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Publication - Statistics

Children’s Social Work Statistics: Looked After Children 2023/24

Published
22 April 2025
From
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, +1 more … Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise
Directorate
Children and Families Directorate

Looked After Children Statistics for Scotland for 2023/24 that cover data on children who are looked after, young people in continuing care, and young people eligible for aftercare services.

Please note that the Publication Tables and Additional Tables Excel documents were revised on 24 April 2025. See Contents pages for detail of tables subject to revision.

Part of

Supporting documents

Looked After Children 

  • On 31 July 2024, 11,844 children were looked after – down 2% since 31 July 2023 (12,084) and down 24% since 2013-14 (15,600).
  • The rate of children looked after per 1,000 children was 11.7 in 2024. This is the lowest rate since 2005.
  • A total of 2,313 looked after children were looked after at home on 31 July 2024. This is down 5% on 31 July 2023 and down 44% on 2013-14. This accounts for 20% of looked after children.
  • On 31 July 2024, the most common placements away from home were kinship care (35%), foster care (32%), and residential accommodation (11%).
  • During 2023-24, 3,105 children started to be looked after – down 1% since 2022-23 (3,133) and down 28% since 2013-14 (4,295).
  • A total of 3,398 children ceased to be looked after during 2023-24 – down 3% since 2022-23 (3,494) and down 28% since 2013-14 (4,696).
  • Just over half (54%) of looked after children have a home address in one of the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland, whereas 3% were from one of the 20% least deprived areas in Scotland.

Care Leavers

  • During 2023-24, 967 young people aged 16 years or over ceased to be looked after and were eligible for continuing care. Of these, 33% (315) entered continuing care.
  • On 31 July 2024, 1,115 young people were in continuing care. This is 22% of those who were eligible for continuing care at the time of ceasing to be looked after (4,985).
  • On 31 July 2024, an estimated 9,369 young people were eligible for aftercare services.
  • 4,454 (48% of those eligible) were receiving aftercare services on 31 July 2024 – up 7% on 31 July 2023 (4,151).
  • 2,047 (55%) of those in aftercare were in education, training, or employment.
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