West Lothian: local statistics
West Lothian is a council area in Scotland, home to an estimated 187,240 people (mid-2025). This page brings together 8 official figures for the area, each with its period, publisher and the address it was read from. See also who has power over West Lothian, from the council up to the G20.
Key figures
What the figures show
An estimated 83.6% of people aged 16 to 64 living in West Lothian were in work in April 2025 to March 2026, according to the ONS Annual Population Survey (give or take 4.5 points), against 74.6% across Scotland. Over the 11 years shown it ranged from 71.9% to 83.6%.
A typical home in West Lothian cost £227,354 in July 2026, on the UK House Price Index, a rise of 2.3% in twelve months. Among council areas that puts it the 8th highest of all 32 council areas in Scotland; the average for Scotland was £196,349. This July figure is the highest in the series, 56% up on July 2016. Dividing the average price by the median annual pay of full-time employees living in West Lothian (£40,134) gives a ratio of 5.7. That ratio is the 9th highest ratio of all 32 council areas in Scotland.
The ONS estimates that 187,240 people lived in West Lothian in mid-2025, a change of +0.6% in a year. The ten-year change since mid-2015 is +5.7%; Scotland grew by 3.6% over the same years. That is the 7th fastest growth of 32 in Scotland. No earlier year in the series was higher.
Life expectancy at birth in West Lothian is 80.8 years for women and 77.3 years for men (2022 to 2024) (Scotland: 81.1 and 77.2). For women that is 0.3 years more than in 2012 to 2014; for men, 0.4 less. It is the 22nd highest for women of all 32 council areas in Scotland.
In March 2026, 6,240 VAT or PAYE-registered businesses were based in West Lothian, 8% more than in 2016. That is 33 for every 1,000 residents, mid-table in Scotland, 19th of 32.
2.7% of West Lothian residents aged 16 to 64 (3,230 people) were on the claimant count in August 2026; the rate for Scotland was 3.2%. That compares with 2.5% a year before. Since August 2021 the rate has ranged between 2.4% (January 2026) and 4.3% (August 2021).
Full-time employees living in West Lothian earned a median £768.90 a week in April 2025 (£40,134 a year). It is mid-table in Scotland, 16th of 32, and 0.9% less than across Scotland. Measured by where people work rather than where they live, the median is £762.10, £6.80 lower. In 2015 the residents' median was £502.30, so it has risen 53% before inflation.
History
Population (mid-year)
| 2015 | 177,060 |
| 2016 | 178,330 |
| 2017 | 179,080 |
| 2018 | 179,270 |
| 2019 | 179,740 |
| 2020 | 179,920 |
| 2021 | 180,850 |
| 2022 | 181,730 |
| 2023 | 184,250 |
| 2024 | 186,160 |
| 2025 | 187,240 |
Average house price (same month each year)
| July 2016 | £145,340 |
| July 2017 | £146,286 |
| July 2018 | £161,922 |
| July 2019 | £162,750 |
| July 2020 | £168,256 |
| July 2021 | £185,421 |
| July 2022 | £206,824 |
| July 2023 | £207,534 |
| July 2024 | £212,494 |
| July 2025 | £222,317 |
| July 2026 | £227,354 |
Median weekly pay, residents
| 2015 | £502.30 a week |
| 2016 | £508.10 a week |
| 2017 | £519.00 a week |
| 2018 | £547.20 a week |
| 2019 | £568.60 a week |
| 2020 | £585.10 a week |
| 2021 | £602.50 a week |
| 2022 | £634.60 a week |
| 2023 | £702.90 a week |
| 2024 | £722.70 a week |
| 2025 | £768.90 a week |
Employment rate
| 2015/16 | 73.3% |
| 2016/17 | 75.8% |
| 2017/18 | 76.8% |
| 2018/19 | 76.7% |
| 2019/20 | 78.6% |
| 2020/21 | 71.9% |
| 2021/22 | 75.3% |
| 2022/23 | 76.9% |
| 2023/24 | 71.9% |
| 2024/25 | 74.1% |
| 2025/26 | 83.6% |
Life expectancy, women
| 2012 to 2014 | 80.5 years |
| 2013 to 2015 | 80.8 years |
| 2014 to 2016 | 80.7 years |
| 2015 to 2017 | 80.9 years |
| 2016 to 2018 | 80.7 years |
| 2017 to 2019 | 80.8 years |
| 2018 to 2020 | 80.3 years |
| 2019 to 2021 | 80.4 years |
| 2020 to 2022 | 80.5 years |
| 2021 to 2023 | 80.8 years |
| 2022 to 2024 | 80.8 years |
Registered businesses
| 2016 | 5,785 |
| 2017 | 5,895 |
| 2018 | 5,965 |
| 2019 | 6,060 |
| 2020 | 6,015 |
| 2021 | 5,955 |
| 2022 | 5,880 |
| 2023 | 5,840 |
| 2024 | 5,955 |
| 2025 | 6,085 |
| 2026 | 6,240 |
Questions about West Lothian
What is the average house price in West Lothian?
