Editing Aberdeen

{{short description|Third most populous city of Scotland}}
{{about|the city in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Aberdeen
| native_name        = {{native name|gd|Obar Dheathain}} <br/> {{lang|sco|Aiberdeen}} ([[Northern Scots]])
| settlement_type    = [[City status in the United Kingdom|City]], [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|lieutenancy]] and [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|council area]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image |border=infobox |total_width=280 |image_style=border:1; |perrow=1/2/2/2
 | image1 = Aberdeen Harbour, Victoria Dock - geograph.org.uk - 5926654 (cropped).jpg
 | caption1 = [[Aberdeen Harbour]]
 | image2 = Aberdeen town house.jpg
 | caption2 = [[Aberdeen Town House]]
 | image3 = + "Silver City" wird Aberdeen wegen seiner vielen Granitgebäude genannt. 07.jpg
 | caption3 = [[Marischal College]]
 | image4 = Playhouseaberdeen.jpg
 | caption4 = [[His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen|His Majesty's Theatre]]
 | image5 = Aberdeen Arts Centre - geograph.org.uk - 851159.jpg
 | caption5 = [[Aberdeen Arts Centre]]
 }}
| imagesize          = 
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = City_Flag_of_Aberdeen.svg
| flag_alt           = 
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of Aberdeen.svg
| shield_alt         = 
| shield_link        = Coat of arms of Aberdeen
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| blank_emblem_type  = 
| blank_emblem_link  = 
| etymology          = 
| nickname           = Granite City, the Silver City by Sea, Oil Capital of Europe
| motto              = 
| image_map          = Aberdeen UK location map.svg
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Aberdeen shown within [[Scotland]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|57.15|-2.11|region:GB_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name   = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Scotland]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Subdivisions of Scotland|Council area]]
| subdivision_name2  = Aberdeen City
| subdivision_type3  = [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|Lieutenancy area]]
| subdivision_name3  = Aberdeen
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| established_title  = Earliest Charter
| established_date   = 1179
| established_title1 = City status
| established_date1  = 1891
| established_title2 = Unitary authority
| established_date2  = [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|1 April 1996]]
| named_for          = 
| seat_type          = Administrative{{nbsp}}HQ
| seat               = [[Aberdeen Town House|Town House]]
| parts_type         = 
| parts              = <!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = <ref name="Council leadership">{{cite web |url=https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/council-and-democracy |title=Council and Democracy |website=Aberdeen City Council |access-date=24 August 2024 |archive-date=24 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824135659/https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/council-and-democracy |url-status=live }}</ref>
| government_type    = [[Local government in Scotland|Council]]
| governing_body     = [[Aberdeen City Council]]
| leader_title       = [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom|Control]]
| leader_name        = {{UK council control|GSS=S12000033}}
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = 
| leader_title3      = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]
| leader_name3       = {{Collapsible list |title=3 MPs
 |[[Kirsty Blackman]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
 |[[Harriet Cross (politician)|Harriet Cross]] ([[Conservative Party (UK)|C]])
 |[[Stephen Flynn (Scottish politician)|Stephen Flynn]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
 }}
| leader_title4      = [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSPs]]
| leader_name4       = {{Collapsible list |title=3 MSPs
 |[[Jackie Dunbar]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
 |[[Kevin Stewart (Scottish politician)|Kevin Stewart]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
 |[[Audrey Nicoll]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
 }}
<!-- Area -->
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->| area_footnotes     = <ref name="popstats">{{UK subdivision statistics citation}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000033}}
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_rank          = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|{{Scottish council area rank|GSS=S12000033}}]]
<!-- Population -->| population_footnotes = <ref name="popstats" />
| population_as_of   = {{UK subdivision statistics year}}
| population_total   = {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000033}}
| population_rank    = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|{{Scottish council population rank|GSS=S12000033}}]]
| population_density_km2 = {{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000033}}
| population_demonym = Aberdonian
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->| demographics_type1 = 
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1 = 
| demographics1_info1 = <!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2 = 
| demographics2_footnotes = 
| demographics2_title1 = 
| demographics2_info1 = 
| timezone1          = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset1        = +0
| timezone1_DST      = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = +1
<!-- Codes -->| postal_code_type   = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode areas]]
| postal_code        = [[AB postcode area|AB]]10–13 (part), AB14–16, AB21–25
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling codes]]
| area_code          = 01224
| iso_code           = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|GB-ABE]]
| blank1_name        = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank1_info        = S12000033
| website            = {{URL|aberdeencity.gov.uk}}
}}
'''Aberdeen''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=Pronunciation of Aberdeen English.ogg|ˌ|æ|b|ər|ˈ|d|iː|n}} {{respell|AB|ər|DEEN}};  {{IPA|sco|ˌeːbərˈdin|local|AberdeencityDoric.ogg}} {{IPA|sco|ˈeːbərdin|label=or||Aiberdeen.ogg}}; {{langx|gd|Obar Dheathain}} {{IPA|gd|ˈopəɾ ˈʝɛ.ɪɲ|}}) is a port city in North East [[Scotland]], and is the [[List of towns and cities in Scotland by population|third most populous]] [[Cities of Scotland|Scottish city]]. Historically, Aberdeen was within the historic county of [[Aberdeenshire (historic)|Aberdeenshire]], but is now separate from the council area of [[Aberdeenshire]]. Aberdeen City Council is one of Scotland's 32 [[Local government in Scotland|local authorities]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=COSLA |date=2020-04-24 |title=Councils |url=https://www.cosla.gov.uk/councils |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=COSLA |language=en}}</ref> (commonly referred to as ''councils''). Aberdeen has a population of {{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Aberdeen|year=yes}} for the main urban area and {{Scottish settlement population|name|POP=Aberdeen, Milltimber, and Peterculter|year=yes}} for the wider [[List of towns and cities in Scotland by population#Settlements|settlement]] including outlying localities,<ref name="NRS Locality">{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref> making it the United Kingdom's [[List of urban areas in the United Kingdom|39th most populous built-up area]]. Aberdeen has a long, sandy coastline and features an [[oceanic climate]], with cool summers and mild, rainy winters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/scotland/aberdeen|title=Climate of Aberdeen, Scotland|access-date=21 April 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528113908/https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/scotland/aberdeen|archive-date=28 May 2022}}</ref>

Aberdeen received [[royal burgh]] status from [[David I of Scotland]] (1124–1153),<ref name="civicsociety">{{cite web|url=http://aberdeencivicsociety.org.uk/whats-new/the-old-burghs-of-aberdeen/ |title=The old burghs of Aberdeen |publisher=Aberdeen Civic Society |access-date=19 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812021945/http://aberdeencivicsociety.org.uk/whats-new/the-old-burghs-of-aberdeen/ |archive-date=12 August 2011 }}</ref> which transformed the city economically. The traditional industries of fishing, paper-making, shipbuilding, and textiles have been overtaken by the [[Petroleum industry in Aberdeen|oil industry]] and Aberdeen's seaport. Aberdeen Heliport is one of the busiest commercial [[heliport]]s in the world,<ref name="BAA">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/greenpolitics/planning/4930766/Flights-delayed-as-climate-protesters-invade-Aberdeen-airport.html|title=Flights delayed as climate protesters invade Aberdeen airport|date=3 March 2009|website=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=7 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114015032/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/greenpolitics/planning/4930766/Flights-delayed-as-climate-protesters-invade-Aberdeen-airport.html|archive-date=14 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and the seaport is the largest in the north-east part of Scotland.<ref name="seaport">{{cite web|url=http://uk.archiseek.com/scotland/aberdeen/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609221650/http://uk.archiseek.com/scotland/aberdeen/index.html|archive-date=9 June 2007 |title=Architecture of Aberdeen, Scotland|access-date=23 May 2007}}</ref> A [[university town]], the city is known for the [[University of Aberdeen]], founded in 1495 as the fifth oldest university in the English-speaking world and located in [[Old Aberdeen]].

During the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries, Aberdeen's buildings incorporated locally quarried grey [[granite]], which may sparkle like silver because of its high [[mica]] content.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://events.csub.edu/resources/cities/Aberdeen|title=People associated with Aberdeen – CSUB Events|website=events.csub.edu|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=13 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013100302/https://events.csub.edu/resources/cities/Aberdeen|url-status=live}}</ref> Since the discovery of [[North Sea oil]] in 1969, Aberdeen has been known as the offshore oil capital of Europe.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Shepherd|first=Mike|title=Oil Strike North Sea: A first-hand history of North Sea oil.|publisher=Luath Press|year=2015}}</ref> Based upon the discovery of prehistoric villages around the mouths of the rivers [[River Dee, Aberdeenshire|Dee]] and [[River Don, Aberdeenshire|Don]], the area around Aberdeen is thought to have been settled for at least 6,000 years.<ref name="prehistory">{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishaccommodationindex.com/aberdeenpics.htm|title=Welcome to Aberdeen|publisher=Aberdeen Accommodation Index|access-date=19 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061231140217/http://www.scottishaccommodationindex.com/aberdeenpics.htm|archive-date=31 December 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Toponymy==
{{Main|Etymology of Aberdeen}}

The name given to Aberdeen translates as 'mouth of the river Don', and is recorded as Aberdon in 1172 and Aberden in {{Circa|1180}}. The first element of the name is the [[Pictish language|Pictish]] word {{Lang|xpi|aber}} 'river mouth'. The second element is from the Celtic river goddess [[Divona|Devona]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Grant|first=Alison|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/759569647|title=The Pocket Guide to Scottish Place-Names|date=2010|publisher=Richard Drew Ltd|isbn=978-1-899471-00-3|editor-last=Macleod|editor-first=Iseabail|location=Glasgow|pages=23|oclc=759569647|access-date=8 February 2021|archive-date=15 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815070952/http://worldcat.org/oclc/759569647|url-status=live}}</ref>

Aberdeen is usually described as within the historical [[Picts|Pictish]] territory and became Gaelic-speaking at some time in the medieval period. Old Aberdeen is the approximate location of Aberdon, the first settlement of Aberdeen; this literally means "the mouth of the Don". The [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] word {{lang|cel|aber}} means "river mouth", as in modern Welsh ([[Aberystwyth]], [[Aberdare]], [[Aberbeeg]] etc.).<ref name="Charnock">{{Cite book |first=Richard Stephen |last=Charnock |title=Local Etymology: A Derivative Dictionary of Geographical Names |year=1859 |publisher=Houlston and Wright }}</ref> The [[Scottish Gaelic]] name is {{lang|gd|Obar Dheathain}} (variation: {{lang|gd|Obairreadhain}}; {{lang|gd|*obar}} presumably being a loan from the earlier Pictish; the Gaelic term is {{lang|gd|inbhir}}), and in [[Latin]], the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] referred to the river as {{lang|la|Devana}}. [[Medieval Latin|Medieval]] (or [[Ecclesiastical Latin|Ecclesiastical]]) Latin has it as {{Lang|la-x-medieval|Aberdonia}}.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SwLdCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA135|title=Bannockburns: Scottish Independence and the Literary Imagination, 1314–2014|first=Robert|last=Crawford|year=2014|page=135|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|isbn=978-0748685868|access-date=18 March 2023|archive-date=4 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504233204/https://books.google.com/books?id=SwLdCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA135|url-status=live}}</ref>

The local [[Doric dialect (Scotland)|Doric]] pronunciation, {{IPA|sco|ˌeːbərˈdin||AberdeencityDoric.ogg}} or {{IPA|sco|ˈeːbərdin||Aiberdeen.ogg}} (with a long ''ay'' sound), is frequently rendered ''Aiberdeen'' or {{lang|sco|Aiberdein}}.

==History==
{{Main|History of Aberdeen}}

===Early origins===
[[File:View Of Aberdeen by William Mosman - William Mosman - ABDAG004432.jpg|thumb|View of Aberdeen by William Mosman, 1756]]

The Aberdeen area has seen human settlement for at least 8,000 years.<ref name="prehistory" /> The city began as two separate [[burgh]]s: [[Old Aberdeen]] at the mouth of the [[River Don, Aberdeenshire|river Don]]; and New Aberdeen, a fishing and trading settlement, where the Denburn waterway entered the river Dee estuary.<ref>[https://www.scottish-places.info/towns/townfirst498.html New Aberdeen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016111514/https://www.scottish-places.info/towns/townfirst498.html |date=16 October 2019 }}, [[Gazetteer for Scotland]]</ref> The earliest [[charter]] was granted by [[William the Lion]] in 1179 and confirmed the corporate rights granted by [[David I of Scotland|David I]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IfAHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA8|title=Annals of Aberdeen, from the reign of King William the Lion|volume=1|page=8|first=William|last=Kennedy|year=1818|publisher=A. Brown & Co.|access-date=18 March 2023|archive-date=4 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504233203/https://books.google.com/books?id=IfAHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA8|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1214, Aberdeen Burgesses were granted a Royal Charter by [[Alexander II of Scotland]] giving them the sole right to form a Guild. This body exercised power in the composition of the local council, and the affairs of the town. The [[Burgesses of Guild of Aberdeen|Burgesses of the Guild]] were an integral part of the council for more than 700 years and played a considerable role in the growth and development of Aberdeen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us {{!}} Aberdeen Burgesses |url=http://www.aberdeenburgesses.com/about-us/ |access-date=21 December 2023 |archive-date=18 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218165808/http://www.aberdeenburgesses.com/about-us/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1319, the Great Charter of [[Robert the Bruce]] transformed Aberdeen into a property-owning and financially independent community. Granted with it was the nearby Forest of Stocket, whose income formed the basis for the city's [[Common Good Fund (Aberdeen)|Common Good Fund]] which still benefits Aberdonians.<ref name="keith">{{Cite book|author=Keith, Alexander|year=1987|title=A Thousand Years of Aberdeen |publisher=Aberdeen University Press}}</ref><ref name="fraser">{{Cite book|first=W. Hamish|last=Fraser|title=Aberdeen, 1800 to 2000: A New History |year=2000 |publisher=Tuckwell Press |location=Edinburgh}}</ref>

===Wars of Scottish Independence===
{{main|Wars of Scottish Independence}}

During the [[Wars of Scottish Independence]], Aberdeen was under English rule, so Robert the Bruce laid siege to [[Aberdeen Castle]] before destroying it in 1308, followed by executing the English garrison. The city was burned by [[Edward III of England]] in 1336, but was rebuilt and extended. The city was strongly fortified to prevent attacks by neighbouring lords, but the gates were removed by 1770.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NSRAAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA9-IA1|title=Notes on the Chapel, Crown, and Other Ancient Buildings of King's College, Aberdeen|first=Norman|last=Macpherson|year=1889|page=9|publisher=Neill and Company|access-date=18 March 2023|archive-date=15 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415010001/https://books.google.com/books?id=NSRAAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA9-IA1|url-status=live}}</ref>

Aberdeen's medieval council registers survive from 1398 onwards and are exceptional for their quantity and continuity among surviving Scottish burgh records. The earliest eight volumes, from 1398 to 1511, have been included in the UNESCO [[UK Memory of the World Register]], and have been edited in a digital edition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abdn.pure.elsevier.com/en/datasets/aberdeen-registers-online-1398-1511|title=Aberdeen Registers Online: 1398–1511|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=2019|publisher=University of Aberdeen|access-date=15 August 2021|archive-date=7 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807164139/https://abdn.pure.elsevier.com/en/datasets/aberdeen-registers-online-1398-1511|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[Scotland in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms|Wars of the Three Kingdoms]] of 1644 to 1647 the city was plundered by both sides. In 1644, it was taken and ransacked by Royalist troops after the [[Battle of Aberdeen (1644)|Battle of Aberdeen]]<ref>{{Cite book|first=Chris |last=Brown |title=The Battle of Aberdeen 1644|year=2002|publisher=Tempus Publishing |location=Stroud, Gloucestershire}}</ref> and two years later [[Battle of Aberdeen (1646)|it was stormed]] by a Royalist force under the command of the [[George Gordon, 2nd Marquis of Huntly]].<ref>{{Cite DNB|last=Henderson |first=Thomas Finlayson |wstitle=Gordon, George (d.1649)  |volume=22 |pages=190–194}}</ref> An outbreak of [[bubonic plague]] over 1687 and 1688 killed 8.5% of the population, adding to the economic and demographic damage caused by war.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jillings |first1=K. |title=Aberdeen's Plague Epidemic of 1647–48 |journal=Scottish Medical Journal |date=1 August 2010 |volume=3 |issue=55 |pages=43–45 |doi=10.1258/rsmsmj.55.3.43 |pmid=20795518 |s2cid=24546213 |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1258/rsmsmj.55.3.43?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub++0pubmed |access-date=31 August 2023 |archive-date=31 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831161044/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1258/rsmsmj.55.3.43?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub++0pubmed |url-status=live }}</ref> In the 18th century, a new Town Hall was built and the first social services appeared with the [[Aberdeen Royal Infirmary|Aberdeen Infirmary]] at [[Woolmanhill Hospital|Woolmanhill]] in 1739<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=1452|title=Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen|publisher=National Archives|access-date=23 December 2018|archive-date=23 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223164155/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=1452|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Royal Cornhill Hospital|Aberdeen Lunatic Asylum]] in 1800.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://calms.abdn.ac.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?dsqServer=Calms&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=0&dsqSearch=%28RefNo%3D%27grhb%202%27%29 |title=Collection: GB 1105: NHS Grampian Archives |publisher=Aberdeen University |website=calms.abdn.ac.uk |access-date=15 December 2016 |archive-date=3 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503142052/http://calms.abdn.ac.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?dsqServer=Calms&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=0&dsqSearch=%28RefNo%3D%27grhb%202%27%29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Post-Napoleonic depression===

The expensive infrastructure works led to the city becoming bankrupt in 1817 during the [[Post-Napoleonic depression]], an economic downturn immediately after the [[Napoleonic Wars]]; but the city's prosperity later recovered. The increasing economic importance of Aberdeen and the development of the shipbuilding and fishing industries led to the construction of the [[Aberdeen Harbour|present harbour]] including Victoria Dock and the South Breakwater, and the extension of the North Pier.

