Introduction

This short, topic-based publication presents key findings from the Scottish Household Survey (SHS) 2024 for questions related to the environment. Results for other topics are available on the Scottish Household Survey results webpage. An explanation of the timings of all environmental questions (most of which are now asked biennially) can be found in the data and methodology section.

The Scottish Household Survey (SHS) is an annual survey of the general population in Scotland, carried out since 1999. It aims to collect reliable and up-to-date information on a range of topics, through a random sample of people in private residences. It is a voluntary and interviewer-led survey, usually carried out face-to-face in people’s homes. The 2024 methodology and fieldwork outcomes report provides details of the methods used.

All results are estimates based on survey data rather than exact figures. Findings have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Tests of statistical significance have been performed for differences between socio-demographic groups or in findings over time; these use figures pre-rounding. Where language such as “broadly the same” or “no difference” is used, then there is no statistically significant difference. If an “increase” or “decrease” is referred to, then the difference is statistically significant.

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland

These statistics are official statistics which are statistics that are produced by crown bodies, those acting on behalf of crown bodies, or those specified in statutory orders, as defined in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.

Scottish Government statistics are regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.

More information about Scottish Government statistics is available on the Scottish Government website.

National Indicators

Scotland’s National Performance Framework (NPF) is currently under a period of reform and the NPF website has been archived. Two National Indicators were based on environmental questions from the SHS:

• Visits to the Outdoors (under Environment outcome)
• Access to Green and Blue Space (under Communities outcome)

Following the period of reform, any indicators which rely on environmental data from the SHS will be updated accordingly.