, and Renfrewshire

| UKM35

North Lanarkshire

| UKM36

South Ayrshire

| UKM37

South Lanarkshire

| UKM38

North Eastern Scotland

| UKM5

| Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

| UKM50

rowspan=6 | Highlands and Islands

| rowspan=6 | UKM6

| Caithness and Sutherland, and Ross and Cromarty

| UKM61

Inverness, Nairn, Moray, and Badenoch and Strathspey

| UKM62

Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh, Arran and Cumbrae, and Argyll and Bute (except Helensburgh and Lomond)

| UKM63

Eilean Siar (Western Isles)

| UKM64

Orkney Islands

| UKM65

Shetland Islands

| UKM66

=Land registration=

The current land registration system in Scotland divides Scotland into 33 Registration Counties,Registers of Scotland publication - Land Register Counties and Operational Dates each coming into effect on various dates between 1981 and 2003. These areas in most cases resemble those of the pre-1975 administrative counties with Glasgow being the only current city to form a registration county.

class="wikitable"
Registration county || Operational from
County of Renfrew6 April 1981
County of Dunbarton4 October 1982
County of Lanark3 January 1984
County of the Barony and Regality of Glasgow30 September 1985
County of Clackmannan1 October 1992
County of Stirling1 April 1993
County of West Lothian1 October 1993
County of Fife1 April 1995
County of Aberdeen1 April 1996
County of Kincardine1 April 1996
County of Ayr1 April 1997
County of Dumfries1 April 1997
County of Kirkcudbright1 April 1997
County of Wigtown1 April 1997
County of Angus1 April 1999
County of Kinross1 April 1999
County of Perth1 April 1999
County of Berwick1 October 1999
County of East Lothian1 October 1999
County of Peebles1 October 1999
County of Roxburgh1 October 1999
County of Selkirk1 October 1999
County of Argyll1 April 2000
County of Bute1 April 2000
County of Midlothian1 April 2001
County of Inverness1 April 2002
County of Nairn1 April 2002
County of Banff1 April 2003
County of Caithness1 April 2003
County of Moray1 April 2003
Counties of Orkney and Zetland1 April 2003
County of Ross and Cromarty1 April 2003
County of Sutherland1 April 2003

=Sheriffdoms=

Sheriffdoms are judicial areas. Since 1 January 1975, these have been six in number:The Sheriffdoms Reorganisation Order 1974 S.I. 1974/2087 (S.191)

=Lieutenancy areas=

The Lieutenancy areas of Scotland are the areas used for the ceremonial lord-lieutenants, the monarch's representatives. The areas are similar to the Historic Counties and the Registration Counties, but are not identical to either. Most notably, the four cities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow form separate areas from the surrounding countryside, with the Lord Provost of each city acting ex officio as the lord-lieutenant.

class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;"
colspan="2" | Lieutenancy areas of Scotland
valign=top

| {{columns-list|colwidth=30em|

  1. Aberdeen
  2. Aberdeenshire
  3. Angus
  4. Argyll and Bute
  5. Ayrshire and Arran
  6. Banffshire
  7. Berwickshire
  8. Caithness
  9. Clackmannanshire
  10. Dumfries
  11. Dunbartonshire
  12. Dundee
  13. East Lothian
  14. Edinburgh
  15. Fife
  16. Glasgow
  17. Inverness
  18. Kincardineshire
  19. Lanarkshire
  20. Midlothian
  21. Moray
  22. Nairn
  23. Perth and Kinross
  24. Renfrewshire
  25. Ross and Cromarty
  26. Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale
  27. Stirling and Falkirk
  28. Sutherland
  29. The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright
  30. Tweeddale
  31. West Lothian
  32. Western Isles
  33. Wigtown

Not shown:

}}

| 350px

= Former police and fire services =

The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 resulted in the merger of local police and fire services on 1 April 2013 to form the Police Service of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: {{lang|gd|Seirbheis Phoilis na h-Alba}}) and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS, Scottish Gaelic: {{lang|gd|Seirbheis Smàlaidh agus Teasairginn na h-Alba}}).

Prior to 1975 policing was the responsibility of the Cities and Burghs of Scotland (see List of burghs in Scotland). Between 1975 and 2013 Scotland was subdivided into Police and fire service areas based on the regions and districts and island council areas that were also formed in 1975. The police and fire service regions used between 1975 and 2013 are listed below.

class="wikitable"
Services

! Original area (former regions)

! Council areas

!Police Scotland Division{{Cite web |last=geo.fyi |date=2021-04-05 |title=Police Scotland Commands, Divisions and Subdivisions |url=https://geo.fyi/2021/04/05/police-scotland-commands-divisions-and-subdivisions/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=geo.fyi |language=en}}

Central Scotland Police
Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service

| Central

| Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling

|Forth Valley (C Division)

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary
Dumfries and Galloway Fire and Rescue Service

| Dumfries and Galloway

| Dumfries and Galloway

|Dumfries & Galloway (V Division)

Fife Constabulary
Fife Fire and Rescue Service

| Fife

| Fife

|Fife (P Division)

Grampian Police
Grampian Fire and Rescue Service

| Grampian

| Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray

|Aberdeenshire (A Division)

Lothian and Borders Police
Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service

| Lothians and the Scottish Borders

| City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders, West Lothian

|Lothian & Borders (J Division)

Edinburgh City (E Division)

Northern Constabulary
Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service

| Highland, Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles

| Highland, Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles), Orkney
and Shetland

|Highland & Islands (N Division)

Strathclyde Police
Strathclyde Fire and Rescue

| Strathclyde

| Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire
East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde,
North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire,
South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire

|Argyll & West Dunbartonshire (L Division)

Renfrewshire & Inverclyde (K Division)

Ayrshire (U Division)

Greater Glasgow (G Division)

Lanarkshire (Q Division)

Tayside Police
Tayside Fire and Rescue Service

| Tayside

| Angus, Dundee City and Perth & Kinross

|Tayside (D Division)

Lower level subdivisions

{{see also|Local government in Scotland}}

Scotland is divided into 871 civil parishes which often resemble same-named but legally different ecclesiastical parishes. Although they have had no administrative function since 1930, they still exist and are still used for statistical purposes such as the census. Many former civil parish areas also continued to form registration districts until 1 January 2007. Many boundary changes have occurred over the years and an area currently derived from an old parish might no longer contain a place previously within that parish. Similarly, county boundaries (as still used for land registration) have also changed over the years such that a parish mentioned historically (generally before the 1860s) as being in one county (or sometimes two due to straddling a border) might now be in a neighbouring county and consequentially in a different succeeding council area.

For most administrative purposes, the base level of sub-division in Scotland is now that of communities, which may elect community councils. The main role of these bodies is to channel and reflect local opinion to other bodies; they otherwise have very limited powers. There are around 1,200 communities in Scotland. Not all communities have councils; some have joint councils.

Scottish communities are the nearest equivalent to civil parishes in England.

See also

References

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{{Scottish subdivisions}}{{Geography of Scotland}}{{Scotland topics}}

{{UK subdivisions}}

{{List of Settlements in the UK}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Subdivisions of Scotland}}