INVERCLYDE’S council leader has pledged to raise the area’s depopulation problem with Scotland’s First Minister when they meet next month - after new figures showed the number of people living locally has once again declined.
The latest mid-year population estimates from National Records of Scotland show there were 78,550 people living in Inverclyde in June 2025, 190 fewer than the previous year.
The figures suggest the area's population decline would have been far steeper without people moving to Inverclyde from overseas.
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Council leader Stephen McCabe is set to meet First Minister John Swinney next month to discuss the huge number of jobs that have been lost locally in recent years.
He has confirmed that at that meeting he also intends to highlight the longstanding issues the area has faced due to its declining population.
Councillor McCabe said: "Any fall in the population is disappointing, although this one is fairly marginal.
"We have seen the population remain relatively stable over the past few years, but the numbers fluctuate from year to year.
"These figures do, however, demonstrate how reliant we are on net inward migration.
"If the fall in the past year was to become the norm it would be concerning as a falling population has implications for the viability of public services and local businesses.
"Population challenges are one of the issues I intend to highlight to the First Minister when he visits Inverclyde in August to discuss our local jobs crisis and how his government can assist us in bringing new quality jobs to the area."
During the last year there were 571 births but 1,092 deaths, meaning the area recorded a natural population decrease of 521 people.
However, this was offset by people moving to the area from elsewhere, with international migration the biggest driver.
The figures also underline the area's ageing population.
Around 22 per cent of residents are aged 65 or over, while 15.1 per cent are under 16.
Women continue to outnumber men, with an estimated 40,588 females living in Inverclyde compared with 37,962 males.
Across Scotland, the population increased slightly to around 5.5 million.
Martin McCluskey, MP for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West, said the figures ‘show the scale of the challenge Inverclyde is facing’.
He added: “For too long, we have seen young people and families leave the area because they do not always see the opportunities they need at home.
“Places like Dargavel have shown there is demand for new housing, we need to do more to make sure people can choose to stay in the area rather than having to move elsewhere to find a home, a job or build their future.”
Mr McCluskey highlighted the UK Government’s investment in local projects to regenerate Greenock’s town centre and revitalise Inchgreen Dry Dock.
He added: “Reversing this trend will require action at all levels.
“We need to build more homes for families, support local businesses and protect vital health services to attract new families to Inverclyde, as well as supporting the community that is already here.”
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