Children on the child protection register

On 31 July 2025, 2,087 children were on the child protection register, a 1% decrease on the number in 2024 (2,111) and a 24% decrease compared to the same time in 2015 (2,741).

The number of children on the child protection register has been fairly stable over the last four years, following a reduction from 2,877 in 2014 to 2,641 in 2020 and then dropping more sharply to 2,119 in 2021 (Chart 1).

The number of children on the child protection register is slightly higher than it was in the years 2000-2002, but lower than in all other years between 2003 and 2020.

Chart 1: Number of children on the Child Protection Register by age, 2000-2025 [Note 1]

[Note 1] Prior to 2011 figures are as at 31st March. From 2012 onwards figures are as at 31st July.

Of those children on the child protection register on 31 July, 51% were male, 45% were female, and 4% of children were not yet born (Table 1.1). The proportion of children on the register under the age of 5 years was 45%, slightly lower than in 2024 (47%) and lower than 51% in 2015. The proportion of children on the register in 2025 aged 5 years and over was 55% compared to 53% in 2024 and 49% in 2015.

While the number of children aged 5 years and over remained relatively stable between 2000 and 2020 and falling after that, there was a steady increase in the number of children under the age of 5 years on the child protection register prior to 2014. This was then followed by an overall decline in the years since.

Table 1.1 Number and percentage of children on the child protection register by sex and age, 31 July 2015-2025

On 31 July 2025, Scotland’s rate per 1,000 children (0-17 years) on the Child Protection Register was 2.0 (Table 1.2). The rate of children on the register ranged between 0.4 per 1,000 in East Renfrewshire to 4.8 per 1,000 in East Ayrshire. Between 2014-15 and 2024-25, Clackmannanshire has shown the largest decrease in rate of children on the Child Protection Register, from 5.6 per 1,000 to 3.0 per 1,000. Conversely, West Dunbartonshire has had the largest increase in rate of children on the Child Protection Register, from 0.9 per 1,000 in 2014-15 to 3.7 per 1,000 in 2024-25.

Table 1.2 Number and rate per 1,000 children on the Child Protection Register by local authority, 31 July 2015-2025 [Note 1], [Note 2], [Note 3]

[Note 1] Rate per 1,000 children for 2025 is calculated using NRS mid 2024 estimates (0-17 years). 

[Note 2] The rate shown in this table includes children who are on the register.

[Note 3] Rate per 1,000 for years prior to 2024 will not match previous publications, as ratese have been recalculated, changing from 0-15 years to 0-17 years for the last two publications.