SCOTLAND'S population has soared to its highest level for 25 years.

However, Glasgow's population, at 581,940, is 1.5% down on 10 years ago.

Scotland's estimated population in June last year was 5,144,200 - up 27,300 on the previous year and the highest level since 1983.

Registrar General for Scotland Duncan Macniven said part of the reason was because there were 1100 more births than deaths - the first year this had happen since 1997 - but the rise was mostly due to migration.

"More than 63,000 people left Scotland but nearly 90,000 came here, mostly from the rest of the UK," he said.

"The net migration gain was over 26,000, with 9000 coming from the rest of the UK and 17,000 from overseas.

"That's the highest net in-migration figure since our records began in the early 1950s."

Migrants also helped to boost Scotland's birth rate. Mothers from eastern Europe accounted for a third of the increase in births in 2006-2007, although only one in 50 of all births in Scotland was to a mother from eastern Europe.

The Scottish Government figures show Scotland's population has increased by 1.6% since 2001, when the total was around five million.

In 2006-2007, 51,500 people came to Scotland from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, while 42,700 left Scotland to go in the opposite direction.

The net influx of 8800 was about the same as the previous year, although the numbers of people entering and leaving Scotland had both fallen.

Meanwhile, 37,800 people, including asylum seekers, came to Scotland from overseas and 21,000 left Scotland to go overseas. The net influx of 16,800 is the highest ever.

Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "An increasing population and a vibrant labour market have the potential to boost economic growth and help our nation prosper."