Gas street lighting arrived in 1824 and an enhanced water supply appeared in 1830 when water was pumped from the Dee to a [[reservoir]] in Union Place. An underground sewer system replaced open sewers in 1865.<ref name="fraser"/> The city absorbed the neighbouring burghs of Old Aberdeen and [[Woodside, Aberdeen|Woodside]] plus the [[Torry]] area on the south bank of the Dee in 1891.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2020-10/Aberdeen%20History%20Trail.pdf|title=Aberdeen History Trail|page=3|access-date=28 July 2022|archive-date=28 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728193400/https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2020-10/Aberdeen%20History%20Trail.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=1891act>{{cite web |title=Aberdeen Corporation Act 1891 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/54-55/124/pdfs/ukla_18910124_en.pdf |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=10 August 2024 |archive-date=11 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240811072618/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/54-55/124/pdfs/ukla_18910124_en.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Second World War===

Over the course of [[World War II]] Aberdeen was attacked 32 times by the German [[Luftwaffe]]. One of the most devastating attacks was on Wednesday 21 April 1943 when 29 Luftwaffe [[Dornier Do 217|Dornier 217s]] flying from [[Stavanger]], Norway attacked the city between the hours of 22:17 and 23:04.<ref>[http://www.mcjazz.f2s.com/Blitzkreig.htm "The Aberdeen Mittwoch Blitz – Wednesday 21st April 1943"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105231049/http://www.mcjazz.f2s.com/Blitzkreig.htm |date=5 January 2013 }}, ''The Doric Columns'', Retrieved 13 September 2019.</ref> A total of 98 civilians and 27 servicemen were killed, along with 12,000 houses damaged, after a mixture of 127 Incendiary, High Explosive and Cluster bombs were dropped on the city in one night.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/past-times/4170473/blitz-aberdeen/|title=The Aberdeen Blitz of 1943 left the City in ruins and death all around|newspaper=Press and Journal|date=20 April 2022|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=7 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707123341/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/past-times/4170473/blitz-aberdeen/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Two books written in 2018 and 2022 using bombing records held in London identified that unexploded bombs from the 1943 raid were found in the 1950s and 1980s making the bombs dropped 129 in total. Damage from the raid can still be seen in some parts of Aberdeen.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

===Coat of arms and motto===
The arms and banner of the city show three silver towers on red. This motif dates from at least the time of [[Robert the Bruce]] and represents the buildings that stood on the three hills of medieval Aberdeen: Aberdeen Castle on Castle Hill (today's [[Castlegate, Aberdeen|Castlegate]]); the city gate on Port Hill; and a church on St&nbsp;Catherine's Hill (now levelled).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish-places.info/councils/councilfirst1.html|title=Aberdeen City|access-date=15 May 2007|author=Gazetteer for Scotland|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613171026/http://www.scottish-places.info/councils/councilfirst1.html|archive-date=13 June 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

"Bon Accord" is the [[motto]] of the city and is French for "Good Agreement". Legend tells that its use dates from a password used by Robert the Bruce during the 14th century [[Wars of Scottish Independence]], when he and his men laid siege to the English-held Aberdeen Castle before destroying it in 1308.<ref name="keith" /> It is still widely present in the city, throughout street names, business names and the city's [[Bon Accord Centre|Bon Accord]] shopping mall.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Bon Accord & St Nicholas|url = http://bonaccordandstnicholas.com/|publisher = bonaccordandstnicholas.com|access-date = 17 October 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081026083320/http://www.bonaccordandstnicholas.com/|archive-date = 26 October 2008|url-status = usurped}}</ref>

The shield in the coat of arms is [[supporters (heraldry)|supported]] by two [[leopard]]s. A local magazine is called the "Leopard" and, when Union Bridge was widened in the 20th century, small statues of the creature in a sitting position were cast and placed on top of the railing posts (known locally as Kelly's Cats). The city's toast is "Happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-publishing.com/Pages/AberdeenOG/introducing.html|title=Aberdeen Official Guide|publisher=Aberdeen City Council|access-date=17 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218082352/http://www.british-publishing.com/Pages/AberdeenOG/introducing.html|archive-date=18 February 2007|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

===Recent history===

In 2012, [[HSBC]] named Aberdeen as a leading business hub and one of eight 'super cities' spearheading the UK's economy, marking it as the only city in Scotland so designated.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-20002820 |title=Aberdeen named among 'Supercities' by HSBC |publisher=BBC News |date=19 October 2012 |access-date=19 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022010504/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-20002820 |archive-date=22 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, Aberdeen was found to be the best city in the UK to start a business in a study released by card payment firm Paymentsense.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/north-of-scotland/1387847/granite-city-is-top-for-start-ups/|title=Why the Granite City is the best place to launch new business|author=Keith Findlay|date=8 January 2018|work=The Press and Journal |access-date=18 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318120501/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/north-of-scotland/1387847/granite-city-is-top-for-start-ups/|archive-date=18 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Politics and government==
{{Main|Politics of Aberdeen|Coat of arms of Aberdeen}}

[[File:Marischal College A.JPG|thumb|[[Marischal College]], main offices of [[Aberdeen City Council]]]]
Aberdeen City is one of 32 [[council areas of Scotland]], administered by [[Aberdeen City Council]]. The council meets at [[Aberdeen Town House]] and has its main offices in the adjoining [[Marischal College]]. The civic head and chair of the council is the [[Lord Provost of Aberdeen|Lord Provost]]. The council area is also divided into 30 [[List of community council areas in Scotland#Aberdeen City|community council areas]], 29 of which had community councils operating as at August 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Community Councils |url=https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/council-and-democracy/community-councils/community-councils |website=Aberdeen City Council |date=8 February 2024 |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref>

The first [[burgh]] of Aberdeen, covering just the New Aberdeen area near the mouth of the Dee, was created by [[David I of Scotland|David I]] (reigned 1124–1153).<ref name="civicsociety"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Aberdeen Burgh |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10357603#tab02 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref> Neighbouring Old Aberdeen to the north was subsequently made a separate burgh in 1489.<ref>{{cite web |title=Old Aberdeen Burgh |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10361400 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=14 August 2024 |archive-date=14 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814074104/https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10361400 |url-status=live }}</ref> The burgh of Aberdeen was governed by a corporation, also known as the town council. As Aberdeen grew, the council's powers were inadequate to cater for the needs of the growing urban area. A separate [[Police burgh|police commission]] was established in 1795 with powers to levy taxes and provide infrastructure ('police' in this context being its older meaning of civic government rather than law enforcement). The first police commission was short-lived, but it was resurrected in 1818 after the town council went bankrupt in 1817. From 1818 until 1871 there was a dual system of local government, with the town council and police commission having different roles in Aberdeen's administration. The police commission was eventually abolished in 1871 and its functions absorbed by the town council.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lee |first1=Clive Howard |title=Aberdeen, 1800–2000 |date=2000 |publisher=Tuckwell Press |isbn=9781862321083 |pages=236–252 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6az73FqFVMMC&pg=PA236 |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Aberdeen, the Town House - geograph.org.uk - 3831834.jpg|thumb|left|[[Aberdeen Town House]], the administrative HQ of Aberdeen City Council]]

In 1891 the city boundaries were significantly enlarged, absorbing the neighbouring burghs of Old Aberdeen and Woodside, plus the Torry area on the south bank of the Dee. The act of parliament which expanded the burgh also confirmed that Aberdeen was entitled to be called a city; it had commonly been described as a city prior to that, but (like most Scottish cities) without official recognition.<ref name=1891act/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Beckett |first1=J. V. |title=City Status in the British Isles, 1830–2002 |date=2005 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing |location=Aldershot |isbn=0-7546-5067-7 |page=16}}</ref> Following the absorption of Torry in 1891, the city boundaries straddled the counties of [[Aberdeenshire (historic)|Aberdeenshire]] and [[Kincardineshire]]. Aberdeen was made a [[county of city|county of itself]] in 1899.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aberdeen Corporation Act 1899 (c. 60) |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/62-63/60/contents/enacted |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=5 February 2023 |archive-date=5 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205100544/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/62-63/60/contents/enacted |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=11136|page=958|date=13 October 1899|city=e}}</ref> In 1975 the burgh was replaced by the larger City of Aberdeen district within the [[Grampian]] region.<ref name=1973act>{{cite web |title=Quarter-inch Administrative Areas Maps: Scotland Sheet 5, 1969 |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/222075470 |website=National Library of Scotland |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=15 August 2024 |archive-date=11 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240811110500/https://maps.nls.uk/view/222075470 |url-status=live }}</ref> Further local government reforms in 1996 replaced the districts and regions created in 1975 with council areas; the pre-1996 City of Aberdeen district became the Aberdeen City council area.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=39|accessdate=29 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|city=e|issue=23789|page=1332|date=26 May 1995}}</ref>

In the [[Scottish Parliament]], the city is represented by three constituencies with different boundaries: [[Aberdeen Central (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Aberdeen Central]] and [[Aberdeen Donside (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Aberdeen Donside]] are wholly within the Aberdeen City council area. [[Aberdeen South and North Kincardine (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Aberdeen South and North Kincardine]] includes the North [[Kincardine, Aberdeenshire|Kincardine]] ward of [[Aberdeenshire Council]]. A further seven MSPs are elected as part of the [[North East Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|North East Scotland]] electoral region. In the [[European Parliament]] the city was represented by six [[Member of the European Parliament|MEPs]] as part of the all-inclusive Scotland constituency.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=irIYBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA254|title=Scotland and Europe, Scotland in Europe|year=2009|page=254|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|isbn=978-1443807043|access-date=18 March 2023|archive-date=14 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414205525/https://books.google.com/books?id=irIYBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA254|url-status=live}}</ref> Aberdeen is represented in the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] by two [[Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom|constituencies]], [[Aberdeen North (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberdeen North]] and [[Aberdeen South (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberdeen South]], which are wholly within the Aberdeen City council area.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcomm-scotland.independent.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023_review_final/bcs_2023_review_report_web_version.pdf |title=2023 Review of UK Parliament Constituency Boundaries in Scotland |date=27 June 2023 |website=[[Boundary Commission for Scotland]] |access-date=3 July 2024 |archive-date=27 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727115322/https://www.bcomm-scotland.independent.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023_review_final/bcs_2023_review_report_web_version.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Aberdeen}}
[[File:Aberdeen beach - geograph.org.uk - 3929234.jpg|thumb|right|Aberdeen beach, situated along the coastline of Aberdeen on the [[North Sea]]]]

===Location and area===
Being situated between two river mouths, the city has little natural exposure of bedrock. The small amount of geophysics done, and occasional building-related exposures, combined with small exposures in the banks of the River Don, suggest that it is actually sited on an inlier of Devonian "Old Red" sandstones and silts. The outskirts of the city spread beyond the (inferred) limits of the outlier onto the surrounding metamorphic/ igneous complexes formed during the [[Dalradian]] period (approximately 480–600&nbsp;million years ago) with sporadic areas of [[igneous rock|igneous]] [[Diorite]] granites to be found, such as that at the [[Rubislaw quarry]] which was used to build much of the [[Victorian era|Victorian]] parts of the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish-places.info/councils/councildetails1.html |title=Details of Aberdeen City |author=Gazetteer for Scotland |access-date=10 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124035411/http://www.scottish-places.info/councils/councildetails1.html |archive-date=24 November 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The city extends to {{convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000033}}|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}},<ref name="popstats" /> and includes the former burghs of Old Aberdeen, New Aberdeen, [[Woodside, Aberdeen|Woodside]] and the [[Torry]] area to the south of [[River Dee, Aberdeenshire|River Dee]]. In {{UK subdivision statistics year}}, this gave the city a population density of {{convert|{{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000033}}|PD/km2|PD/sqmi}}.<ref name="popstats" /> The city is built on many hills, with the original beginnings of the city growing from Castle Hill, St. Catherine's Hill and Windmill Hill.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish-places.info/councils/councilfirst1.html |title=Aberdeen City |publisher=The Gazetteer for Scotland |access-date=20 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613171026/http://www.scottish-places.info/councils/councilfirst1.html |archive-date=13 June 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> When compared to mainland Europe, Aberdeen is further north than almost all of Denmark and plenty of southern Sweden, being just south of [[Gothenburg]] in terms of latitude.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latlong.net/place/aberdeen-uk-9443.html|title=Aberdeen, UK – LatLong.net|publisher=LatLong.net|access-date=5 December 2022|archive-date=5 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205185713/https://www.latlong.net/place/aberdeen-uk-9443.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latlong.net/place/gothenburg-sweden-177.html|title=Gothenburg, Sweden – LatLong.net|publisher=LatLong.net|access-date=5 December 2022|archive-date=5 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205185711/https://www.latlong.net/place/gothenburg-sweden-177.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Climate===
[[File:3rd Aug 2012- Abdn Harbour 2.JPG|thumb|right|Sunshine across Aberdeen during August]] 
Aberdeen features an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfb''), with far milder winter temperatures than one might expect for its northern location. However, statistically speaking, it is still the coldest city in the UK. During the winter, especially throughout December, the length of the day is very short, averaging 6 hours and 41 minutes between sunrise and sunset at the winter solstice.<ref name="Sunrise and sunset for Aberdeen">{{cite web|url=http://www.sunrise-and-sunset.com/en/sun/united-kingdom/aberdeen/2015|title=Sunrise and sunset for Aberdeen|publisher=Sunrise and Sunset|access-date=27 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027200423/http://www.sunrise-and-sunset.com/en/sun/united-kingdom/aberdeen/2015|archive-date=27 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> As winter progresses, the length of the day grows fairly quickly, to 8 hours and 20 minutes by the end of January. Around summer solstice, the days will be around 18 hours long, having 17 hours and 55 minutes between sunrise and sunset.<ref name="Sunrise and sunset for Aberdeen"/> During this time of the year marginal [[nautical twilight]] lasts the entire night. Temperatures at this time of year hover around {{convert|17.0|C|F}} during the day in most of the urban area, though nearer {{convert|16.0|C|F}} directly on the coast, and around {{convert|18.0|to|19.0|C|F}} in the westernmost suburbs.<ref>{{cite web| publisher = [[MetOffice]]| url = http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/escotland/7100_1km/MaxTemp_Average_1971-2000_7.gif| title = July temp map| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120305153715/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/escotland/7100_1km/MaxTemp_Average_1971-2000_7.gif| archive-date = 5 March 2012}}</ref>

Two weather stations collect climate data for the area, [[Aberdeen Airport|Aberdeen/Dyce Airport]], and Craibstone. Both are about {{convert|4+1/2|mi|km|0}} to the northwest of the city centre, and given that they are in close proximity to each other, exhibit very similar climatic regimes. Dyce tends to have marginally warmer daytime temperatures year-round owing to its slightly lower elevation, though it is more susceptible to harsh frosts. The coldest temperature to occur in recent years was {{convert|-16.8|C|F}} during December 2010,<ref>{{cite web | publisher = TuTiempo | url= http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/Aberdeen_Dyce/03-12-2010/30910.htm
 | title = 2010 minimum}}</ref> while the following winter, Dyce set a new February high-temperature station record on 28 February 2012 of {{convert|17.2|C|F}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/feeds/17199313|title=What Is The Fohn Effect?|publisher=[[BBC Weather]]|access-date=28 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302134520/http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/feeds/17199313|archive-date=2 March 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> and a new March high temperature record of {{convert|21.6|C|F}} on 25 March 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.tutiempo.net/climate/03-2012/ws-30910.html|title=Climate Aberdeen / Dyce (March 2012) – Climate data (30910)|access-date=16 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220134659/http://en.tutiempo.net/climate/03-2012/ws-30910.html|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

