SCOTLAND'S population has reached a record high while the growth in the number of people living in the UK has been the highest of any country in Europe this year, according to new figures.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) estimates the population on June 30 last year in Scotland was 5,313,600, up 13,700 from mid-2011,

The rise was down to a greater number of births than deaths and more people migrating to Scotland from overseas than the number of people who left the country.

However, opposition politicians pointed out the increase in population is lower than in the past decade, when the average rise has been nearer 25,000 annually. There has also been a fall in the number of people moving to Scotland from overseas.

Separate figures show the UK's population has soared by more than 400,000 to 63.7 million in the year to June 30, 2013. The rise of 419,900 in the past year means the UK has had the biggest growth of any country in Europe and it is now the third-largest EU nation behind Germany and France.

The UK's population increase can be tracked back to the fact there were 254,400 more births than deaths and net migration levels of 165,600, the Office for National Statistics said.

In fact, the year to the end of June this year saw the UK's biggest baby boom since 1972, with 813,200 births. There were 558,800 deaths during this period, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Speaking about the figures for Scotland, NRS chief executive Tim Ellis said: "Scotland's population has continued to grow, reaching its highest ever level last year.

"The rise was because there were 6000 more births than deaths and a net in-flow of 15,200 more people coming to Scotland than leaving. Most of this net migration increase is from people coming to Scotland from overseas rather than the rest of the UK.

"Overall, however, fewer people came to Scotland from overseas and more people left to go overseas in the year to mid-2012 than in the previous year."

An estimated 35,900 people came to Scotland in the 12 months to June last year, compared with 42,300 in the same period to June 2011.

Around 26,200 moved overseas in the 12 months to June last year, compared with 16,900 over the year to June 2011.

The balance of 9700 immigrants to mid-2012 is less than two-fifths of the 25,400 balance recorded in the 12 months to mid-2011.

More people came to Scotland from the rest of the UK but more people also went the other way, resulting in a steady annual rise in UK migration of 3000 a year.

Economists say Scotland's population needs to grow by 24,000 a year to keep pace with European economies and Scottish Conservative spokesman Gavin Brown said the drop in growth "could prove extremely significant".

He added: "It could just be a one-year blip, but the minister in charge at the Scottish Government needs to find out why this is and what can be done, and explain as quickly as possible what the solution will be."

External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the population growth continues "in the right direction" to achieve the Government's target to match average European population growth over the period 2007 to 2017.

Net in-flow of people coming to Scotland from overseas "is proof that Scotland is an attractive and dynamic nation and one where people want to make a life for themselves", she said.

"While, like almost every mature economy, we have an ageing population, it is excellent to see the under-fives population has increased," she added.