An increasing number of Scots are living for more than a century, according to new figures.

There were estimated to be 850 people in Scotland who reached the 100-year milestone in 2013, up from 530 a decade earlier.

The vast majority were women, who accounted for 720 (85%) of Scotland's centenarians.

Figures show that while more men are living into their 90s, almost three-quarters (72%) of people aged 90 to 99 are women.

National Records of Scotland estimated the number of centenarians using information from the 2011 census.

Chief executive Tim Ellis said: "In 2013 there were 18 male centenarians per hundred female centenarians, an increase from 13 in 2003, indicating a narrowing of the gap in mortality between men and women for this age group.

"Estimates of the number of people aged 90 to 99 show relatively big increases between 2010 and 2012.

"This is partly due to births in the years following the First World War being much higher than in the preceding years.

"The number of births in 1920 was the highest since the introduction of national registration in 1855."

Experts attribute the rise in the number of centenarians to increased survival rates as the result of improvements in hygiene, sanitation, medical treatment, housing and general living standards.