The average temperature of the sea ranges from {{convert|6.6|C|F}} in March to {{convert|13.8|C|F}} in August.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seatemperature.org/europe/united-kingdom/aberdeen.htm|title=Aberdeen Water Temperature – United Kingdom – Sea Temperatures|first=Copyright Global Sea Temperatures – A-Connect|last=Ltd|website=World Sea Temperatures|access-date=4 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705133059/https://www.seatemperature.org/europe/united-kingdom/aberdeen.htm|archive-date=5 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Weather box|location = [[Dyce]]-Aberdeen ([[Aberdeen Airport|ABZ]]),{{efn|Weather station is located {{convert|6|mi|0|abbr=out}} from the Aberdeen city centre.}} elevation: {{convert|65|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1960–present
| collapsed    =
| metric first = y
| single line  = y
| Jan record high C = 17.2
| Feb record high C = 17.2
| Mar record high C = 21.6
| Apr record high C = 23.7
| May record high C = 24.4
| Jun record high C = 26.7
| Jul record high C = 29.8
| Aug record high C = 29.7
| Sep record high C = 27.0
| Oct record high C = 22.1
| Nov record high C = 18.8
| Dec record high C = 15.1
| Jan avg record high C = 12.2
| Feb avg record high C = 12.9
| Mar avg record high C = 15.4
| Apr avg record high C = 17.6
| May avg record high C = 20.4
| Jun avg record high C = 22.9
| Jul avg record high C = 24.4
| Aug avg record high C = 23.4
| Sep avg record high C = 22.1
| Oct avg record high C = 17.7
| Nov avg record high C = 14.8
| Dec avg record high C = 12.5
| year avg record high C = 25.6
| Jan high C = 6.8
| Feb high C = 7.3
| Mar high C = 9.1
| Apr high C = 11.2
| May high C = 13.9
| Jun high C = 16.3
| Jul high C = 18.5
| Aug high C = 18.3
| Sep high C = 16.1
| Oct high C = 12.6
| Nov high C = 9.2
| Dec high C = 6.9
| year high C =
| Jan mean C = 3.9
| Feb mean C = 4.2
| Mar mean C = 5.6
| Apr mean C = 7.6
| May mean C = 10.0
| Jun mean C = 12.7
| Jul mean C = 14.8
| Aug mean C = 14.6
| Sep mean C = 12.6
| Oct mean C = 9.5
| Nov mean C = 6.2
| Dec mean C = 3.9
| year mean C =
| Jan low C = 1.0
| Feb low C = 1.1
| Mar low C = 2.1
| Apr low C = 3.9
| May low C = 6.0
| Jun low C = 9.0
| Jul low C = 11.0
| Aug low C = 10.8
| Sep low C = 9.1
| Oct low C = 6.3
| Nov low C = 3.1
| Dec low C = 0.9
| year low C =
| Jan avg record low C = -5.4
| Feb avg record low C = -5.1
| Mar avg record low C = -4.2
| Apr avg record low C = -1.8
| May avg record low C = -0.2
| Jun avg record low C = 3.6
| Jul avg record low C = 6.0
| Aug avg record low C = 4.8
| Sep avg record low C = 2.6
| Oct avg record low C = 0.2
| Nov avg record low C = -3.4
| Dec avg record low C = -6.6
| year avg record low C = -8.3
| Jan record low C = -19.3
| Feb record low C = -18.2
| Mar record low C = -15.8
| Apr record low C = -6.8
| May record low C = -4.2
| Jun record low C = -0.3
| Jul record low C = 0.1
| Aug record low C = -0.2
| Sep record low C = -2.4
| Oct record low C = -4.4
| Nov record low C = -15.6
| Dec record low C = -18.1
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 67.8
| Feb precipitation mm = 59.4
| Mar precipitation mm = 54.4
| Apr precipitation mm = 57.6
| May precipitation mm = 54.0
| Jun precipitation mm = 68.9
| Jul precipitation mm = 70.8
| Aug precipitation mm = 68.3
| Sep precipitation mm = 60.7
| Oct precipitation mm = 99.9
| Nov precipitation mm = 93.0
| Dec precipitation mm = 77.7
| year precipitation mm =
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 12.5
| Feb precipitation days = 11.1
| Mar precipitation days = 11.0
| Apr precipitation days = 11.2
| May precipitation days = 10.3
| Jun precipitation days = 11.6
| Jul precipitation days = 12.2
| Aug precipitation days = 10.8
| Sep precipitation days = 10.4
| Oct precipitation days = 14.5
| Nov precipitation days = 14.5
| Dec precipitation days = 12.8
| year precipitation days =
| Jan snow days = 8
| Feb snow days = 7
| Mar snow days = 6
| Apr snow days = 4
| May snow days = 0
| Jun snow days = 0
| Jul snow days = 0
| Aug snow days = 0
| Sep snow days = 0
| Oct snow days = 0
| Nov snow days = 3
| Dec snow days = 6
| Jan humidity = 83
| Feb humidity = 81
| Mar humidity = 79
| Apr humidity = 78
| May humidity = 78
| Jun humidity = 78
| Jul humidity = 78
| Aug humidity = 80
| Sep humidity = 81
| Oct humidity = 83
| Nov humidity = 83
| Dec humidity = 83
| Jan percentsun = 26
| Feb percentsun = 30
| Mar percentsun = 33
| Apr percentsun = 36
| May percentsun = 38
| Jun percentsun = 33
| Jul percentsun = 34
| Aug percentsun = 35
| Sep percentsun = 32
| Oct percentsun = 29
| Nov percentsun = 26
| Dec percentsun = 22
| year percentsun =
| Jan sun = 60.5
| Feb sun = 85.4
| Mar sun = 125.5
| Apr sun = 153.9
| May sun = 202.7
| Jun sun = 163.5
| Jul sun = 162.4
| Aug sun = 156.7
| Sep sun = 125.1
| Oct sun = 95.0
| Nov sun = 68.1
| Dec sun = 48.5
| year sun =
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gfnmmyh91|title=Aberdeen Airport 1991–2020 averages|access-date=19 December 2021|publisher=Met Office|archive-date=22 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322002859/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gfnmmyh91|url-status=live}}</ref> [[NOAA]] (Relative humidity and snow days 1961–1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-VI/UK/03091.TXT|title=Aberdeen Airport climate normals 1961–1990|access-date=2 April 2019|publisher=Met Office|archive-date=7 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907051849/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-VI/UK/03091.TXT|url-status=live}}</ref> Infoclimat (mean max/min)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie/annee/1991/aberdeen-dyce/valeurs/03091.html|title=Climatologie de l'année à Aberdeen / Dyce|publisher=Infoclimat|language=fr|access-date=9 September 2023|archive-date=5 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005231001/https://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie/annee/1991/aberdeen-dyce/valeurs/03091.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute|KNMI]]<ref>{{cite web| url =https://eca.knmi.nl//download/millennium/millennium.php| title =Indices Data – Aberdeen Dyce Station 1825| access-date =21 March 2019| publisher =[[KNMI (institute)|KNMI]]| archive-date =9 July 2018| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20180709010608/https://eca.knmi.nl//download/millennium/millennium.php| url-status =dead}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box|location = Aberdeen (Craibstone),{{efn|Weather station is located {{convert|5|mi|0|abbr=out}} from the Aberdeen city centre.}} elevation: {{convert|102|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1958–present
| collapsed    = y
| metric first = y
| single line  = y
| Jan record high C = 16.0
| Feb record high C = 16.3
| Mar record high C = 21.2
| Apr record high C = 23.4
| May record high C = 23.8
| Jun record high C = 26.8
| Jul record high C = 28.8
| Aug record high C = 28.6
| Sep record high C = 25.9
| Oct record high C = 21.1
| Nov record high C = 18.3
| Dec record high C = 15.4
| Jan high C = 6.1
| Feb high C = 6.4
| Mar high C = 8.4
| Apr high C = 10.5
| May high C = 13.2
| Jun high C = 15.6
| Jul high C = 18.0
| Aug high C = 17.8
| Sep high C = 15.4
| Oct high C = 12.0
| Nov high C = 8.6
| Dec high C = 6.2
| year high C = 11.5
| Jan mean C = 3.4
| Feb mean C = 3.5
| Mar mean C = 5.0
| Apr mean C = 6.8
| May mean C = 9.2
| Jun mean C = 11.9
| Jul mean C = 14.2
| Aug mean C = 14.0
| Sep mean C = 11.9
| Oct mean C = 8.9
| Nov mean C = 5.8
| Dec mean C = 3.5
| year mean C = 8.1
| Jan low C = 0.6
| Feb low C = 0.6
| Mar low C = 1.6
| Apr low C = 3.0
| May low C = 5.2
| Jun low C = 8.1
| Jul low C = 10.3
| Aug low C = 10.1
| Sep low C = 8.4
| Oct low C = 5.7
| Nov low C = 2.9
| Dec low C = 0.8
| year low C = 4.8
| Jan record low C = -13.5
| Feb record low C = -12.2
| Mar record low C = -11.7
| Apr record low C = -6.7
| May record low C = -3.0
| Jun record low C = 0.3
| Jul record low C = 1.7
| Aug record low C = 2.5
| Sep record low C = -0.5
| Oct record low C = -4.0
| Nov record low C = -10.8
| Dec record low C = -12.6
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 71.2
| Feb precipitation mm = 59.3
| Mar precipitation mm = 63.8
| Apr precipitation mm = 62.2
| May precipitation mm = 59.6
| Jun precipitation mm = 65.6
| Jul precipitation mm = 65.7
| Aug precipitation mm = 66.1
| Sep precipitation mm = 71.9
| Oct precipitation mm = 102.9
| Nov precipitation mm = 98.1
| Dec precipitation mm = 79.8
| year precipitation mm = 866.2
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 12.6
| Feb precipitation days = 10.6
| Mar precipitation days = 11.5
| Apr precipitation days = 10.5
| May precipitation days = 10.4
| Jun precipitation days = 10.5
| Jul precipitation days = 11.3
| Aug precipitation days = 11.2
| Sep precipitation days = 10.1
| Oct precipitation days = 13.6
| Nov precipitation days = 13.7
| Dec precipitation days = 12.3
| year precipitation days = 138.3
| Jan sun = 60.6
| Feb sun = 84.9
| Mar sun = 120.3
| Apr sun = 151.5
| May sun = 194.1
| Jun sun = 163.8
| Jul sun = 159.3
| Aug sun = 160.4
| Sep sun = 124.6
| Oct sun = 100.0
| Nov sun = 65.4
| Dec sun = 47.7
| year sun = 1432.6
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19812010/sites/craibstone.html |title= Craibstone 1981–2010 averages |access-date=21 March 2019 |publisher=Met Office |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031164323/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19812010/sites/craibstone.html |archive-date=31 October 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute|KNMI]]<ref>{{cite web| url =https://eca.knmi.nl//download/millennium/millennium.php| title =Indices Data – Craibstone Station 1629| access-date =21 March 2019| publisher =[[KNMI (institute)|KNMI]]| archive-date =9 July 2018| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20180709010608/https://eca.knmi.nl//download/millennium/millennium.php| url-status =dead}}</ref>
}}

==Demography==
[[File:Aberdeen population pyramid 2020.svg|thumb|Population pyramid of Aberdeen (local council area) in 2020]]
[[File:AberdeenDemographic.gif|upright=1.35|thumb|Aberdeen's population since 1396<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk|title=Data Documentation|access-date=15 May 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080907160421/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/| archive-date=7 September 2008| url-status= live}}</ref>]]

The Aberdeen [[List of census localities in Scotland|locality]] population estimate is {{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Aberdeen|year=yes|}}.<ref name="NRS Locality"/> For the wider [[List of towns and cities in Scotland by population#Settlements|settlement]] of Aberdeen including [[Cove Bay]] and [[Dyce]], the population estimate is {{Scottish settlement population|name|POP=Aberdeen, Milltimber, and Peterculter|year=yes|}}.<ref name="NRS Locality"/> For Aberdeen City council area, the population estimate is {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000033}} ({{UK subdivision statistics year}}).<ref name="popstats" />

In 1396, the population was about 3,000. By 1801, it had become 26,992, then 153,503 in 1901, and finally 182,467 in 1941.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10192985&c_id=10090283&add=N|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120201443/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10192985&c_id=10090283&add=N|archive-date=20 January 2008|title=Aberdeen Population|access-date=19 February 2007}}</ref>

The 2011 census showed fewer young people in Aberdeen, with 16.4% under 16, as opposed to the national average of 19.2%.<ref name="citycensusreview">{{cite web|url=http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=1726&sID=332|title=2001 Census: Key Statistics – Aberdeen City|author=Aberdeen City Council|access-date=28 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428132455/http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=1726&sID=332|archive-date=28 April 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to the 2011 census Aberdeen is 91.9% white, ethnically, 24.7% were born outside Scotland, higher than the national average of 16%. Of this population, 7.6% were born in other parts of the UK.<ref name="aberdeencity.gov.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=55102&sID=53|title=Aberdeen City Council – 2011 Census Release 2|access-date=16 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305003337/http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=55102&sID=53|archive-date=5 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> 8.2% of Aberdonians stated to be from an ethnic minority (non-white) in the 2011 census, with 9,519 (4.3%) being Asian, with 3,385 (1.5%) coming from India and 2,187 (1.0%) being [[British Chinese|Chinese]]. The city has around 5,610 (2.6%) residents of African or Caribbean origin, which is a higher percentage than both [[Glasgow]] and [[Edinburgh]].<ref name="aberdeencity.gov.uk"/>

In the household, there were 97,013 individual dwellings recorded in the city, of which 61% were privately owned, 9% privately rented and 23% rented from the council. The most popular type of dwellings are apartments which comprise 49% of residences followed by semi-detached at just below 22%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Household&mainLevel=CouncilArea&mainArea=Aberdeen+City&mainText=&mainTextExplicitMatch=null&compLevel=CountryProfile&compArea=Scotland&compText=&compTextExplicitMatch=null |title=Comparative Household Profile: Aberdeen City Council Area, Scotland |access-date=21 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927212346/https://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Household&mainLevel=CouncilArea&mainArea=Aberdeen+City&mainText=&mainTextExplicitMatch=null&compLevel=CountryProfile&compArea=Scotland&compText=&compTextExplicitMatch=null |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref>
The median income of a household in the city is £16,813 (the mean income is £20,292)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ACCI/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=1726&sID=332|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927031848/http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ACCI/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=1726&sID=332|archive-date=27 September 2007|title=Low Income Households in Aberdeen|author=Aberdeen City Council|access-date=12 March 2007}}</ref> (2005) which places approximately 18% households in the city below the poverty line (defined as 60% of the mean income). Conversely, an Aberdeen postcode has the second highest number of millionaires of any postcode in the UK.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/buying_and_selling/article4833999.ece | title=Scottish homes market view 2008 | newspaper=[[The Times]] | date=28 September 2008 | location=London | access-date=1 March 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716023915/http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/buying_and_selling/article4833999.ece | archive-date=16 July 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Ethnicity ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" |Ethnic Group
! colspan="2" |1991<ref name=":412">As UK Census data post-2001 is unavailable through the ONS website, it has been [https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011census/2011censusdata/censusdata18011991 recommended] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602152933/https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011census/2011censusdata/censusdata18011991 |date=2 June 2022 }} to use archival census collection websites to obtain data. Data is taken from United Kingdom [http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/index.htm Casweb Data services] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215152146/http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/index.htm |date=15 December 2021 }} of the United Kingdom [http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/step1.cfm 1991 Census on Ethnic Data for Scotland.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405213012/http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/step1.cfm |date=5 April 2022 }} (Table 6)</ref><ref name=":422">Office of Population Censuses and Surveys; General Register Office for Scotland; Registrar General for Northern Ireland (1997): 1991 Census aggregate data. UK Data Service (Edition: 1997). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5257/census/aggregate-1991-1 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827072513/https://beta.ukdataservice.ac.uk/datacatalogue/studies/study?id=22001 |date=27 August 2022 }} This information is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence</ref>
! colspan="2" |2001<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Census Dissemination Unit |first=Mimas |date=5 May 2011 |title=InFuse |url=https://infuse2011gf.ukdataservice.ac.uk/ |access-date=24 June 2022 |website=infuse2011gf.ukdataservice.ac.uk|archive-date=17 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717045206/https://infuse2011gf.ukdataservice.ac.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011<ref name=":12"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Scotland's Census 2011&nbsp;– Table KS201SC |url=http://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/ods-web/standard-outputs.html |publisher=scotlandscensus.gov.uk |access-date=3 November 2015 |archive-date=7 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107044126/https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/ods-web/standard-outputs.html%20 |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2022<ref name="2022census_Scot">{{cite web |url=https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/media/trbdxzme/scotland-s-census-2022-ethnic-group-national-identity-language-and-religion-chart-data.xlsx |title=Scotland's Census 2022 – Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion – Chart data |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=21 May 2024 |website=Scotland's Census |publisher=[[National Records of Scotland]] |access-date=21 May 2024 |archive-date=21 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521173147/https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/media/trbdxzme/scotland-s-census-2022-ethnic-group-national-identity-language-and-religion-chart-data.xlsx |url-status=live }} [https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/search-the-census#/search-by Alternative URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514142653/https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/search-the-census#/search-by |date=14 May 2021 }} 'Search data by location' > 'Local Authority (CA2019)' > 'Aberdeen City' > 'Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion' > 'Ethnic Group'</ref>
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
![[White people|White]]: Total
!201,886
!98.53%
!205,974
!97.1%
!204,715
!91.88%
!193,921
!86.56%
|-
|White: [[Scottish people|Scottish]]
| –
| –
|181,718
|85.66%
|167,727
|75.28%
|151,844
|67.78%
|-
|White: [[White British|Other British]]
| –
| –
|16,682
|7.86%
|16,910
|7.6%
|16,680
|7.5%
|-
|White: [[Irish Briton|Irish]]
|1,251
|0.61%
|1,531
|0.7%
|2,213
|1%
|1,963
|0.9%
|-
|White: [[Irish Traveller|Gypsy/Traveller]]{{efn|name="new 2011 category"|New category created for the 2011 census}}
| –
| –
| –
| –
|279
|0.1%
|234
|0.1%
|-
|White: [[White Polish|Polish]]{{efn|name="new 2011 category"}}
| –
| –
| –
| –
|7,031
|3.2%
|9,876
|4.4%
|-
|White: [[White Other (United Kingdom Census)|Other]]
| –
| –
|6,043
|2.8%
|10,555
|4.7%
|13,330
|6.0%
|-
![[Asian people|Asian]], [[Asian-Scots|Asian Scottish]] or [[British Asian|Asian British]]: Total
!1,817
!0.88%
!3,240
!1.52%
!9,519
!4.27%
!13,091
!5.84%
|-
|Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: [[British Indian|Indian]]
|303
|0.1%
|837
|0.4%
|3,384
|1.5%
|5,021
|2.2%
|-
|Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: [[British Pakistani|Pakistani]]
|154
|0.1%
|407
|0.2%
|1,042
|0.5%
|1,834
|0.8%
|-
|Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: [[British Bangladeshi|Bangladeshi]]
|165
|0.1%
|336
|0.2%
|587
|0.3%
|997
|0.5%
|-
|Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: [[British Chinese|Chinese]]
|708
|0.3%
|1,199
|0.6%
|2,187
|1%
|2,255
|1%
|-
|Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: [[British Asian|Asian Other]]
|487
|0.2%
|461
|0.2%
|2,319
|1%
|2,984
|1.3%
|-
![[Black people|Black]], [[Black Scottish people|Black Scottish]] or [[Black British]]{{efn|Category restructured for the 2011 census}}
!521
!0.25%
!94
!–
!–
!–
!–
!–
|-
![[Black people|African]]: Total
!–
!–
!722
!0.34%
!5,042
!2.26%
!8,870
!3.96%
|-
|African: [[Black people|African]], [[Black Scottish people|African Scottish]] or [[Black British|African British]]
| –
| –
|722
|0.34%
|5,009
|2.2%
|587
|0.3%
|-
|African: [[Black British|Other African]]
| –
| –
| –
| –
|33 
|–
| 8,280
| 3.7%
|-
![[British African-Caribbean community|Caribbean]] or [[Black British|Black]]: Total
!–
!–
!159
!–
!588
!0.26%
!549
!0.25%
|-
|[[British African-Caribbean community|Caribbean]]
| –
| –
|159
| –
|296
|0.1%
|161
|–
|-
|[[Black British|Black]]
| –
| –
| –
| –
|214
|0.1%
|19
|–
|-
|Caribbean or Black: [[Other Black|Other]]
| –
| –
| –
| –
|78
|–
|369
|0.16%
|-
![[British Mixed|Mixed or multiple ethnic groups]]: Total
!–
!–
!863
!0.4%
!1,488
!0.66%
!3,990
!1.78%
|-
!Other: Total
!661
!0.32%
!1,073
!0.5%
!1,441
!0.64%
!3,597
!1.61%
|-
|Other: [[British Arabs|Arab]]{{efn|name="new 2011 category"}}
| –
| –
| –
| –
|993
|0.44%
|1,783
|0.80%
|-
|Other: Any other ethnic group
|661
|0.32%
|1,073
|0.5%
|448
|0.2%
|1,817
|0.81%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
!Total:
!204,885
!100%
!212,125
!100%
!222,793
!100%
!224,021
!100%
|}

{| class="wikitable floatright" style="margin-left:2em; font-size:95%;" cellspacing="3"
|+Aberdeen compared<ref name="aberdeencity.gov.uk" />
! [[2011 United Kingdom census]] || Aberdeen || Scotland
|-
|Total population||222,793||5,295,000
|-
|Population growth<br>2001–2011||5.0%||5.0%
|-
|}

The proportion of people residing in Aberdeen born outside the UK was 21.1% in 2022, compared with 15.9% in 2011 and 6.3% in 2001. Below are the fifteen largest overseas-born groups in Aberdeen according to the 2022 census, alongside the two previous censuses.<ref name="CountryBirth_22">{{cite web |title=Table UV204 – Country of birth: Country by Country of Birth by Individuals |url=https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/search-the-census#/location/topics/list?topic=Ethnicity,%20Identity,%20Language%20and%20Religion&categoryId=4 |publisher=National Records of Scotland |access-date=24 May 2024 |archive-date=14 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514142653/https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/search-the-census#/location/topics/list?topic=Ethnicity,%20Identity,%20Language%20and%20Religion&categoryId=4 |url-status=live }} > 'Aberdeen City' > 'Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion' > 'Country of birth: UV204'</ref>

