33,333 companies formed

UK  669,855 companies formed in the UK in total View national statistics


Business population hits new record – but pace of company formation in Scotland slows

A record number of companies now operate in Scotland, with the total corporate population registered at Companies House standing at 246,862 at the end of 2018, up 3.7% on the close of the previous year.

Company formation in Scotland again reached respectable levels, with 33,333 new companies started in 2018. But these figures were behind those for each of the previous three years, suggesting something of a slowdown.

Glasgow again topped the figures, with 6,442 new companies formed. 5,482 companies were added in Edinburgh, 1,982 in South Lanarkshire, 1,749 in Aberdeen and 1,741 in Fife.

Our infographic below highlights some of the key facts about the trend to form a company in Scotland. It gives a visual breakdown of where companies are formed, and compares Scotland’s 2018 performance both with previous years and other nations of the UK.

Looking to form a company in Scotland? Use our straightforward online service to form a company.