£227,354 in July 2026, on HM Land Registry's UK House Price Index (+2.3% on a year).
What is the population of West Lothian?
The ONS estimates 187,240 people lived in West Lothian in mid-2025.
What is life expectancy in West Lothian?
For 2022 to 2024 the ONS gives 77.3 years for men and 80.8 for women.
How many people claim unemployment-related benefits in West Lothian?
The ONS claimant count was 3,230 in August 2026, 2.7% of 16 to 64-year-olds. It counts benefit claims, not unemployment.
What is the average salary in West Lothian?
Median pay for full-time employees living in West Lothian was £768.90 a week in April 2025 (£40,134 a year), from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.
Who has power over West Lothian
Every body that makes decisions for West Lothian, from the street up to the G20. Each one links to its page on the official record. How the ten levels work.
Level 1: Neighbourhood and community power
Residents' and tenants' groups, neighbourhood forums and local policing panels.
Level 2: Parish, town and community councils
Community councils, where the area has them, sit below the council.
Level 3: Local councils
- West Lothian council spending, reserves, debt and council tax
- West Lothian in official figures this page
Level 5: Devolved and state governments
- Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government makes law for Scotland on devolved subjects
Level 6: National government
- Bathgate and Linlithgow: Kirsteen Sullivan (Labour (Co-op)) MP
- Livingston: Gregor Poynton (Labour) MP
- All 650 MPs votes, interests and costs
- UK government and Parliament official figures and sources
Level 7: Regional blocs and supranational bodies
- Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights (CoE / ECtHR) The UK Government says the United Kingdom was one of the Council of Europe's founding members.
Level 8: The UN and global treaty bodies
- United Nations (General Assembly and Security Council) The UN lists the United Kingdom as a member admitted on 24 October 1945.
- United Nations Security Council (UNSC) The UK is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council and holds the veto, according to the UN.
- NATO NATO lists the United Kingdom among its 12 founding members, which signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, D.C.
- World Health Organization (WHO) WHO's list of member states includes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
- World Trade Organization (WTO) The WTO says the United Kingdom has been a WTO member since 1 January 1995 and a member of GATT since 1 January 1948.
- Commonwealth of Nations The UK is one of the 56 members, one of three European members with Cyprus and Malta, and the Commonwealth Secretariat is headquartered at Marlborough House in London.
Level 9: The IMF, World Bank and global finance
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) The UK has been a member since 27 December 1945 and has a quota of SDR 20,155.1 million (IMF country page for the United Kingdom).
- World Bank Group (WBG) The UK holds 3.75% of voting power in the IBRD (data as of 30 June 2026) and 6.92% in IDA (as of 30 June 2026), according to the World Bank's voting tables.
Level 10: G7, G20, Davos and global forums
Sources
Each value above links to the official file or query it was read from, on 14 October 2026. What each figure measures.
- Average house price: Scottish figures come from Registers of Scotland.
More on this area and these figures
- Council money: spending, reserves and debt
- Figures for Scotland
- UK figures: UK employment rate · UK average house price · UK population
- Other council areas in Scotland: Aberdeen City · Dumfries and Galloway · Dundee City · Falkirk · Perth and Kinross · Renfrewshire
Related questions
- What is the average house price in my area?
- What is the population of my area?
- How healthy is my area?
- What is the unemployment rate in my area?
- How do I check my council tax band?
Figures checked 14 October 2026. Link moved or figure out of date? Tell us.