{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable"
|-
!  style="text-align:center; background:#9dbec3;"|Country of birth
!  style="text-align:center; background:#9dbec3;"|2022
!  style="text-align:center; background:#9dbec3;"|2011
!  style="text-align:center; background:#9dbec3;"|2001
|-
|border = "1"|{{flagicon|Poland}} [[Poles in the United Kingdom|Poland]]
|align="right"|8,266
|align="right"|6,403
|align="right"|71
|-
|border = "1"|{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Nigerians in the United Kingdom|Nigeria]]
|align="right"|5,662
|align="right"|3,363
|align="right"|239
|-
|border = "1"|{{flag|India}}
|align="right"|3,815
|align="right"|2,802
|align="right"|625
|-
|border = "1"|{{flagicon|United States}} [[Americans in the United Kingdom|United States]]
|align="right"|1,379
|align="right"|1,346
|align="right"|1,081
|-
|border = "1"|{{flagicon|Romania}} [[Romanians in the United Kingdom|Romania]]
|align="right"|1,330
|align="right"|308
|align="right"|33
|-
|border = "1"|{{flagicon|Lithuania}} [[Lithuanians in the United Kingdom|Lithuania]]
|align="right"|1,229
|align="right"|823
|align="right"|0
|-
|border = "1"|{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Germans in the United Kingdom|Germany]]
|align="right"|1,170
|align="right"|1,458
|align="right"|1,003
|-
|border = "1"|{{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Latvians in the United Kingdom|Latvia]]
|align="right"|1,147
|align="right"|685
|align="right"|0
|-
|border = "1"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Irish people in Great Britain|Ireland]]
|align="right"|1,059
|align="right"|1,378
|align="right"|775
|-
|border = "1"|{{flag|Pakistan}}
|align="right"|948
|align="right"|550
|align="right"|180
|-
|border = "1"|{{flag|China}}
|align="right"|788
|align="right"|921
|align="right"|199
|-
|border = "1"|{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Italians in the United Kingdom|Italy]]
|align="right"|788
|align="right"|356
|align="right"|217
|-
|border = "1"|{{flagicon|Hungary}} [[Hungarians in the United Kingdom|Hungary]]
|align="right"|765
|align="right"|358
|align="right"|0
|-
|border = "1"|{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Spaniards in the United Kingdom|Spain]]
|align="right"|755
|align="right"|260
|align="right"|152
|-
|border = "1"|{{flagicon|France}} [[French migration to the United Kingdom|France]]
|align="right"|719
|align="right"|1,028
|align="right"|567
|-
!border = "1"|Overall – all overseas-born
!align="right"|47,197
!align="right"|35,436
!align="right"|13,264
|-
|}

===Religion===
{{Main|Religion in Aberdeen}}
[[File:St Andrew's Cathedral, King Street, Aberdeen.JPG|thumb|left|upright|[[St. Andrew's Cathedral, Aberdeen|St Andrew's Cathedral]], King Street]]
{{bar box
|title=Religion of Aberdeen residents, 2022
|caption= Source: 2022 census<ref name="Religion_22">{{cite web |title=Council Area 2019 by Religion by Individuals |url=https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/search-the-census#/location/topics/list?topic=Ethnic%20group,%20national%20identity,%20language%20and%20religion&categoryId=1 |publisher=[[National Records of Scotland]] |access-date=24 May 2024 |archive-date=14 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514142653/https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/search-the-census#/location/topics/list?topic=Ethnic%20group,%20national%20identity,%20language%20and%20religion&categoryId=1 |url-status=live }} Aberdeen City > Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion > Religion UV205</ref>
|titlebar=#ccc
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|No religion]]|#ccf|58.0}}
{{bar percent|Christian|#ccf|30.7}}
{{bar percent|Religion not stated|#ccf|5.8}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam in Scotland|Muslim]]|#ccf|2.9}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Scotland|Hindu]]|#ccf|1.3}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhism in Scotland|Buddhist]]|#ccf|0.5}}
{{bar percent|[[Modern paganism in the United Kingdom|Pagan]]|#ccf|0.4}}
{{bar percent|Other religion|#ccf|0.3}}
{{bar percent|[[Sikhism in Scotland|Sikh]]|#ccf|0.07}}
{{bar percent|[[History of the Jews in Scotland|Jewish]]|#ccf|0.06}}
}}
Christianity is the main religion practised in the city. Aberdeen's largest denominations are the [[Church of Scotland]] (through the [[Presbytery of Aberdeen]]) and the Roman [[Catholic Church]], both with numerous churches across the city, with the [[Scottish Episcopal Church]] having the third-largest number. The census in 2022 showed that Aberdeen has the highest proportion of non-religious residents of any city in Scotland, with 58% of citizens claiming to have no religion.<ref name="Religion_Census2022">{{cite web |title=Council Area 2019 by Religion by Individuals |url=https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/search-the-census#/location/topics/list?topic=Ethnic%20group,%20national%20identity,%20language%20and%20religion&categoryId=1 |publisher=[[National Records of Scotland]] |access-date=24 May 2024 |archive-date=14 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514142653/https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/search-the-census#/location/topics/list?topic=Ethnic%20group,%20national%20identity,%20language%20and%20religion&categoryId=1 |url-status=live }} Aberdeen City > Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion</ref>

In the [[Middle Ages]], the [[Kirk of St Nicholas, Aberdeen|Kirk of St&nbsp;Nicholas]] was the only burgh kirk and one of Scotland's largest parish churches. Like a number of other Scottish kirks, it was subdivided after the [[Scottish Reformation|Reformation]], in this case into the East and West churches. At that time, the city also was home to houses of the [[Carmelites]] (Whitefriars)<ref name='IA'>{{cite journal |author1=Alison Cameron |author2=Judith A. Stones |author3=Chris Croly |title=Excavations at Aberdeen's Carmelite Friary, 1980–1994 |journal=[[Internet Archaeology]] |volume=52 |date=2019 |issue=52 |doi=10.11141/ia.52.1 |url=http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue52/1/index.html |access-date=14 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513120837/http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue52/1/index.html |archive-date=13 May 2019 |url-status=live |doi-access=free }}</ref> and [[Franciscans]] (Greyfriars). The latter survives in modified form as the chapel of Marischal College.<ref>{{canmore|desc=Aberdeen, Broad Street, University of Aberdeen, Marischal College|num=125349|access-date=8 October 2022}}</ref>

[[St Machar's Cathedral]] was built twenty years after [[David I of Scotland|David I]] (1124–1153) transferred the pre-Reformation [[diocese]] from Mortlach in [[Banffshire]] to Old Aberdeen in 1137. Except the episcopate of [[William Elphinstone]] (1484–1511), building progressed slowly. [[Gavin Dunbar (Bishop of Aberdeen)|Gavin Dunbar]], who followed him in 1518, completed the structure by adding the two western spires and the southern transept. It is now a congregation of the [[Church of Scotland]]. Aberdeen has two other cathedrals: [[St. Mary's Cathedral, Aberdeen|St. Mary's Cathedral]] is a [[Roman Catholic]] cathedral in [[Gothic style]], erected in 1859. In addition, [[St. Andrew's Cathedral, Aberdeen|St. Andrew's Cathedral]] serves the [[Scottish Episcopal Church]]. It was constructed in 1817 as [[Archibald Simpson]]'s first commission and contains a memorial to the consecration of the first bishop of the [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America]], which took place nearby. In 1804, [[St Peter's Church, Aberdeen|St Peter's Church]], the first permanent Roman Catholic church in the city after the Reformation was built.<ref name=list>[http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/sc-19973-st-peter-s-r-c-church-and-presbytery-and- St Peter's R.c. Church and Presbytery and 1–5 Chapel Court, Aberdeen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205062008/http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/sc-19973-st-peter-s-r-c-church-and-presbytery-and- |date=5 February 2016 }} from British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 12 January 2016</ref>

Numerous other Protestant denominations have a presence in Aberdeen. [[The Salvation Army]] citadel on the Castlegate dominates the view of the east end of Union Street. In addition, there is a [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]] church, established in 1833 and located in Skene Terrace. [[Christadelphians]] have been present in Aberdeen since at least 1844. Over the years, they have rented space to meet at a number of locations and currently meet in the Inchgarth Community Centre in Garthdee.<ref>'[http://ukchristadelphians.org.uk/info.asp?act=ecc&id=3 Aberdeen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716012540/http://ukchristadelphians.org.uk/info.asp?act=ecc&id=3 |date=16 July 2011 }}' on ''Find your local Christadelphians''</ref> There is also a [[Quaker]] meetinghouse on Crown Street, the only purpose built [[Friends meeting house]] in Scotland that is still in use today. In addition, there are a number of Baptist congregations in the city, and [[Evangelical]] congregations have been appearing in significant numbers since the late 2000s. The city also has two meeting houses of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news-uk.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/new-church-leader-for-aberdeen-congregation|title=New Church Leader for Aberdeen Congregation|date=9 August 2015|publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008145232/https://news-uk.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/new-church-leader-for-aberdeen-congregation|url-status=live}}</ref>

There are also four [[Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre|mosques]] in Aberdeen which serve the Islamic community in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre |url=https://www.aberdeenmosque.org/ |access-date=1 January 2023 |website=aberdeenmosque.org |archive-date=1 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101192905/https://www.aberdeenmosque.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mosques in Aberdeen, UK |url=https://www.nearestmosque.com/uk/aberdeen |access-date=1 January 2023 |website=nearestmosque.com |archive-date=1 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101192900/https://www.nearestmosque.com/uk/aberdeen |url-status=live }}</ref> There is an [[Aberdeen Synagogue|Orthodox Jewish Synagogue]] established in 1945. There is also a Thai [[Buddhist]] temple located in the Hazelhead area of the city. There are no formal [[Hinduism|Hindu]] buildings, although there is a fortnightly Hindu religious gathering on the first and third Sunday afternoons at Queens Cross Parish church hall.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aberdeen Hindu Association|url=http://www.aberdeentemple.org.uk/home.html|access-date=12 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622072117/http://www.aberdeentemple.org.uk/home.html|archive-date=22 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[University of Aberdeen]] has a small [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼí]] society.

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Aberdeen|Petroleum industry in Aberdeen}}
[[File:2 Pics i took Back in 06 19 . (49799093462).jpg|thumb|right|Ships off the coast of Aberdeen in the [[North Sea]], supporting the production of [[North Sea oil|North Sea oil and gas]]]]

Traditionally, Aberdeen was home to fishing, textile mills, shipbuilding and paper-making. These industries have been largely replaced. High technology developments in the electronics design and development industry, research in agriculture and fishing and the [[oil industry]], which have been largely responsible for Aberdeen's economic growth, are now major parts of Aberdeen's economy.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3236703.stm |title=A burst of energy in Europe's oil capital |publisher=BBC News |date=12 November 2003 |access-date=18 February 2007 |archive-date=25 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125122938/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3236703.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Until the 1970s, most of Aberdeen's leading industries dated from the 18th century; mainly these were textiles, foundry work, shipbuilding and paper-making, the oldest industry in the city, with paper having been first made there in 1694. Paper-making has reduced in importance since the closures of Donside Paper Mill in 2001 and the Davidson Mill in 2005 leaving the [[Paper mills of Aberdeen|Stoneywood Paper Mill]] with a workforce of approximately 500. Textile production ended in 2004 when [[Richards of Aberdeen]] closed.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4022695.stm| title=Jobs go at Aberdeen textile firm| date=18 November 2004| publisher=[[BBC News]]| access-date=9 October 2009| archive-date=13 August 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813070536/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4022695.stm| url-status=live}}</ref>

Grey granite was [[quarry|quarried]] at [[Rubislaw quarry]] for more than 300 years, and used for paving setts, kerb and building stones, and monumental and other ornamental pieces. Aberdeen granite was used to build the terraces of the [[Houses of Parliament]] and [[Waterloo Bridge]] in London. Quarrying finally ceased in 1971. The current owners have begun pumping 40 years of rainwater from the quarry to develop a heritage centre on the site.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-19296757|title=Water pumping work starts at Rubislaw Quarry in Aberdeen|publisher=BBC News|access-date=18 October 2012|date=17 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713191152/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-19296757|archive-date=13 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:NDBQ 26 - 10th Jan 2015.JPG|thumb|left|Neptune Energy and Aker Solutions Buildings, North Dee Business Quarter. An example of modern offices becoming more prevalent in Aberdeen's City Centre]]

In-shore fishing was once the predominant industry but was surpassed by deep-sea fisheries, which derived a great impetus from improved technologies throughout the 20th century. Catches have fallen because of overfishing and the use of the harbour by oil support vessels,<ref name="harbour">{{cite web|url=http://www.aberdeen-harbour.co.uk/history.html|title=Aberdeen Harbour: A History of Service|publisher=Aberdeen Harbour Board|access-date=18 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403194640/http://www.aberdeen-harbour.co.uk/history.html|archive-date=3 April 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> and so although still an important fishing port it is now eclipsed by the more northerly ports of [[Peterhead]] and [[Fraserburgh]]. The [[Fisheries Research Services]] are headquartered in Aberdeen, and there is a marine research laboratory there.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bodc.ac.uk/resources/inventories/edmed/org/38/|title=Fisheries Research Services, Aberdeen Marine Laboratory, United Kingdom|publisher=British Oceanographic Data Centre|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008145831/https://www.bodc.ac.uk/resources/inventories/edmed/org/38/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Aberdeen is well regarded for the agricultural and soil research carried out at [[The James Hutton Institute]] (formerly the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute), which has close links to the city's two universities. The [[Rowett Research Institute]] is a world-renowned research centre for studies into food and nutrition located in Aberdeen. It has produced three Nobel laureates and there is a high concentration of [[life scientists]] working in the city.<ref name="rowett">{{cite web|url=http://www.rowett.ac.uk/institute/history.html|title=History and Background|publisher=Rowett Research Institute |access-date=1 February 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061229125832/http://www.rowett.ac.uk/institute/history.html| archive-date= 29 December 2006 }}</ref><ref name="newscientist">{{cite web|title=A Scientist's guide to Scotland |work=New Scientist |access-date=9 May 2013 |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18524852.500-a-scientists-guide-to-scotland.html |archive-date=2 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202113753/http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18524852.500-a-scientists-guide-to-scotland.html }}</ref>

As oil reserves in the North Sea decrease, there is an effort to rebrand Aberdeen as "Energy Capital of Europe" rather than "Oil Capital of Europe", and there is interest in the development of new energy sources, and technology transfer from oil into renewable energy and other industries is underway. The "Energetica" initiative led by Scottish Enterprise has been designed to accelerate this process.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3236703.stm |title=A burst of energy in Europe's oil capital |publisher=BBC News |date=12 November 2003 |access-date=18 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040727125146/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3236703.stm |archive-date=27 July 2004 |url-status=live }}</ref> Aberdeen has become a major world centre for undersea petroleum technology.<ref name=NYT72813>{{cite news|title=Aberdeen, a City With One Foot on the Seafloor|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/29/business/global/aberdeen-a-city-with-one-foot-on-the-seafloor.html|access-date=29 August 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=28 July 2013|author=Stanley Reed|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130803031015/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/29/business/global/aberdeen-a-city-with-one-foot-on-the-seafloor.html|archive-date=3 August 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/technology/article/underwater-drones-set-to-save-aberdeen-s-oil-economy-d3xnz6d9b|title=Underwater drones set to save Aberdeen's oil economy|date=15 August 2016|newspaper=[[The Times]]|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008150333/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/underwater-drones-set-to-save-aberdeen-s-oil-economy-d3xnz6d9b|url-status=live}}</ref>

===North Sea oil and gas===
{{Further|Aberdeen Harbour|North Sea oil}}[[File:All go @ Aberdeen Harbour 05 04 2020 (49739619411).jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|Aberdeen Harbour]]
Aberdeen had been a major maritime centre throughout the 19th century, when a group of local entrepreneurs launched the first steam-powered trawler. The steam trawling industry expanded and by 1933 Aberdeen was Scotland's top fishing port, employing nearly 3,000 men with 300 vessels sailing from its harbour. By the time oil was coming on stream, much of the trawling fleet had relocated to [[Peterhead]].<ref>[https://www.peterheadport.co.uk/about/history Port History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814080851/https://www.peterheadport.co.uk/about/history |date=14 August 2020 }} – PeterheadPort.co.uk</ref>

Geologists had speculated about oil and gas in the North Sea since the middle of the 20th century, but tapping its deep and inhospitable waters was another story. With the Middle Eastern oil sheiks becoming more aware of the political and economic power of their oil reserves and government threats of rationing, the industry began to consider the North Sea as a viable source of oil. Exploration commenced in the 1960s and the first major find in the British sector was in November 1970 in the Forties field, {{convert|110|mi}} east of Aberdeen.<ref name=":1" />

By late 1975, after years of intense construction, the necessary infrastructure was in place. Oil flowed through the [[Forties pipeline system]] directly to the refinery at far-away [[Grangemouth]].<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/news-and-insights/press-releases/bp-to-sell-forties-pipeline-system-to-ineos.html | title=BP to sell Forties Pipeline System to INEOS | publisher=[[BP]] | date=3 April 2017 | access-date=8 October 2022 | archive-date=8 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008151144/https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/news-and-insights/press-releases/bp-to-sell-forties-pipeline-system-to-ineos.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Business===
[[File:07 25 and an almost Deserted Union Street Aberdeen , Bar 1 Van ...... Never ever seen it this Deserted even @ 4am drunk.... (49738301873).jpg|thumb|right|Union Street towards Castlegate (facing east)]]

In 2011, the Centre for Cities named Aberdeen as the best-placed city for growth in Britain, as the country looked to emerge from the recent economic downturn.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12261716|title=Aberdeen 'best-placed city for growth' in Britain|publisher=BBC News|access-date=18 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127074124/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12261716|archive-date=27 January 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> With energy still providing the backbone of the local economy, recent years have seen very large new investment in the North Sea owing to rising oil prices and favourable government tax incentives.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/9991640/Record-rise-in-North-Sea-oil-and-gas-investment-expected.html|title=Record rise in North Sea oil and gas investment expected|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|access-date=3 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010084615/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/9991640/Record-rise-in-North-Sea-oil-and-gas-investment-expected.html|archive-date=10 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> This has led to several oil majors and independents building new global offices in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.engie-ep.com/en/news-and-media/news/2013/21-02-2013.aspx?sc_lang=en|title=Construction gets underway for new GDF Suez E&P UK Aberdeen premises|publisher=GDF Suez E&P|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830085637/http://www.engie-ep.com/en/news-and-media/news/2013/21-02-2013.aspx?sc_lang%3Den|archive-date=30 August 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=3 August 2013}}</ref>

Five of Scotland's top ten businesses are based in Aberdeen with a collective turnover of £14 billion, yielding a profit in excess of £2.4 billion. Alongside this 29 of Scotland's top 100 businesses are located in Aberdeen with an employment rate of 77.9%, making it the second highest UK city for employment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aberdeeninvestlivevisit.co.uk/Invest/Facts-and-Literature/Invest-Facts-and-Literature.aspx|title=Invest Aberdeen Facts & Figures|publisher=Aberdeen Invest Live Visit|access-date=21 September 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014115545/http://www.aberdeeninvestlivevisit.co.uk/Invest/Facts-and-Literature/Invest-Facts-and-Literature.aspx|archive-date=14 October 2013}}</ref>

