<P> Traditionally burghs have been the key unit of the local government of Scotland, being highly autonomous entities, with rights to representation in the old Parliament of Scotland . Even after the Acts of Union 1707, burghs continued to be the principal subdivision . Until 1889 administration was on a burgh and parish basis . </P> <P> The years following 1889 saw the introduction of a hierarchy of local government administration comprising counties, counties of cities, large burghs and small burghs . </P> <P> With effect from 16 May 1975 and until 31 March 1996 the local government divisions of Scotland consisted of an upper tier of regions each containing a lower tier of districts except for the single - tier island council areas . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Location </Th> <Th> Area (sq miles) </Th> <Th> Area (km2) </Th> <Th> Population (2011) </Th> <Th> Density (per km2) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="5"> Mainland </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Aberdeen City </Td> <Td> 70 </Td> <Td> 182 </Td> <Td> 222,800 </Td> <Td> 1224 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Aberdeenshire </Td> <Td> 2,439 </Td> <Td> 6,317 </Td> <Td> 253,000 </Td> <Td> 40 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Angus </Td> <Td> 843 </Td> <Td> 2,184 </Td> <Td> 116,000 </Td> <Td> 53 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Argyll and Bute </Td> <Td> 2,712 </Td> <Td> 7,023 </Td> <Td> 88,200 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Clackmannanshire </Td> <Td> 61 </Td> <Td> 158 </Td> <Td> 51,400 </Td> <Td> 325 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dumfries and Galloway </Td> <Td> 2,489 </Td> <Td> 6,446 </Td> <Td> 151,300 </Td> <Td> 23 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dundee City </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 55 </Td> <Td> 147,300 </Td> <Td> 2678 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> East Ayrshire </Td> <Td> 492 </Td> <Td> 1,275 </Td> <Td> 122,700 </Td> <Td> 96 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> East Dunbartonshire </Td> <Td> 68 </Td> <Td> 176 </Td> <Td> 105,000 </Td> <Td> 597 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> East Lothian </Td> <Td> 257 </Td> <Td> 666 </Td> <Td> 99,700 </Td> <Td> 150 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> East Renfrewshire </Td> <Td> 65 </Td> <Td> 168 </Td> <Td> 90,600 </Td> <Td> 539 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> City of Edinburgh </Td> <Td> 100 </Td> <Td> 260 </Td> <Td> 476,600 </Td> <Td> 1833 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Falkirk </Td> <Td> 113 </Td> <Td> 293 </Td> <Td> 156,000 </Td> <Td> 532 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Fife </Td> <Td> 517 </Td> <Td> 1,340 </Td> <Td> 365,200 </Td> <Td> 273 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Glasgow City </Td> <Td> 68 </Td> <Td> 175 </Td> <Td> 593,200 </Td> <Td> 3390 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Highland </Td> <Td> 11,838 </Td> <Td> 30,659 </Td> <Td> 232,100 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Inverclyde </Td> <Td> 64 </Td> <Td> 167 </Td> <Td> 81,500 </Td> <Td> 488 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Midlothian </Td> <Td> 135 </Td> <Td> 350 </Td> <Td> 83,200 </Td> <Td> 238 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Moray </Td> <Td> 864 </Td> <Td> 2,237 </Td> <Td> 93,300 </Td> <Td> 42 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> North Ayrshire </Td> <Td> 343 </Td> <Td> 888 </Td> <Td> 138,200 </Td> <Td> 156 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> North Lanarkshire </Td> <Td> 184 </Td> <Td> 476 </Td> <Td> 337,800 </Td> <Td> 710 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Perth and Kinross </Td> <Td> 2,083 </Td> <Td> 5,395 </Td> <Td> 146,700 </Td> <Td> 27 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Renfrewshire </Td> <Td> 102 </Td> <Td> 263 </Td> <Td> 174,900 </Td> <Td> 665 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Scottish Borders </Td> <Td> 1,825 </Td> <Td> 4,727 </Td> <Td> 113,900 </Td> <Td> 24 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Ayrshire </Td> <Td> 475 </Td> <Td> 1,230 </Td> <Td> 112,800 </Td> <Td> 92 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Lanarkshire </Td> <Td> 686 </Td> <Td> 1,778 </Td> <Td> 313,800 </Td> <Td> 176 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Stirling </Td> <Td> 866 </Td> <Td> 2,243 </Td> <Td> 90,200 </Td> <Td> 40 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> West Dunbartonshire </Td> <Td> 68 </Td> <Td> 176 </Td> <Td> 90,700 </Td> <Td> 515 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> West Lothian </Td> <Td> 165 </Td> <Td> 427 </Td> <Td> 175,100 </Td> <Td> 410 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Total Mainland </Td> <Td> 28,260 </Td> <Td> 73,193 </Td> <Td> 5,223,100 </Td> <Td> 71 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="5"> Islands </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Na h - Eileanan Siar </Td> <Td> 1,185 </Td> <Td> 3,070 </Td> <Td> 27,700 </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Orkney Islands </Td> <Td> 396 </Td> <Td> 1,025 </Td> <Td> 21,400 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Shetland Islands </Td> <Td> 568 </Td> <Td> 1,471 </Td> <Td> 23,200 </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Total Islands </Td> <Td> 2,149 </Td> <Td> 5,566 </Td> <Td> 72,300 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Total Scotland </Td> <Td> 30,409 </Td> <Td> 78,759 </Td> <Td> 5,295,400 </Td> <Td> 67 </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Council area of east scotland on the northsea