The number of Scots of pensionable age is set to increase by almost a third (31 per cent), to 1.29 million in coming years.

Such is the result of new research carried out by the General Register Office for Scotland, which states that the entire population of the country is projected to rise to a high of 5.37 million in 2031.

Other results include an expected increase in the number of Scottish people over the age of 75 of around 81 per cent to 690,000 in 2031.

Registrar general Duncan Macniven attributes recent migration to Scotland and an upsurge in births to a gradual increase in the country's population.

"We will still be an ageing nation. In 2031 we expect there will be 18 people over 75 for every 10 today," he added.

Last month, the Registrar General released a report stating that life expectancy from birth in Scotland has improved over the past decade to 74.6 years for men and 79.6 years for women.