Figures released in 2016 ranked Aberdeen as having the second highest number of patents processed per person in the UK.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/buoy-oh-buoy-aberdeen-a-leader-in-patents-race/|title=Anti-gravity machine among inventions making Aberdeen a leader in patents race|work=Evening Express|access-date=2 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203001957/https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/buoy-oh-buoy-aberdeen-a-leader-in-patents-race/|archive-date=3 February 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Shopping===

The traditional shopping streets are [[Union Street, Aberdeen|Union Street]] and [[George Street, Aberdeen|George Street]], now complemented by shopping centres, including the [[Bon Accord Centre]] and the [[Trinity Centre, Aberdeen|Trinity Shopping Centre]]. A£190 million retail development, [[Union Square Aberdeen|Union Square]], reached completion in late September/early October 2009.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=30 October 2018|title=Council leader welcomes Union Square proposals|url=http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/acci/web/site/CouncilNews/pr/pr_hammer_280706.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927031735/http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/acci/web/site/CouncilNews/pr/pr_hammer_280706.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2007|date=27 September 2007}}</ref> Major [[retail park]]s away from the city centre include the Berryden Retail Park, the Kittybrewster Retail Park and the Beach Boulevard Retail Park. [[Aberdeen Market]] has been rebuilt twice, but closed in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cowgills appointed administrator of Aberdeen Market Village|url=https://scottishfinancialnews.com/article/cowgills-appointed-administrator-of-aberdeen-market-village|access-date=25 January 2021|website=Scottish Financial News|date=16 June 2020|archive-date=2 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202113526/https://scottishfinancialnews.com/article/cowgills-appointed-administrator-of-aberdeen-market-village|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2004, Aberdeen was awarded [[Fairtrade City]] status by the [[Fairtrade Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aberdeenfairtrade.website.orange.co.uk/ |publisher=Aberdeenfairtrade.org.uk |title=Aberdeen Fairtrade |access-date=25 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091225172708/http://aberdeenfairtrade.website.orange.co.uk/ |archive-date=25 December 2009}}</ref>

==Landmarks==
{{Main|Architecture of Aberdeen|Green spaces and walkways in Aberdeen|Aberdeen theatres and concert halls}}
[[File:Duthie Park, Aberdeen.JPG|thumb|left|Duthie Park]]

Aberdeen's architecture is known for its principal use during the Victorian era of [[granite]], which has led to its local nickname of the Granite City.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geoexpro.com/articles/2014/10/aberdeen-the-granite-city|title=Aberdeen: The Granite City|first=Paul|last=Archer|publisher=GEO Expro|volume=10|year=2014|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008151837/https://www.geoexpro.com/articles/2014/10/aberdeen-the-granite-city|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Amongst the notable buildings in the city's main street, [[Union Street, Aberdeen|Union Street]], are the Town and County Bank, [[The Music Hall (Aberdeen)|the Music Hall]], the [[Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen|Trinity Hall of the incorporated trades]] (originating between 1398 and 1527, although completely rebuilt in the 1860s), now a shopping mall; the former office of the Northern Assurance Company, and the [[National Bank of Scotland]]. In Castle Street, a continuation eastwards of Union Street, is the new [[Aberdeen Town House]], a very prominent landmark in Aberdeen, built between 1868 and 1873 to a design by Peddie and Kinnear.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst6629.html |title=Overview of Town House |publisher=University of Edinburgh |access-date=25 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714032327/http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst6629.html |archive-date=14 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Alexander Marshall Mackenzie]]'s extension to [[Marischal College]] on Broad Street, opened by King [[Edward VII]] in 1906, created the second largest granite building in the world (after the [[Escorial]], Madrid).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1482.html |title=Overview of Marischal College |publisher=University of Edinburgh |access-date=25 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607084956/http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1482.html |archive-date=7 June 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In addition to the many fine landmark buildings, Aberdeen has many prominent public statues, three of the most notable being [[William Wallace]] at the junction between Union Terrace and Rosemount Viaduct, [[Robert Burns]] on Union Terrace above [[Union Terrace Gardens]], and Robert the Bruce holding aloft the charter he issued to the city in 1319 on Broad Street, outside [[Marischal College]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-13334869|title=New Robert the Bruce statue unveiled in Aberdeen|date=9 May 2011|publisher=BBC|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008152026/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-13334869|url-status=live}}</ref>

Aberdeen has long been famous for its 45<ref name="floral" /> parks and gardens, and citywide floral displays which include two million roses, eleven million daffodils and three million crocuses. The city has won the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s [[Britain in Bloom]] 'Best City' award ten times,<ref name="floral">{{cite web| url=http://www.british-publishing.com/Pages/AberdeenOG/floral.html| title=Floral Capital of Scotland|publisher=British Publishing| date=20 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401110049/http://www.british-publishing.com/Pages/AberdeenOG/floral.html|archive-date=1 April 2007|url-status=usurped}}</ref> the overall Scotland in Bloom competition twenty times<ref name="floral" /> and the large city category every year since 1968.<ref name="floral" /> However, despite recent spurious reports, Aberdeen has never been banned from the Britain in Bloom competition.<ref>{{Cite news| first=Maureen| last=Simpson| url=http://www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom/scotland/aberdeen2006.asp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929103259/http://www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom/scotland/aberdeen2006.asp | archive-date=29 September 2007 | title=We're top of Brit parade| publisher=Press and Journal| date=22 September 2006}}</ref> The city won the 2006 Scotland in Bloom "Best City" award along with the International Cities in Bloom award. The suburb of Dyce also won the Small Towns award.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom/scotland/aberdeen2006.asp| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929103259/http://www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom/scotland/aberdeen2006.asp| archive-date=29 September 2007| title=2006 winners| publisher=Royal Horticultural Society| access-date=8 February 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149235&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149218&contentPK=16277782&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch |title=Aberdeen's blooming success goes worldwide |publisher=Press and Journal |date=28 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041222032252/http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149235 |archive-date=22 December 2004 }}</ref>

[[Duthie Park]] opened in 1899 on the north bank of the [[River Dee, Aberdeenshire|River Dee]]. It was named after and given to the city by Miss Elizabeth Crombie Duthie of Ruthrieston in 1881.<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 January 2022|title=Duthie Park {{!}} Aberdeen City Council|url=https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/leisure-culture-and-parks/parks-and-gardens/duthie-park|access-date=16 February 2022|website=aberdeencity.gov.uk|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008152218/https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/leisure-culture-and-parks/parks-and-gardens/duthie-park|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Hazlehead Park]], is large and forested, and located on the outskirts of the city.<ref name='hazelhead'>{{cite web |url=http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/councilnews/ci_cns/pr_maze_160606.asp |title=Hazlehead maze opens for the summer |access-date=24 February 2010 |date=16 June 2006 |work=Aberdeen City Council News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229151308/http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/councilnews/ci_cns/pr_maze_160606.asp |archive-date=29 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Johnston Gardens]] is a small park of one hectare in the west end of the city. In 2002, the garden was named the best garden in the [[British Islands]].<ref name="floral" /> [[Seaton Park]], formerly the grounds of a private house, is on the edge of the grounds of [[St Machar's Cathedral]] and was acquired for the city in 1947.<ref>{{cite news|title=Seaton Park|url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst11344.html|access-date=14 January 2018|work=Gazetteer for Scotland|archive-date=16 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116004214/http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst11344.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Aberdeen has hosted several theatres throughout its history, some of which have been converted or destroyed. The most famous include:
* [[His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen|His Majesty's Theatre]] (HMT), on Rosemount Viaduct<ref name="autogenerated65">Edi Swan: ''His Majesty's Theatre – One Hundred Years of Glorious Damnation'' ([[Black & White Publishing]]) (2006); {{ISBN|978-1-84502-102-3}}</ref>
* [[Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen|The Tivoli]], on Guild Street<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aberdeentivoli.net |title=Aberdeen Tivoli Theatre Website |publisher=Aberdeentivoli.net |access-date=25 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723001802/http://www.aberdeentivoli.net/ |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Capitol Theatre, Aberdeen|Capitol Theatre]], on Union Street<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB20547|desc=431 Union Street Including 429, 433, 441, 443 Union Street, Former Capitol Cinema|cat=B|access-date=15 March 2019}}</ref>
* [[Aberdeen Arts Centre]], on King Street<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB19946 |desc= 33 King Street, Aberdeen Arts Centre |cat=A |access-date=26 March 2019}}</ref>
* The Palace Theatre, on Bridge Street<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Aberdeen.htm|title=Aberdeen Theatres and Halls|publisher=Arthurlloyd.co.uk|date=13 March 2004|access-date=25 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816024242/http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Aberdeen.htm|archive-date=16 August 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The main concert hall is the [[Music Hall Aberdeen|Music Hall]] on Union Street, built in 1822.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB19991|desc=Union Street, South Silver Street and Golden Square, Music Hall|cat=A|access-date=1 April 2019}}</ref>

==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in Aberdeen}}

===Railway===
[[File:Aberdeen Station Concourse in September 2022.jpg | thumb | right | alt=Station concourse | [[Aberdeen railway station|Aberdeen Station]] concourse in 2022]]

[[Aberdeen railway station]] is served by four [[train operating companies]]:
* [[ScotRail]] operates frequent direct trains to Scotland's major cities: [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh]], [[Glasgow Queen Street railway station|Glasgow]] and {{rws|Inverness}}; it also runs local services to {{rws|Inverurie}} and {{rws|Montrose}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/timetables |website=ScotRail |title=Timetable |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=2 October 2024 |archive-date=1 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401011924/https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/timetables |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[London North Eastern Railway]] operates services on the [[East Coast Main Line]] to Edinburgh, {{rws|Newcastle}}, {{rws|York}}, {{rws|Doncaster}} and {{rws|London King's Cross}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lner.co.uk/travel-information/travelling-later/timetables/ |website=LNER |title=Download our current timetables |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=2 October 2024 |archive-date=22 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922141135/https://www.lner.co.uk/travel-information/travelling-later/timetables/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[CrossCountry]] operates the UK's longest direct rail journey from Aberdeen to {{rws|Penzance}}. It leaves at 08:20 on weekdays and takes 13 hours and 23 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/travel-updates-information/train-timetables |website=CrossCountry |title=Train timetables |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=2 October 2024 |archive-date=21 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121114722/https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/travel-updates-information/train-timetables |url-status=live }}</ref> The service is due to cease operation on the 16th May and after this date the service will terminate in [[Plymouth railway station|Plymouth]], and no longer hold the title for the UK's longest direct rail journey.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/crosscountry-train-aberdeen-penzance-cancelled-b2732873.html |website=Independent |title=UK’s longest direct train route cancelled by CrossCountry |date=20 April 2025 |access-date=20 April 2025 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Caledonian Sleeper]] runs overnight sleeper services to and from {{rws|London Euston}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sleeper.scot/travel-updates/all-timetables/ |website=Caledonian Sleeper |title=All timetables |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=2 October 2024 |archive-date=30 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930205616/https://sleeper.scot/travel-updates/all-timetables/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Today, all railway services to the south run via {{rws|Dundee}}. The faster main line from Aberdeen to {{rws|Perth}} via {{rws|Forfar}} and {{rws|Strathmore}} closed in 1967, as a result of the [[Beeching cuts]]; the faster main line from Perth to Edinburgh via {{rws|Glenfarg}} also closed subsequently in 1970.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

A second station, at {{rws|Dyce}}, serves the north of the city centre; it is on the [[Aberdeen–Inverness line]].

===Roads===
[[File:Approaching the Aberdeen - Forfar Road (A90 dual carriageway) from the Tannadice Road - geograph.org.uk - 1216200.jpg | thumb | right | alt=Road | [[A90 road|A90 Road]]]]
There are six major roads in and out of the city:
* The [[A90 road|A90]] is the main arterial route into the city from the north and south, linking Aberdeen to Edinburgh (via the [[M90 motorway|M90]]), [[Dundee]], [[Brechin]] and [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]] in the south and [[Ellon, Aberdeenshire|Ellon]], [[Peterhead]] and [[Fraserburgh]] in the north. In 2019, the [[Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route]] bypass was completed
* The A96 links [[Elgin, Moray|Elgin]] and [[Inverness]] and the north-west
* The A93 is the main route to the west, heading towards Royal Deeside and the [[Cairngorms]]. After [[Braemar]], it turns south, providing an alternative tourist route to Perth. 
* The A944 also heads west, through [[Westhill, Aberdeenshire|Westhill]] and on to [[Alford, Aberdeenshire|Alford]]. 
* The A92 was the original southerly road to Aberdeen prior to the building of the A90; it is now used as a tourist route, connecting the city to the towns of [[Montrose, Angus|Montrose]] and [[Arbroath]], and to the east coast.
* The A947 exits the city at [[Dyce]] and continues to [[Newmachar]], [[Oldmeldrum]], [[Turriff]], [[Banff, Aberdeenshire|Banff]] and [[Macduff, Aberdeenshire|Macduff]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consultation.aberdeencity.gov.uk/place/a947-bucksburn-roundabout-to-parkhill-junction-mul/|title=A947 Bucksburn Roundabout to Parkhill Junction Multi-Modal Corridor Study|publisher=Aberdeen City Council|date=22 July 2022|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008153637/https://consultation.aberdeencity.gov.uk/place/a947-bucksburn-roundabout-to-parkhill-junction-mul/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Buses and coaches===
[[File:SV70BWL First Aberdeen 39702 Wright Streetdeck Hydroliner FCEV.jpg | thumb | right | alt=Double decker bus | [[First Aberdeen]]]]
[[First Aberdeen]] operates the majority of city bus services, as the successor to Grampian Regional Transport (GRT) and [[Aberdeen Corporation Tramways]]. Secondary operators include [[Stagecoach Bluebird]] and [[Stagecoach East Scotland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bustimes.org/localities/aberdeen |title=Aberdeen: Ferry, coach and bus services |website=Bustimes.org |access-date=2 October 2024 |archive-date=14 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214044540/https://bustimes.org/localities/aberdeen |url-status=live }}</ref>

Aberdeen is the global headquarters of parent company [[FirstGroup plc]], having grown from the [[GRT Group]]. First is still based at the former Aberdeen Tramways depot on King Street, which has now been redeveloped into a new headquarters and bus depot.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north+east-orkney+shetland-10647620 The Princess Royal opens FirstGroup's new Aberdeen base] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714014247/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north+east-orkney+shetland-10647620 |date=14 July 2023 }} BBC News 15 July 2010</ref>

Coach services are operated by:
* [[National Express Coaches|National Express]] runs express coach services to London twice daily
* [[Bruce's Coaches]] of [[Salsburgh]] runs the 590 service, which leaves in the morning and calls at [[Dundee]], [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]], Glasgow, [[Hamilton, South Lanarkshire|Hamilton]], [[Carlisle]], [[Milton Keynes]] and London's [[Victoria Coach Station]]
* [[Park's Motor Group|Parks of Hamilton]] operates the overnight 592, which calls at Dundee, Glasgow, Hamilton, Carlisle, [[Heathrow Airport]] and London Victoria.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europebus.co.uk/london-to-aberdeen-with-national-express-and-megabus-coach/|title=London to Aberdeen by direct bus services |publisher=Europe Bus|access-date=8 October 2022 |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008154205/https://www.europebus.co.uk/london-to-aberdeen-with-national-express-and-megabus-coach/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

On the 18th of April 2025, the "Aberdeen Adventurer" tour bus scheme ran by [[McGill's Bus Services]] was launched with 10 stops around the city on a 75-minute loop. Stops include [[King's College, Aberdeen|King's College]], [[Pittodrie Stadium]] and the [[Aberdeen Art Gallery]] with the service due to end on the 21st of September 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.xploredundee.com/aberdeen-adventurer|title=The Aberdeen Adventurer |publisher=McGills group|access-date=29 April 2025}}</ref>

===Air===
[[File:Aberdeen Airport terminal close up 23-03-11.JPG | thumb | right | alt=Airport building | [[Aberdeen Airport]] in 2011]]
[[Aberdeen Airport|Aberdeen International Airport]] (ABZ), sited in Dyce in the north of the city, serves domestic and international destinations in France, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland and Scandinavian countries. The heliport, which serves the oil industry and rescue services, is one of the world's busiest commercial heliports.<ref name="BAA"/>

===Cycling===
Aberdeen is connected to the UK's [[National Cycle Network]]; it has a track to the south, connecting to cities including Dundee and Edinburgh, and one to the north that forks about <span style="white-space:nowrap;">{{convert|10|mi|km|round=5}}</span> from the city into two different tracks heading to Inverness and Fraserburgh respectively. Two popular [[shared-use path]]s, along old railway lines, are the [[Deeside Way]] to [[Banchory]] (which will eventually connect to Ballater) and the [[Formartine and Buchan Way]] to Ellon, both used by a mixture of cyclists, walkers and occasionally horses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scotlandsgreattrails.com/trail/formartine-buchan-way//|title=Formatine and Buchan Way|publisher=Scotland's Great Trails |access-date=22 August 2018 |archive-date=13 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013130252/https://www.scotlandsgreattrails.com/trail/formartine-buchan-way/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Water===
Aberdeen Harbour is important as the largest in the north of Scotland and serves the ferry route to [[Orkney]] and [[Shetland]]. Established in 1136, the harbour has been referred to as the "oldest business in Britain".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-publishing.com/Pages/AberdeenOG/fact.html |title=It's a fact: 50 things you may not have known about Aberdeen |publisher=Aberdeen Official Guide |access-date=15 February 2007 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207054314/http://www.british-publishing.com/Pages/AberdeenOG/fact.html |archive-date=7 December 2006 }}</ref>

The Dee Estuary, Aberdeen's harbour, started out as a fishing port, moving on to steam trawlers and serving the oil industry; it is now a major port of departure for the [[Baltic region|Baltic]] and [[Scandinavia]].<ref name=EB>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Dale H. |editor-last=Hoiberg |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |title=Aberdeen |edition=15th |year=2010 |volume=I: A-ak Bayes |isbn=978-1-59339-837-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/27 27–28] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/27 |access-date=7 September 2019 }}</ref>

==Education==
{{Main|Education in Aberdeen}}

===Universities and colleges===
[[File:New King's, Aberdeen University - geograph.org.uk - 2630798.jpg|thumb|The New King's College building of the [[University of Aberdeen]]]]

