Scottish Cities

Homeless deaths
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This chart shows the estimated homeless death rate in the four largest cities in Scotland, in 2020. Glasgow had the highest homeless death rate of the four cities, at 94.8, and Dundee had the lowest rate among the cities, at 41.7. Both Glasgow and Edinburgh were above the Scottish average of 61.9, with Aberdeen and Dundee below this average.

Across Scotland, estimated homeless death rates were higher for males than females, and highest in the age group 35-44. The majority of the deaths recorded (59%) were drug related, and 7% were recorded as suicide.

Notes

These figures are experimental. They are derived from counting death registration records where the person was living in temporary accommodation or sleeping rough before they died. An estimate is then added, as this is likely to undercount the true number of deaths of people experiencing homelessness. Rates are then calculated per million population – using the full adult population (aged 15-74), not only the homeless population.

These figures were updated in September 2022.