Latest figures show the rate has trebled in three decades.
Around a quarter of the 56,185 babies born in Scottish hospitals last year arrived by C-section, compared to just 8.6 per cent in 1976.
But in one in seven cases, the operation was an emergency due to concerns over the health of baby or mother.
The Scottish Government figures come after it emerged that middle-class ‘yummy mummies’ are more likely to give birth by C-section than working-class counterparts. An analysis of 300,000 births showed that, as the number of operations has soared, the social status of the women having them has changed.
Researchers found that just one in 24 women from less well-off backgrounds had a planned C-section. Among more affluent women the figure was one in 14.
The latest data will increase the perception that caesarean births have become trendy among affluent women. Stars who have had C-section births include Liz Hurley, Victoria Beckham and Patsy Kensit.
According to the Scottish Government’s information and statistics department (ISD), there were 56,185 hospital births last year north of the Border, down slightly on 2009 when 56,581 were recorded.
But while the proportion of emergency caesareans has remained relatively steady at 14.8 per cent, the rate of elective caesareans has jumped from 10.1 per cent in 2009 to 10.5 per cent last year.
Dr Jim Chalmers, public health consultant with ISD, said: “There are a range of factors involved and all are playing a part in the rising rate.
“These include the increasing age of mothers and the growing obesity rates among women.
“C-sections have become safer and safer over the years as the standard of care has risen.”