Aberdeen has two universities, the ancient [[University of Aberdeen]], and [[Robert Gordon University]], a modern university often referred to as RGU. Aberdeen has a high proportion of students of 11.5%, higher than the national average of 7%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Education&mainLevel=CouncilArea&mainArea=Aberdeen+City&mainText=&mainTextExplicitMatch=null&compLevel=CountryProfile&compArea=Scotland&compText=&compTextExplicitMatch=null |title=Comparative Education Profile: Aberdeen City Council Area, Scotland |access-date=21 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213314/https://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Education&mainLevel=CouncilArea&mainArea=Aberdeen+City&mainText=&mainTextExplicitMatch=null&compLevel=CountryProfile&compArea=Scotland&compText=&compTextExplicitMatch=null |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref>

The [[University of Aberdeen]] began as [[King's College, Aberdeen]], which was founded in 1495<ref name=EB/> by [[William Elphinstone]] (1431–1514), [[Bishop of Aberdeen]] and Chancellor of Scotland. [[Marischal College]], a separate institution, was founded in "New" Aberdeen by [[George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal|George Keith]], fifth Earl Marischal of Scotland in 1593.<ref name=EB/> These institutions were merged by order{{Fix|text=Act?}} of Parliament in 1860 to form the University of Aberdeen.<ref name=EB/> The university is the fifth oldest in the English-speaking world<ref name="university">{{Cite book|first=Jennifer|last=Carter|title=Crown and Gown: Illustrated History of the University of Aberdeen, 1495–1995|year=1994|location=Aberdeen|publisher=Aberdeen University Press}}</ref> and offers degrees in a full range of disciplines. Its main campus is in Old Aberdeen in the north of the city and it currently has approximately 14,000 students. The university's debating society is the oldest in Scotland, founded in 1848 as the King's College Debating Society.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aberdeen University Debater|url=http://www.thedebater.org/about|publisher=Aberdeen University Debater|access-date=13 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917031002/http://www.thedebater.org/about/|archive-date=17 September 2013}}</ref> Today, Aberdeen is consistently ranked among the top 200 universities in the world<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topuniversities.com/node/2162/ranking-details/world-university-rankings/2014|title=University of Aberdeen Rankings|publisher=Quacquarelli Symonds|access-date=4 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920155518/https://www.topuniversities.com/node/2162/ranking-details/world-university-rankings/2014|archive-date=20 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and is ranked within the top 20 universities in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings|title=Top UK University League Tables and Rankings 2019|access-date=12 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625164636/http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings/|archive-date=25 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nuk-tnl-editorial-prod-staticassets.s3.amazonaws.com/2016/bespoke/university-guide/index.html|title=University Guide 2016 – The Times|website=nuk-tnl-editorial-prod-staticassets.s3.amazonaws.com|access-date=26 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112081423/http://nuk-tnl-editorial-prod-staticassets.s3.amazonaws.com/2016/bespoke/university-guide/index.html|archive-date=12 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Aberdeen was also named the 2019 Scottish University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/12263/|title=University of Aberdeen named Scottish University of the Year|website=abdn.ac.uk|access-date=21 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921153227/https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/12263/|archive-date=21 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In early 2022, Aberdeen opened the [[Science Teaching Hub]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Science Teaching Hub {{!}} Study Here {{!}} The University of Aberdeen |url=https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/student-life/sth.php |access-date=17 April 2022 |website=abdn.ac.uk |archive-date=5 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305220906/https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/student-life/sth.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Robert Gordon's College]] (originally Robert Gordon's Hospital) was founded in 1750 by the merchant [[Robert Gordon (philanthropist)|Robert Gordon]],<ref name=EB/> grandson of the map maker Robert Gordon of Straloch, and was further endowed in 1816 by Alexander Simpson of Collyhill. Originally devoted to the instruction and maintenance of the sons of poor [[Burgesses of Guild of Aberdeen|burgesses of guild]] and trade in the city, it was reorganised in 1881 as a day and night school for secondary and technical education. In 1903, the vocational education component of the college was designated a [[Central Institution]] and was renamed as the Robert Gordon Institute of Technology in 1965. In 1992, university status was awarded and it became [[Robert Gordon University]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our History {{!}} About {{!}} RGU|url=https://www.rgu.ac.uk/about/our-history|access-date=8 July 2020|website=rgu.ac.uk|archive-date=9 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709020959/https://www.rgu.ac.uk/about/our-history|url-status=live}}</ref> The university has expanded and developed significantly in recent years, and was named Best Modern University in the UK for 2012 by ''[[The Sunday Times]]''. It was previously ''The Sunday Times'' Scottish University of the Year for 2011, primarily because of its record on graduate employment. The citation for the 2011 award read: "With a graduate unemployment rate that is lower than the most famous universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, plus a flourishing reputation for research, high student satisfaction rates and ambitious plans for its picturesque campus, the Robert Gordon University is The Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year".<ref>''The Sunday Times'', 12 September 2010 (subscription only).</ref>

[[File:North-East Scotland College, Gallowgate, Aberdeen (geograph 6702928).jpg|thumb|left|North East Scotland College]]

Aberdeen is also home to two artistic schools: [[Gray's School of Art]], founded in 1886, which is one of the oldest established colleges of art in the UK. [[Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment]], was one of the first architectural schools to have its training courses recognised by the [[Royal Institute of British Architects]]. Both are now part of [[Robert Gordon University]] and are based at its Garthdee campus. [[North East Scotland College]] has several campuses in the city and offers a wide variety of part-time and full-time courses leading to several different qualifications in science. The [[Scottish Agricultural College]] is based just outside Aberdeen, on the Craibstone Estate. This is situated beside the roundabout for Aberdeen Airport on the A96. The college provides three services—Learning, Research and Consultancy. The college features many land-based courses such as Agriculture, Countryside Management, Sustainable Environmental Management and Rural Business Management. There are a variety of courses from diplomas to master's degrees. The [[Marine Laboratory Aberdeen]], which specialises in fisheries, [[Macaulay Land Use Research Institute]] (soil science), and the [[Rowett Research Institute]] (animal nutrition) are some other higher education institutions.<ref name=EB/>

The Aberdeen College of Performing Arts also provides full-time Drama and Musical Theatre training at Further Education level.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aberdeencollegepa.co.uk/|title=About us|publisher=Aberdeen College of Performing Arts|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008154730/https://www.aberdeencollegepa.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Schools===
[[File:Cults Academy Car Park.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cults Academy]], established in 1967]]

There are currently 15 secondary schools and 54 primary schools which are run by the city council. There are a number of private schools in Aberdeen: [[Robert Gordon's College]], [[Albyn School]], [[St&nbsp;Margaret's School for Girls]], the [[International School of Aberdeen]] and a [[Steiner school|Waldorf/Steiner School]].<ref name=schools>{{cite web|url=https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/education-and-childcare/find-school|title=List of Aberdeen City schools|date=9 May 2022|publisher=Aberdeen City Council|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008155008/https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/education-and-childcare/find-school|url-status=live}}</ref>

State primary schools in Aberdeen include [[Airyhall Primary School]], [[Ashley Road Primary School]], Balgownie Primary School, Bramble Brae Primary School, Broomhill Primary School, Cornhill Primary School (the city's largest), Culter Primary School, Cults Primary School, [[Danestone Primary School]], Fernielea Primary school, Ferryhill Primary School, [[Gilcomstoun Primary School]], Glashieburn Primary School, Greenbrae School, Hamilton School, Kaimhill Primary School, Kingsford Primary School, Kittybrewster Primary School, Middleton Park Primary School, Mile End School, Muirfield Primary School, [[Skene Square Primary School]], and St. Joseph's Primary School.<ref name=schools/>

State secondary schools in Aberdeen include [[Aberdeen Grammar School]], [[Albyn School]], [[Bridge of Don Academy]], [[Bucksburn Academy]], [[Cults Academy]], [[Dyce Academy]], [[Harlaw Academy]], [[Hazlehead Academy]], [[Lochside Academy]], [[Northfield Academy]], [[Oldmachar Academy]], [[Robert Gordon's College]], [[St Machar Academy]], [[St Margaret's School for Girls]], and [[The International School Aberdeen]].<ref name=schools/>

Independent primary schools in Aberdeen include [[Albyn School]], [[Robert Gordon's College]], [[St Margaret's School for Girls]], and the [[International School of Aberdeen]].<ref name=schools/>

==Culture==
{{Main|Culture in Aberdeen}}

The city has a wide range of cultural activities, amenities, and museums,<ref>{{cite web |title=Aberdeen Culture |url=http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/culture/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328201317/http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/culture/ |archive-date=28 March 2017 |access-date=27 March 2017 |publisher=Aberdeen City Council}}</ref> and is regularly visited by [[Scotland's National Arts Companies]]. It was awarded the Nicholson Trophy for the best-kept town at the [[Britain in Bloom]] contest in 1975.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 July 1975 |title=Aberdeen wins Bloom Trophy |newspaper=[[Evening Express (Scotland)|Evening Express]] |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19750729/109/0007 |url-access=subscription |access-date=18 May 2022 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |archive-date=7 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907051855/https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/account/register?countrykey=0&showgiftvoucherclaimingoptions=false&gift=false&nextpage=%2faccount%2flogin%3freturnurl%3d%252fviewer%252fbl%252f0000445%252f19750729%252f109%252f0007&rememberme=false&cookietracking=false&partnershipkey=0&newsletter=false&offers=false&registerreason=none&showsubscriptionoptions=false&showcouponmessaging=false&showfreetrialmessaging=false&showregisteroptions=false&showloginoptions=false&showcaptchaerrormessage=false&isonlyupgradeable=false |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Galleries and museums===

[[File:8th Dec 2012-Martime Museum, Shiprow.JPG|thumb|right|Maritime Museum, Shiprow<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aagm.co.uk/code/emuseum.asp?page=buildings_maritime_museum|title=Aberdeen Maritime Museum|publisher=Aberdeen Art Galleries and Museums|access-date=18 February 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070202182001/http://www.aagm.co.uk/code/emuseum.asp?page=buildings_maritime_museum| archive-date = 2 February 2007}}</ref>]]
[[File:Satrosphere, Links Road - geograph.org.uk - 401659.jpg|thumb|right|[[Aberdeen Science Centre]], Links Road Science Museum]]

The [[Aberdeen Art Gallery]] houses a collection of [[Impressionist]], Victorian, Scottish and 20th-century British paintings as well as collections of silver and glass. It also includes The Alexander Macdonald Bequest, a collection of late 19th-century works donated by the museum's first benefactor and a constantly changing collection of contemporary work and regular visiting exhibitions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aagm.co.uk/code/emuseum.asp?page=buildings_art_gallery|title=Aberdeen Art Gallery|publisher=Aberdeen Art Galleries and Museums|access-date=18 February 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061206030716/http://www.aagm.co.uk/code/emuseum.asp?page=buildings_art_gallery| archive-date = 6 December 2006}}</ref> The Aberdeen Art Gallery reopened in 2019 after a four-year refurbishment costing £34.6m.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 November 2019 |title=Aberdeen Art Gallery reopens after £34.6m revamp|publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-50263849 |access-date=17 April 2022 |archive-date=17 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417102113/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-50263849 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Aberdeen Maritime Museum]], located in [[Shiprow]], tells the story of Aberdeen's links with the sea from the days of sail and [[clipper ships]] to the latest oil and gas exploration technology. It includes an {{convert|8.5|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} model of the Murchison oil production platform and a 19th-century assembly taken from [[Rattray Head]] lighthouse
[[Provost John Ross|Provost Ross' House]] is the second oldest dwelling house in the city. It was built in 1593 and became the residence of [[Provost John Ross]] of Arnage in 1702. The house retains some original [[medieval]] features, including a kitchen, fireplaces and beam-and-board ceilings.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1498.html| title=Provost Ross' House| publisher=The Gazetteer for Scotland| access-date=18 February 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714032323/http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1498.html| archive-date=14 July 2011| url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Gordon Highlanders Museum]] tells the story of one of Scotland's best known regiments.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.armymuseums.org.uk/amot-search/default.asp?Category=Amot&Service=Museum-Display&reference=0000000037| title=The Gordon Highlanders Museum| publisher=Army Museums Ogilby Trust| access-date=18 February 2007| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926170944/http://www.armymuseums.org.uk/amot-search/default.asp?Category=Amot&Service=Museum-Display&reference=0000000037| archive-date=26 September 2006}}</ref>

[[Provost Skene's House]] on Flourmill Lane dates from 1545 and is the oldest surviving townhouse in the city. It reopened in October 2021 after significant refurbishment costing £3.8m.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=8 October 2021 |title=Provost Skene's House in Aberdeen reopens with 'hall of heroes'|publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-58838482 |access-date=29 November 2022 |archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129154352/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-58838482 |url-status=live }}</ref> One of the new exhibitions is a Hall of Heroes featuring 100 Aberdonians who have made a significant contribution to the city.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 April 2022 |title=Provost Skene's House {{!}} Aberdeen City Council |url=https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/AAGM/plan-your-visit/provost-skenes-house |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=aberdeencity.gov.uk|archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129154358/https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/AAGM/plan-your-visit/provost-skenes-house |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2" />

The [[The Tolbooth, Aberdeen|Tollbooth Museum]] on the Castlegate (currently closed to visitors) is a former jail, which first opened as a public museum in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 2022 |title=The Tolbooth Museum {{!}} Aberdeen City Council |url=https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/AAGM/plan-your-visit/tolbooth-museum |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=aberdeencity.gov.uk|archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129154844/https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/AAGM/plan-your-visit/tolbooth-museum |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Aberdeen Treasure Hub is a storage facility for Aberdeen Museums and Galleries containing over 100,000 items.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 November 2022 |title=Aberdeen Treasure Hub {{!}} Aberdeen City Council |url=https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/AAGM/plan-your-visit/aberdeen-treasure-hub |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=aberdeencity.gov.uk|archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129155314/https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/AAGM/plan-your-visit/aberdeen-treasure-hub |url-status=live }}</ref> The store is open for infrequent tours, for example as part of [[Doors Open Days|Doors Open Day]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aberdeen Treasure Hub Museum Centre » VisitAberdeenshire |url=https://visitabdn.com/listing/aberdeen-treasure-hub-museum-centre |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=VisitAberdeenshire|archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129155315/https://www.visitabdn.com/listing/aberdeen-treasure-hub-museum-centre |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Marischal Museum]] holds the principal collections of the [[University of Aberdeen]], comprising some 80,000 items in the areas of fine art, Scottish history and archaeology, and European, Mediterranean and Near Eastern archaeology. The permanent displays and reference collections are augmented by regular temporary exhibitions, and since its closure to the public it now has a virtual online presence<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abdn.ac.uk/historic/museum/ |title=Marischal Museum: Introduction |publisher=University of Aberdeen |access-date=18 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207094529/http://www.abdn.ac.uk/historic/museum/ |archive-date=7 February 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It closed to the public in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abdn.ac.uk/marischal_museum/visiting_contacting.shtml |title=Marischal Museum. Visiting and Contacting the Museum. University of Aberdeen |publisher=Abdn.ac.uk |access-date=28 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113075307/http://www.abdn.ac.uk/marischal_museum/visiting_contacting.shtml |archive-date=13 November 2012 }}</ref> The [[King's Museum]] acts as the main museum of the university now.<ref>{{Cite web|title=King's Museum|url=https://abdn.pure.elsevier.com/en/organisations/kings-museum|access-date=11 March 2021|website=The University of Aberdeen|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008155146/https://abdn.pure.elsevier.com/en/organisations/kings-museum|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Festivals and performing arts===
Aberdeen is home to a number of events and festivals including the [[Aberdeen International Youth Festival]] (the world's largest arts festival for young performers), Aberdeen Jazz Festival, [[Aberdeen Alternative Festival]], Rootin' Aboot (a folk and roots music event), Triptych, the [[University of Aberdeen]]'s annual May Fest (formerly the [[Word – University of Aberdeen writers festival|Word]] festival) and DanceLive, Scotland's only festival of contemporary dance, produced by the city's Citymoves dance organisation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/4116950/aberdeen-dance-agency-citymoves-springs-into-35th-anniversary-celebrations/|title=Aberdeen Dance Agency Citymoves springs into 35th anniversary celebrations|newspaper=Press and Journal|date=6 April 2022|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008161827/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/4116950/aberdeen-dance-agency-citymoves-springs-into-35th-anniversary-celebrations/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Aberdeen Student Show]], performed annually without interruption since 1921, under the auspices of the Aberdeen Students' Charities Campaign, is the longest-running of its kind in the United Kingdom. It is written, produced and performed by students and graduates of Aberdeen's universities and higher education institutions. Since 1929—other than on a handful of occasions—it has been staged at [[His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen|His Majesty's Theatre]].<ref>Edi Swan: ''His Majesty's Theatre – One Hundred Years of Glorious Damnation'' ([[Black & White Publishing]]) (2006) {{ISBN|978-1-84502-102-3}}</ref>

National festivals which visited Aberdeen in 2012 included the [[British Science Festival]] in September, hosted by the [[University of Aberdeen]] but with events also taking place at [[Robert Gordon University]] and at other venues across the city. In February 2012 the University of Aberdeen also hosted the [[Inter Varsity Folk Dance Festival]], the longest-running folk festival in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/4277/|title=Dancers descend on Aberdeen|date=1 March 2012|publisher=University of Aberdeen|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008162307/https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/4277/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Aberdeen is home to Spectra, an annual light festival hosted in different locations across the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SPECTRA ABERDEEN|url=https://www.spectrafestival.co.uk/|access-date=16 February 2022|website=SPECTRA ABERDEEN|archive-date=16 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216172507/https://www.spectrafestival.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Aberdeen is home to [[NuArt Festival|Nuart]], a festival showcasing street art around the city. The festival has run since 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nuart Aberdeen – Bringing Street Art into The Mainstream |url=https://visitabdn.com/listing/nuart-aberdeen |access-date=17 April 2022 |website=VisitAberdeenshire|archive-date=17 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517032946/https://www.visitabdn.com/listing/nuart-aberdeen |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2020, the WayWORD Festival<ref>{{cite web |title=WayWORD Festival |url=https://www.waywordfestival.com/ |website=WayWORD Festival |access-date=25 April 2024 |archive-date=25 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425195708/https://www.waywordfestival.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> was launched by the [[University of Aberdeen]] WORD centre for creative writing. This yearly programme celebrates the arts through readings, performances, workshops and discussion panels. There have been many notable headliners including [[Val McDermid]], [[Irvine Welsh]] and [[Douglas Stuart (writer)]].

Galas are held annually throughout the city, the most notable being the Culter Gala, which is usually held on the last Saturday of May.

