Diffley Partnership has published the Scotland’s Rural Voice survey report, based on responses from more than 3,000 people across Scotland.

The survey was produced with Salmon Scotland, NFU Scotland and Homes for Scotland. It looks at what matters most to people living in rural and remote areas, especially at a time when many communities have older populations and, in some places, fewer people. The main concerns raised were access to health services (45%), public transport (35%), and the availability of housing (30%).

The findings show that people living in rural areas are generally happier with their lives than those in towns and cities. They are more satisfied with their homes, the area they live in, their quality of life and their health. Over half (57%) said they are happy with their sense of community and belonging, compared with just over a third (36%) of people living in urban areas.

However, most rural residents feel that people in charge do not understand their communities. Almost three quarters (73%) said decision-makers do not understand local needs, rising to 79% in the most remote areas. Around two thirds (63%) said people in rural areas do not have a real say in decisions that affect them, increasing to 70% in remote communities. These views were especially strong in the Highlands and Islands and the north-east.

The survey also found strong support for giving rural areas more control over local decisions. Nearly nine out of ten (89%) rural residents want more power over things like local services and development.

Read the full report here: Scotland’s Rural Voice – 2025