===Dialect===
{{Main|Doric dialect (Scotland)}}

The local dialect of [[Scots language|Lowland Scots]] is often known as Doric and is spoken not just in the city, but across the northeast of Scotland. It differs somewhat from other Scots dialects: most noticeable are the pronunciation "f" for what is normally written "wh" and "ee" for what in standard English would usually be written "oo" (Scots "ui"). Every year the annual Doric Festival takes place in Aberdeenshire to celebrate the history of the north-east's language.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedoricfestival.com |title=The Doric Festival |publisher=The Doric Festival |access-date=25 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090701091235/http://www.thedoricfestival.com/ |archive-date=1 July 2009}}</ref>

===Media and music===
{{Main|Media in Aberdeen}}

Aberdeen is home to Scotland's oldest newspaper [[Press and Journal (Scotland)|the ''Press and Journal'']], a local and regional newspaper first published in 1747. The ''Press and Journal'' and its sister paper the [[tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] ''[[Evening Express (Scotland)|Evening Express]]'' are printed six days a week by [[Aberdeen Journals]]. There was one free newspaper, the ''[[Aberdeen Citizen]]''. [[BBC Scotland]] has a network studio production base in the city's Beechgrove area, and BBC Aberdeen produces ''The Beechgrove Potting Shed'' for radio while Tern Television produces ''[[The Beechgrove Garden]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beechgrove.co.uk/home/Default.asp |title=The Beechgrove Garden |publisher=Tern Television |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309101130/http://www.beechgrove.co.uk/home/Default.asp |archive-date=9 March 2012 }}</ref> The city is also home to [[STV North]] (formerly Grampian Television), which produces the regional news programmes such as ''[[STV News at Six]]'', as well as local commercials. The station, based at Craigshaw Business Park in [[Tullos]], was based at larger studios in [[Queens Cross]] from September 1961 until June 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ooko.com/grampiantv/the-grampian-story/|title=The Grampian Story|publisher=Grampian Television Studios|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008163119/http://www.ooko.com/grampiantv/the-grampian-story/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

There are three commercial radio stations operating in the city, [[Northsound 1]], [[Greatest Hits Radio North East Scotland]], and independent station [[Original 106 (Scotland)|Original 106]], along with the [[community radio]] station shmu FM<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shmufm.net |title=Shmu community media productions |publisher=Shmufm.net |access-date=25 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725080516/http://www.shmufm.net/ |archive-date=25 July 2008 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> managed by Station House Media Unit which supports community members to run Aberdeen's full-time community radio station, broadcasting on <span style="white-space:nowrap;">99.8&nbsp;MHz</span> FM.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shmu.org.uk |title=Shmu community media productions |publisher=Shmu.org.uk |access-date=25 June 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090619133757/http://www.shmu.org.uk/| archive-date= 19 June 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Music venues include [[The Music Hall (Aberdeen)|Aberdeen Music Hall]] and the [[P&J Live]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musichallaberdeen.com/History.php|title=Music Hall – History & Tour|access-date=5 February 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070222190827/http://www.musichallaberdeen.com/History.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 22 February 2007}}</ref>

===Food===
[[File:Aberdeen Buttery.jpg|thumb|Aberdeen butteries, also known as rowies, served with jam]]The Aberdeen region has given its name to a number of dishes, including the [[Buttery (bread)|Aberdeen buttery]] (also known as "rowie")<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eatscotland.visitscotland.com/food-drink/traditional-dishes/aberdeen-rowie.html |title=Aberdeen_Rowie |work=EatScotlank.com (Scotland's National Tourism Organisation) |access-date=23 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316221238/http://eatscotland.visitscotland.com/food-drink/traditional-dishes/aberdeen-rowie.html |archive-date=16 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Aberdeen Sausage.<ref>{{cite book|author-last=de Lafayette|author-first=Maximillien|title=Hospitality and Food Best and Worst|publisher=American Hospitality Institute|year=2007|url=https://archive.org/details/hospitalityfoodb0000dela/page/301|page=301|isbn=9781434819697}}</ref>

In 2015, a study was published in [[The Scotsman]] which analysed the presence of [[Fast food restaurant|branded fast food outlets]] in Scotland. Of the ten towns and cities analysed, Aberdeen was found to have the lowest per capita concentration, with just 0.12 stores per 1,000 inhabitants.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/health/livingston-named-scotland-s-fast-food-capital-1-3797055 | title=Livingston named Scotland's fast food capital | access-date=1 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725014641/http://www.scotsman.com/news/health/livingston-named-scotland-s-fast-food-capital-1-3797055 | archive-date=25 July 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Public services==
[[File:15th Sep 2012-Abdn Children's Hosp & Emergency Care Centre 10.JPG|thumb|left|New Royal Aberdeen's Children Hospital and New Emergency Care Centre in background, Foresterhill, Aberdeen]]

The public health service in Scotland, [[NHS Scotland]] provides for the people of Aberdeen through the [[NHS Grampian]] health board. [[Aberdeen Royal Infirmary]] is the largest hospital in the city and one of the largest in Europe<ref>{{citation |newspaper=Evening Express |title=Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to hit new heights as it marks its 80th year |last=Aitken |first=Louise |date=September 2016 |url=https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/hospital-set-to-hit-new-heights-as-it-marks-its-80th-year/ |access-date=5 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306022918/https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/hospital-set-to-hit-new-heights-as-it-marks-its-80th-year/ |archive-date=6 March 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Aberdeen Royal Infirmary reconfiguration |publisher=Robertson Group |url=http://www.robertson.co.uk/project/aberdeen-royal-infirmary-reconfiguration |access-date=5 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306082505/http://www.robertson.co.uk/project/aberdeen-royal-infirmary-reconfiguration |archive-date=6 March 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> (the location of the city's A&E department), [[Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital]], a paediatric hospital, [[Royal Cornhill Hospital]] for mental health, [[Aberdeen Maternity Hospital]], an antenatal hospital, [[Woodend Hospital]], which specialises in rehabilitation and long-term illnesses and conditions, and [[City Hospital, Aberdeen|City Hospital]] and [[Woolmanhill Hospital]], which host several out-patient clinics and offices. [[Albyn Hospital]] is a private hospital located in the west end of the city.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB20118|desc=22 and 23 Albyn Place, Albyn Hospital, including boundary walls|access-date=15 April 2019}}</ref>

Aberdeen City Council is responsible for city-owned infrastructure which is paid for by a mixture of Council Tax and income from the [[Scottish Government]]. Infrastructure and services run by the council include: nursery, primary and secondary education, roads, clearing snow in winter, city wardens, maintaining parks, refuse collection, economic development, public analyst, public mortuary, street cleaning and street lighting. Infrastructure in private hands includes electricity, gas and telecoms. Water and sewerage services are provided by [[Scottish Water]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/waterindustryscot |title=Business, Industry and Energy: The water industry in Scotland |publisher=[[Scottish Government]] |access-date=29 September 2014 |archive-date=17 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017155131/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/waterindustryscot |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Police: Policing in Aberdeen is the responsibility of [[Police Scotland]] (the [[British Transport Police]] has responsibility for railways).
* Ambulance: The North East divisional headquarters of the [[Scottish Ambulance Service]] is located in Aberdeen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishambulance.com/about/northeast.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030921085544/http://www.scottishambulance.com/about/northeast.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 September 2003|title=Scottish Ambulance Service Locations North East|date=21 September 2003}}</ref>
* Fire and rescue: This is the responsibility of the [[Scottish Fire and Rescue Service]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13131478.Praise_after_fire_service_merger/ |title=Praise after fire service merger |work=The Herald |date=13 November 2013 |access-date=6 January 2017 |archive-date=3 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103055928/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13131478.Praise_after_fire_service_merger/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Lifeboat: The [[Royal National Lifeboat Institution]] operates [[Aberdeen Lifeboat Station]]. It is located at Victoria Dock Entrance in York Place.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aberdeen-lifeboat.org.uk/ |title= Aberdeen Lifeboat|publisher=RNLI Aberdeen |access-date=25 June 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090605011903/http://www.aberdeen-lifeboat.org.uk/| archive-date= 5 June 2009}}</ref>

==Sport==
{{Main|Sport in Aberdeen}}

===Football===
The first ever recorded game of football, was outlined by teacher [[David Wedderburn (writer)|David Wedderburn]] in his book "Vocabula" written in 1633, during his time teaching at [[Aberdeen Grammar School]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/5076326.stm |title=Aberdeen nets football invention |date=13 June 2006 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=24 July 2020 |archive-date=15 August 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060815093100/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/5076326.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Pittodrie Stadium viewed from Broad Hill - geograph.org.uk - 1573187.jpg|thumb|[[Pittodrie Stadium]] viewed from Broad Hill]]
There are two Aberdeen-based football clubs in the [[Scottish Professional Football League|SPFL]]. [[Aberdeen F.C.]] (The Dons) play in the [[Scottish Premiership]] at [[Pittodrie Stadium]]. The club won the [[European Cup Winners Cup]] and the [[European Super Cup]] in 1983, the [[Scottish Premier League]] Championship four times (1955, 1980, 1984 and 1985), and the [[Scottish Cup]] seven times (1947, 1970, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1990). Under the management of [[Alex Ferguson]], Aberdeen was a major force in British football during the 1980s.<ref>{{cite book| title=Managing My Life| last=Ferguson| first=Alex| publisher=Coronet| year=2000| isbn=0-340-72856-6 |author-link=Alex Ferguson}}</ref>

After 8 seasons in charge, the most recent of Managers Derek McInnes, was relieved of his duties, the club's failure to achieve anything more than 1 trophy in 24 competitions during his tenure and a recent run of games which saw 1 goal in ten matches ultimately proved costly for the Manager and his Assistant Tony Docherty. Under the management of McInnes the team won the [[2014 Scottish League Cup Final|2014]] [[Scottish League Cup]] and followed it up with a second-place league finish for the first time in more than 20 years in the following season. But it was over the last few seasons that results stagnated and McInnes was replaced by former Aberdeen and Newcastle player [[Stephen Glass (footballer)|Stephen Glass]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56494598 |title=Aberdeen: Stephen Glass named new Pittodrie boss |first=Tyrone |last=Smith |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 March 2021 |access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323214507/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56494598 |url-status=live }}</ref> The current manager is [[Jimmy Thelin]].

[[Cove Rangers F.C.|Cove Rangers]], as of [[2024-25 in Scottish football|season 2024-25]] play in [[Scottish League One|League One]], at the [[Balmoral Stadium]] in the suburb of [[Cove Bay]]. Cove won the [[Highland Football League]] championship in 2001, 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2019, winning the League Two play-offs in 2019 and earning [[2019–20 Scottish League Two|promotion]]. At the point at which the 2019/20 League Two season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cove were sitting top of the [[Scottish League Two|League Two]] table and were promoted as Champions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52297066 |title=Dundee Utd, Raith & Cove win titles & reconstruction talks start after Dundee vote |publisher=BBC Sport  |date=15 April 2020 |access-date=15 April 2020 |archive-date=20 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220090223/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52297066 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Other local teams include [[Banks O' Dee F.C.|Banks o'Dee]] who play at [[Spain Park]] in the [[Highland Football League]] and members of the [[Scottish Junior Football Association|SJFA]] [[Scottish Junior Football Association, North Region|North Region]]; [[Culter F.C.|Culter]], [[Dyce F.C.|Dyce]], [[Stoneywood Parkvale F.C.|Stoneywood Parkvale]], [[Glentanar F.C.|Glentanar]], [[Sunnybank F.C.|Sunnybank]] [[Hall Russell United F.C.|Hall Russell United]], [[Bridge of Don Thistle F.C.|Bridge of Don Thistle]] and [[Hermes F.C.|Hermes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clubsportaberdeen.org/clubs/football|title=Football|publisher=ClubSport Aberdeen|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008164329/https://www.clubsportaberdeen.org/clubs/football|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Rugby===
Aberdeen hosted [[Caledonia Reds]], a Scottish rugby team, before they merged with the [[Glasgow Warriors]] in 1998. The city is also home to the [[Scottish Premiership Division One]] rugby club [[Aberdeen GSFP RFC]] who play at [[Rubislaw Playing Fields]], and Aberdeenshire RFC which was founded in 1875 and runs Junior, Senior Men's, Senior Ladies and Touch sections from the Woodside Sports Complex<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aberdeenshirerfc.org.uk/ |title=Aberdeenshire Rugby Football Club – The Community Club |publisher=Aberdeenshirerfc.org.uk |access-date=25 June 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090512055822/http://www.aberdeenshirerfc.org.uk/| archive-date= 12 May 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> and also [[Aberdeen Wanderers RFC]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/rugby/4719820/rugby-aberdeen-wanderers-progress-national-shield-thriller/|title=Aberdeen Wanderers progress in National Shield Thriller|date=29 August 2022|newspaper=Press and Journal|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=30 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830064032/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/rugby/4719820/rugby-aberdeen-wanderers-progress-national-shield-thriller/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2005 the President of the [[Scottish Rugby Union|SRU]] said it was hoped eventually to establish a professional team in Aberdeen.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/4241554.stm |title=Irvine wants an Aberdeen pro-team |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 September 2005 |access-date=25 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050914163331/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/4241554.stm |archive-date=14 September 2005 |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2008 the city hosted a rugby international at [[Pittodrie Stadium|Pittodrie]] between [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] and [[Canada national rugby union team|Canada]], with Scotland winning 41–0.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7735273.stm|title=Scotland 41-0 Canada|date=22 November 2008|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|access-date=11 December 2019|archive-date=11 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211231320/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7735273.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2010 the city once again hosted a rugby international at [[Pittodrie Stadium|Pittodrie]] between [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] and [[Samoa national rugby union team|Samoa]], with Scotland winning 19–16.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/scottish/9230505.stm|title=Scotland 19-16 Samoa|date=27 November 2010|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=11 December 2019|archive-date=11 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211231315/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/scottish/9230505.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Aberdeen Warriors]] [[rugby league]] team play in the [[Rugby League Conference]] Division One. The Warriors also run Under 15's and 17's teams. [[Aberdeen Grammar School]] won the Saltire Schools Cup in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotlandrl.com/article/aberdeen-grammar-school-do-the.html |title=Scotland Rugby League |publisher=Scotlandrl.com |date=20 April 2011 |access-date=25 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004193921/http://www.scotlandrl.com/article/aberdeen-grammar-school-do-the.html |archive-date=4 October 2011 }}</ref>

===Golf===
[[File:HazleheadGolfCourse.jpg|thumb|right|Hazlehead Golf Course]]

The [[Royal Aberdeen Golf Club]], founded in 1780 is the sixth oldest golf club in the world, and hosted the [[Senior British Open]] in 2005, and the amateur team event the [[Walker Cup]] in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/4750395.stm| title=Golf event to swing into Aberdeen| date=8 May 2006| publisher=BBC| access-date=16 February 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111225011/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/4750395.stm| archive-date=11 January 2009| url-status=live}}</ref> Royal Aberdeen also hosted the Scottish Open in 2014, won by [[Justin Rose]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/13/justin-rose-wins-scottish-open |title=Justin Rose marks return to form with an impressive win at the Scottish Open |author=Ewan Murray |newspaper=The Guardian |date=13 July 2014 |access-date=15 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013222547/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/13/justin-rose-wins-scottish-open |archive-date=13 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The club has a second course, and there are public golf courses at Auchmill, [[Balnagask]], [[Hazlehead Park|Hazlehead]] and King's Links.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=49998&sID=17783| title=Golf Aberdeen| publisher=Aberdeen City Council| access-date=8 May 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619054735/http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=49998&sID=17783| archive-date=19 June 2013| url-status=dead}}</ref>

There are new courses planned for the area, including world-class facilities with major financial backing, the city and shire are set to become important in golf tourism. In Summer 2012, [[Donald Trump]] opened a new state of the art golf course at Menie, just north of the city, as the [[Trump International Golf Links, Scotland]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Donald Trump opens controversial Scottish golf course|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Laurie|last=Tuffrey|date=10 July 2012|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jul/10/donald-trump-scotland-golf-course|access-date=14 May 2018|archive-date=5 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705180026/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jul/10/donald-trump-scotland-golf-course|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Ice Hockey===

Ice hockey in Aberdeen boasts a history that began in the early 20th century.
The Aberdeen Glaciarium on Forbesfield Road became a hub for games, featuring teams like the Grammar School Former Pupils and the Aberdeen Ice Hockey Club. 
The sport all but died out in the city with the onset of WW1.

The sport was revived in the city with the opening of the Linx Ice Arena in 1992.

[[Aberdeen Lynx]] are an ice hockey team that plays in the [[Scottish National League (ice hockey)|Scottish National League]] and is based at the Linx Ice Arena.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Aberdeen Lynx at eliteprospects.com|url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/8689/aberdeen-lynx|access-date=8 June 2020|website=eliteprospects.com|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008165701/https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/8689/aberdeen-lynx|url-status=live}}</ref>
Founded in 2005, they won back to back regular season titles in 2022-23 and 2023–24 and won the play-off championship in both 2015-16 and again in 2024–25.
They regularly sell out home games and are the second best supported sports team in the city after Aberdeen FC.

===Other sports===
The City of Aberdeen Swim Team (COAST) was based in Northfield swimming pool, but since the opening of the [[Aberdeen Sports Village|Aberdeen Aquatics Centre]] in 2014, it is now based there, as it has a 50 m pool as opposed to the 25 m pool at Northfield. It has been in operation since 1996. The team comprises several smaller swimming clubs and has enjoyed success throughout Scotland and in international competitions. Three of the team's swimmers qualified for the 2006 [[Commonwealth Games]].<ref name="COAST">{{cite web| url=http://www.coastswimming.org.uk/| title=City of Aberdeen Swim Team| access-date=16 April 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331111244/http://www.coastswimming.org.uk/| archive-date=31 March 2009| url-status=dead}}</ref> There are four boat clubs that row on the River Dee: Aberdeen Boat Club (ABC), Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association (ASRA), Aberdeen University Boat Club (AUBC) and Robert Gordon University Boat Club (RGUBC).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scottish-rowing.org.uk/takingpart/row/our-clubs|title=Our Clubs|publisher=Scottish Rowing|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008165339/https://www.scottish-rowing.org.uk/takingpart/row/our-clubs|url-status=live}}</ref>

The city has one national league side, Stoneywood-Dyce. Local "Grades"<ref name="GRADES">{{cite web| url=http://acagrades.org.uk/| title=Aberdeen Grades Association| access-date=10 June 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710045101/http://www.acagrades.org.uk/| archive-date=10 July 2009| url-status=live}}</ref> cricket has been played in Aberdeen since 1884. Aberdeenshire were the 2009 and 2014 Scottish National Premier League and Scottish Cup Champions.<ref name="Cricketscotland">{{cite web|url=http://cricketscotland.com/ScottishCupFinal09 |title=Dons do double by D/L |publisher=Cricket Scotland |date=6 February 2011 |access-date=8 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303033951/http://cricketscotland.com/ScottishCupFinal09 |archive-date=3 March 2012 }}</ref> Aberdeen University Shinty Club ([[Scottish Gaelic]]: Club Camanachd Oilthigh Obar Dheathain) is the oldest constituted [[shinty]] club in the world, dating back to 1861.<ref>{{Cite web|date=15 January 2016|title=University's historic shinty exhibits go on display at Hampden's football museum|url=https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/8606/|url-status=live|website=University of Aberdeen|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301075618/https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/8606/ |archive-date=1 March 2021 }}</ref>

The city council operates public tennis courts in various parks including an indoor tennis centre at Westburn Park. The Beach Leisure Centre is home to a climbing wall, gymnasium and a swimming pool. There are numerous swimming pools dotted around the city notably the largest, the [[Bon Accord Baths]] which closed down in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk |title=Aberdeen City Council website |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |date=26 October 2010 |access-date=26 October 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090106060323/http://aberdeencity.gov.uk/| archive-date=6 January 2009| url-status= live}}</ref> In common with many other major towns and cities in the UK, Aberdeen has an active [[roller derby]] league, [[Granite City Roller Girls|Granite City Roller Derb]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.granitecityrollergirls.org/ |title=Granite City Roller Girls league site |access-date=16 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302212502/http://www.granitecityrollergirls.org/ |archive-date=2 March 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Aberdeen Roughnecks]] [[American football]] club is a new team that started in 2012 and is the first team that Aberdeen has witnessed since the Granite City Oilers that began in 1986 and were wound up in the mid-1990s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/evening-express-the-press-and-journal-combined/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224110154/http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/sport/other-sports/aberdeen-roughnecks-accepted-into-national-league-1.168463|url-status=dead|title=Aberdeen Roughnecks accepted into National League|archive-date=24 December 2013}}</ref>[[Aberdeen Oilers Floorball Club]] was founded in 2007. The club initially attracted a range of experienced Scandinavian and other European players who were studying in Aberdeen. Since their formation, Aberdeen Oilers have played in the British Floorball Northern League and went on to win the league in the 2008/09 season. The club played a major role in setting up a ladies league in Scotland. The Oilers' ladies team ended up second in the first ladies league season (2008/09).<ref name="Aberdeen Oilers Floorball Club">{{cite web|url=http://www.aberdeenfloorball.org.uk/ |title=Aberdeen Oilers Floorball Club |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218150024/http://aberdeenfloorball.org.uk/ |archive-date=18 December 2014 }}</ref>

==Twin cities==
Aberdeen is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with
* [[Stavanger]], Norway, since 1990<ref name="twin"/>
* [[Regensburg]], Germany, since 1955<ref name="twin">{{cite web|url=http://www.aberdeeninvestlivevisit.co.uk/Visit/TwinningAberdeen/Aberdeens-Twin-Cities/Aberdeens-Twin-Cities.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126092103/http://www.aberdeeninvestlivevisit.co.uk/Visit/TwinningAberdeen/Aberdeens-Twin-Cities/Aberdeens-Twin-Cities.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 November 2014 |title=Aberdeen's Twin Cities |work=Aberdeen City Council |access-date=27 August 2015 }}</ref>
* [[Clermont-Ferrand]], France, since 1983<ref name="twin"/>
* [[Gomel]], Belarus, since 1990<ref name="twin"/>
* [[Bulawayo]], Zimbabwe, since 1986<ref name="twin"/>
* [[Houston]], Texas, US, since 1979, is twinned with the former region of [[Grampian]] of which Aberdeen is the regional centre<ref name="us_twin">{{cite web |url=https://houstongrampian.org/about-us |title=Houston Grampian Association, About us |access-date=8 August 2020 |archive-date=11 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511021941/https://houstongrampian.org/about-us |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Kobe]], Japan, since 2022, is twinned with Aberdeen for its hydrogen work.<ref name="jp_twin">{{cite web |url=https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/news/hydrogen-twin-cities-award-aberdeen-and-kobe-japan |title=Hydrogen Twin Cities Award for Aberdeen and Kobe, Japan |date=16 November 2022 |access-date=14 January 2023 |archive-date=14 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114000655/https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/news/hydrogen-twin-cities-award-aberdeen-and-kobe-japan |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Barranquilla]], Colombia

==Notable people and residents==
{{Main|List of Aberdonians}}
[[File:Byron 1813 by Phillips.jpg|upright|thumb|''[[Portrait of Lord Byron]]'' by [[Thomas Phillips]], c.1814]]
* [[William Alexander (journalist and author)|William Alexander]] (1826–1894), journalist and author of Johnny Gibb of Gushetneuk.
* [[Leslie Benzies]], Former president of [[Rockstar North]], creators of the critically acclaimed [[Grand Theft Auto]] series.
* [[Scott Booth]], former football player, played for [[Aberdeen F.C.]], [[FC Twente]], [[Borussia Dortmund]] and the [[Scotland national football team]].
* [[Alf Burnett]], footballer who played for Dundee United
* [[Lord Byron]] (1788–1824), poet, was raised (age 2–10) in Aberdeen.
* [[Andrew Cant (minister)|Andrew Cant]], (1584–1663) Presbyterian minister and leader of the Scottish Covenanters
* [[David Carry]], swimmer, two times [[2006 Commonwealth Games]] gold medallist.
* [[Henry Cecil]], one of the most successful horse trainers of all time.
* [[Oswald Chambers]], author of ''My Utmost for His Highest''
* [[Alexander Christie (portrait painter)|Alexander Christie]], portrait painter.
* [[Dan Crenshaw]], Member of the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] from [[Texas]]'s [[Texas's 2nd congressional district|2nd]] district.
* [[Andrew Cruickshank]], actor famous for his role in ''[[Dr. Finlay's Casebook (TV & radio)|Dr Finlay's Casebook]]''
* [[John Mathieson Dodds]], apprentice and engineer with Metrovick, Manchester and radar pioneer in Chain Home defence system for 1940 Battle of Britain.
* [[Neil Fachie]], cyclist, [[2012 Paralympic Games]] gold and silver medalist.<ref>{{cite web |title=Neil Fachie |url=https://www.teamscotland.scot/athlete/neil-fachie/ |website=Team Scotland |access-date=9 September 2022 |archive-date=9 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909120102/https://www.teamscotland.scot/athlete/neil-fachie/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Simon Farquhar]], playwright.
* [[Graeme Garden]], author, actor, comedian, artist, TV presenter, famous for [[The Goodies]].
* [[Martin Gatt]], principal bassoonist English Chamber Orchestra, LPO and LSO.
* [[Ryan Gauld]], footballer who currently plays for [[Vancouver Whitecaps]] in the [[MLS]].
* [[James Gibbs]], 18th-century architect.
* [[Quentin Gibson]] (1918–2011), physiologist and biochemist
* [[James Gregory (mathematician)|James Gregory]] (1638–1675), Scottish mathematician and astronomer, born in the manse at Drumoak, just outside Aberdeen. Attended [[Aberdeen Grammar School]] and [[Marischal College]], [[University of Aberdeen]]. Discovered diffraction gratings a year after Newton's prism experiments, and invented the Gregorian telescope design in 1663 which is used in telescopes such as the [[Arecibo Radio Telescope|Arecibo Observatory]].
* [[David Gregory (mathematician)|David Gregory]] (1659–1708), Scottish mathematician and astronomer. Attended [[Aberdeen Grammar School]] and [[Marischal College]], [[University of Aberdeen]]. A professor of mathematics. Based on his uncle [[James Gregory (mathematician)|James Gregory]]'s work, he extended or discovered the method of quadratures by infinite series. His principle work "Astronomiae physicae et geometricae elementa" (1702) was the first text-book on gravitational principles.
* [[Michael Gove]], politician and MP.
* [[George Jamesone]], Scotland's first eminent portrait-painter.
* [[Reginald Victor Jones]], physicist, Chair of Natural Philosophy at the [[University of Aberdeen]], author.
* [[J. Michael Kosterlitz|John Michael Kosterlitz]], physicist, professor of physics at [[Brown University]]. Awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Physics|Nobel Prize in physics]] in 2016.
* [[Denis Law]], 1940-2025 football player, played for [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]], [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]], [[Torino FC|Torino]],[[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and the [[Scotland national football team|Scotland national team]], joint all-time record Scotland goalscorer with 30 goals.
* [[Paul Lawrie]], golfer, winner of the [[1999 Open Championship]].
* [[Annie Lennox]], musician, winner of eight [[Brit Awards]].
* [[Rose Leslie]], actress, best known for playing Ygritte in HBO's ''[[Game of Thrones]]''.
* [[John Macleod (physiologist)|John Macleod]]  (1876–1935) Biochemist and Physiologist. For his role in the discovery and isolation of insulin he was awarded the [[Nobel Prize]] for [[Physiology]] or [[Medicine]] in 1923.
* [[John Alexander MacWilliam]] (1857–1937), [[Regius Professor of Physiology (Aberdeen)|Professor of the Institutes of Medicine (later Physiology)]] at the [[University of Aberdeen]]. Pioneer in the field of cardiac electro-physiology & ventricular fibrillation of the heart. First to propose ventricular fibrillation as the most common cause of sudden death through heart attack. First to propose use of life saving electrical de-fibrilators. His work laid the frame work for the development of the pace maker.
* [[Laura Main]], actress, best known for playing Sister Bernadette/Shelagh Turner in the BBC's ''[[Call the Midwife]]''
* [[James Clerk Maxwell]] (1831–1879), Chair of Natural Philosophy at [[Marischal College]], [[University of Aberdeen]] from 1856 to 1860. Formulated the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation.
* [[Robert Morison]] (1620–1683), a Scottish botanist and taxonomist. He elucidated and developed the first systematic classification of plants. Gained his [[Master of Arts]] from the [[University of Aberdeen]] at the age of eighteen. For ten years Director of [[Louis XIV]]'s royal gardens at [[Blois]], France, then physician, botanist & superintendent of all royal gardens for [[Charles II of England|Charles II of Scotland]].
* [[Alberto Morrocco]]  (1917–1998), Scottish artist and teacher famous for his landscapes of Scotland and abroad.
* [[Andy Nisbet]] (1953–2019), a Scottish mountaineer, guide, climbing instructor, and editor of climbing guidebooks. A pioneer of mixed rock and ice climbing techniques over 45 years. Developed over 1,000 new winter climbing routes in Scotland.
* [[Ara Paiaya]], film producer and director of ''[[Skin Traffik]]'', ''Instant Death'' and ''Purge of Kingdoms''.
* [[Robbie Renwick]], swimmer, 1x [[2010 Commonwealth Games]] gold medalist.
* Professor Sir C. [[Duncan Rice]], historian, former principal of the [[University of Aberdeen]].
* [[Lawson Robertson]] (1883–1951), born in Aberdeen, competed for the U.S. Olympic Team at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, winning the bronze medal in the standing high jump. Head coach of U.S. track team at 4 successive Olympic games, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936.
* [[Archibald Simpson]], architect, one of Aberdeen's major architects.
* [[John Smith (architect)|John Smith]], architect, Aberdeen's other major architect and official City Architect
* [[Nicol Stephen]], former [[Scottish Liberal Democrats]] leader, former [[Deputy First Minister of Scotland]]
* [[John Strachan]], first Anglican [[Anglican Diocese of Toronto|Bishop of Toronto]].
* [[Annie Wallace]], actress in [[Hollyoaks]].
* [[Ron Yeats]], former football player, captain of the first great [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] team of the 1960s, also played for the [[Scotland national football team|Scotland national team]].

==Aberdeen in popular culture==
* [[Stuart MacBride]]'s crime novels ''Cold Granite'', ''Dying Light'', ''Broken Skin'', ''Flesh House'', ''Blind Eye'' and ''Dark Blood'' (a series with main protagonist, [[Sergeant#Police 7|DS]] Logan McRae) are all set in Aberdeen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://crimereads.com/aberdeen-granite-noir-in-the-granite-city/|title=Granite Noir in the Granite City|date=19 February 2020|publisher=Crime Reads|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008175201/https://crimereads.com/aberdeen-granite-noir-in-the-granite-city/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* A large part of the plot of the World War II thriller ''[[Eye of the Needle (novel)|Eye of the Needle]]'' by Welsh author, [[Ken Follett]], takes place in wartime Aberdeen, from which a German spy is trying to escape to a submarine waiting offshore.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://graemeshimmin.com/eye-of-the-needle-review/|title=Book Review: Eye of the Needle|date=25 May 2014|publisher=Graeme Shimmin|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008175515/https://graemeshimmin.com/eye-of-the-needle-review/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* A portion of [[Ian Rankin]]'s novel ''[[Black and Blue (Rankin novel)|Black and Blue]]'' (1997) is set in Aberdeen, where its nickname "Furry Boots" is noted.<ref name=DSL1>{{cite web|url=http://www.dsl.ac.uk/getent4.php?plen%3D2982%26startset%3D1934221%26dtext%3Dsndn%26query%3DFURRY_BOOT_CITY |title=Archived copy |access-date=28 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516225524/http://www.dsl.ac.uk/getent4.php?plen=2982&startset=1934221&dtext=sndn&query=FURRY_BOOT_CITY |archive-date=16 May 2013}}</ref>
* Songs titled "Aberdeen" have been recorded by the music groups [[Danny Wilson (band)|Danny Wilson]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/Danny-wilson-aberdeen-lyrics|title=Danny Wilson: Aberdeen|publisher=Genius|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008175745/https://genius.com/Danny-wilson-aberdeen-lyrics|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Royseven]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/6156479-RoySeven-The-Aberdeen-EP|title=Aberdeen|publisher=Discogs|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008175917/https://www.discogs.com/release/6156479-RoySeven-The-Aberdeen-EP|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Cage the Elephant]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/Cage-the-elephant-aberdeen-lyrics|title=Cage the Elephant: Aberdeen|publisher=Genius|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=8 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008180155/https://genius.com/Cage-the-elephant-aberdeen-lyrics|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The Scottish rock band [[The Xcerts]] released the song "Aberdeen 1987" on their debut album ''[[In the Cold Wind We Smile]]'', released on 30 March 2009. The first verse contains the line "15, sitting in a graveyard talking about their history". The graveyard referenced in the song is the graveyard of the [[Kirk of St&nbsp;Nicholas]] on [[Union Street, Aberdeen|Union Street]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://genius.com/The-xcerts-aberdeen-1987-lyrics | title=The XCERTS – Aberdeen 1987 | access-date=13 December 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216030835/https://genius.com/The-xcerts-aberdeen-1987-lyrics | archive-date=16 December 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>
* The character [[Scotty (Star Trek)|Scotty]] from [[Star Trek: The Original Series]] references spending his youth in Aberdeen, though it is debated whether it is his birthplace.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Begbie |first=Scott |date=3 March 2021 |title=Beam us up, Scotty – it's time to pay tribute to Aberdeen's Star Trek legend |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/past-times/2941276/beam-us-up-scotty-its-time-to-pay-tribute-to-aberdeens-star-trek-legend/ |access-date=13 February 2024 |website=Press and Journal |archive-date=13 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213170008/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/past-times/2941276/beam-us-up-scotty-its-time-to-pay-tribute-to-aberdeens-star-trek-legend/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Scotland}}
* [[Aberdeen Bestiary]]
* [[Aberdeen typhoid outbreak 1964]]
* [[List of places in Aberdeen]]
* [[Our Lady of Aberdeen]]
* [[Freedom of the City of Aberdeen]]
* [[Grampian Television]]
* [[STV North]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book  |last=Carter |first=Jennifer |year=1994 |title= Crown and Gown: Illustrated History of the University of Aberdeen, 1495–1995 |publisher= Aberdeen University Press |isbn= 978-1-85752-240-2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Fraser |first=W. Hamish |year=2000 |title= Aberdeen, 1800 to 2000: A New History | publisher= Tuckwell Press |isbn= 978-1-86232-175-5 }}
* {{Cite book |last= Keith |first=Alexander |year=1987 |title=A Thousand Years of Aberdeen | publisher=Aberdeen University Press  |isbn= 978-0-900015-29-8 }}
* Shepherd, Mike (2015). Oil Strike North Sea: A first-hand history of North Sea oil. Luath Press. {{isbn|978-1910745212}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Stuart |editor-first=John |year=1871 |title=Extracts from the Council register of the burgh of Aberdeen 1625–1642  |volume=1 |location=Edinburgh |publisher=Scottish Burgh Records Society |url=https://archive.org/details/extractsfromcoun01aberuoft}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Stuart |editor-first=John |year=1871 |title=Extracts from the Council register of the burgh of Aberdeen 1643–1747  |volume=2 |location=Edinburgh |publisher=Scottish Burgh Records Society |url=https://archive.org/details/extractsfromcoun02aberuoft}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Aberdeen}}
* A collection of [https://maps.nls.uk/towns/index.html#aberdeen historic maps of Aberdeen] from the 1660s onward at [[National Library of Scotland]]
* A selection of [http://ssa.nls.uk/search.cfm?search_sort_order=Film.dateRelease%2CFilm.name&search_sort_direction=ASC&search_term=aberdeen&search_fields=2&search_join_type=AND&search_fuzzy=yes&videos_only=1&search_mode=Advanced&submit=Search+%3E%3E%3E archive films relating to Aberdeen] at the [[Scottish Screen#The Archive|Scottish Screen Archive]]
* [http://digital.nls.uk/slezer/engraving.cfm?sl=20 Engraving of Aberdeen in 1693] by [[John Slezer]] at National Library of Scotland
* {{Wikisource-inline|list=
** {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Aberdeen (burgh)|display=Aberdeen |volume=1 |pages=47–49 |short=x |noicon=x}}
** {{Cite Collier's|wstitle=Aberdeen (Scotland) |short=x |noicon=x}}
}}

{{Geographic location
|title     = '''Destinations from Aberdeen'''
|Northwest = [[Inverurie]], [[Keith, Moray|Keith]], [[Elgin, Moray|Elgin]]
|North     = [[Ellon, Aberdeenshire|Ellon]], [[Fraserburgh]]
|Northeast = '''[[Peterhead]]''', '''[[Stavanger]]''', (Norway)
|West      = [[Westhill, Aberdeenshire|Westhill]], [[Grantown-on-Spey]]
|Centre    = Aberdeen
|East      = '''[[Aalborg]]''' (Denmark)
|Southwest = [[Banchory]], [[Brechin]], [[Forfar]]
|South     = [[Portlethen]], '''[[Stonehaven]]'''
|Southeast = '''[[Groningen]]''', '''[[Amsterdam]]''' (Netherlands)
}}
{{Aberdeen}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Articles relating to Aberdeen
| list =
{{Areas of Aberdeen}}
{{Secondary Schools of Aberdeen}}
{{Aberdeen radio}}
{{Football in Aberdeen}}
{{Rugby union in Aberdeen}}
{{Theatres, galleries, museums and historical buildings in Aberdeen}}
{{Bishops of Aberdeen}}
{{Scotland subdivisions}}
{{UK cities}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Aberdeen| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Scotland]]
[[Category:Council areas of Scotland]]
[[Category:Fishing communities in Scotland]]
[[Category:Lieutenancy areas of Scotland]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Scotland]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the North Sea]]
[[Category:Royal burghs]]
[[Category:Grampian]]
[[Category:Districts of Scotland]]