SCOTLANDScottish people have a worldwide reputation for warmth and friendliness. Whether it’s

the 2.5 million visitors who travel to Scotland every year or the thousands who come to live

permanently, so many talk of a genuine friendliness and a welcoming hospitality.

Scottish Population Around 5.2 million

Population of Scotland's main cities

Glasgow - 592,820Edinburgh - 486,120Aberdeen - 217,120Dundee - 144,290Inverness - 56,660Stirling - 89,850

Famous Scottish people

Scotland has produced a large number of well known people across all industries from philosophy, music, film and science. View our galleries and see how many of them you can name.

Famous Scottish actors and actresses

No need to introduce these famous faces! Did you know they were all native Scots?

Great minds: Scotland’s celebrated scientists and philosophers

Scotland's greatest minds influenced global culture and are still studied today.

Scotland’s Heroes & Heroines

Meet some of Scotland's most legendary heroes and heroines.

Scottish Sportspeople

Meet some of the shining stars of Scottish sport.

Scotland has been handing down its traditions for close to a thousand years now, since the earliest days of the clans in the 12th century. However, Scottish traditions are not something sterile under glass and steel in a cold museum. They are vibrant, living things, constantly growing and evolving, and every generation adds the thumbprint of its own particular Scottish culture to the whole.

Scottish culture and traditions

Bagpipes, haggis and kilts

Everybody knows the cliché of the piper on the shortbread tin. But have you

experienced the breath-taking reality of a hundred pipers skirling in uplifting unison?

This isn't an image from Scotland's cultural past: it happens every August at the

Edinburgh Military Tattoo and on Glasgow Green.

Or take food, for example. We all know the stereotypical notions of traditional

Scottish fare - haggis, porridge and whisky. Not anymore. Scotland's new elite of super-

chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Nick Nairn and Andrew Fairlie are taking the country's

incredible natural produce – our beef, venison and seafood – and elevating them to

Michelin starred levels.

Or that the kilt is making a comeback on the catwalk as designers like Jean Paul

Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood and Glasgow's own Jonathan Saunders take traditional

Scottish dress to places the clan chiefs never dreamed of.

Burns an a' that

The traditional Burns Supper, Hogmanay and St Andrews Day celebrations are

still very much a part of Scottish culture but the Scots are now joined on these special

days by Scot-o-philes across the globe. "Auld Lang Syne", a traditional Scottish song

first written down by Burns, is the second most popular song in the world after "Happy

Birthday".

Scotland’s Heroes & Heroines

Scotland's culture has been shaped by a long tradition of strong-willed and influential characters. View our gallery to find out more about these important Scottish figures.

Scotland’s Heroes & Heroines

William Wallace

Business and economyScotland has twice been voted ‘European Region of the Future’ in the last four

years (Financial Times’ Foreign Direct Investment magazine) and it’s not difficult to

see why.

With a resilient and diverse economy coupled with a business and political environment

which supports growth and entrepreneurship, there is no more promising location than

Scotland in which to set up or invest.

Scottish economy

Scottish history

The fascinating history of Scotland and Scottish government

Scotland has a long and fascinating history. Many tales of battles fought are closely linked to a desire to rule a well located country, rich in natural resources.

Scottish history in the making

The first written records of Scottish history date back to the arrival of the Roman

Empire in the 1st century AD. The Roman province of Britannia reached as far north as

the Antonine Wall, which once ran across central Scotland from the River Clyde to the

Firth of Forth. To the north lay the territory of Caledonia, which was ruled by the Picti

people.Frequent battles with the Picts saw the Roman retreat to Hadrian's Wall – which

spanned the north of England from Carlisle in the west to Wallsend in the east.

At the end of the 8th century, all of Scotland's kingdoms were overthrown to some extent

by marauding Vikings. Numerous defeats by the Norse raiders eventually forced the

PopulationAround 5.2 million CurrencyPound sterling (GBP)

Labour Force2.49 million (2010)

Scotland's top five export industries

Food and drinkChemicalsBusiness servicesElectrical and instrument engineeringMechanical engineering

Top five export destinations

USANetherlandsFranceGermanyBelgium

Picts and Scoti to end their long-held hostility towards each other and unite in the 9 th

century to form the Kingdom of Scotland.

During the Scottish Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution, Scotland became

one of the commercial, intellectual and industrial powerhouses of Europe.

The country’s industrial decline following the Second World War was particularly acute

but in recent decades Scotland has enjoyed a cultural and economic renaissance, fuelled

in part by a resurgent financial services sector, the proceeds of North Sea oil and gas

and, latterly, a devolved Parliament.

Sport

Scottish sport

It could be Scotland’s dream landscape; or our people, with their lust for life and

a huge desire to enjoy themselves; or an innate inventiveness and creativity. Most likely

it’s a combination of all of these factors that has led to Scotland’s sporting heritage and

today’s true love of sport.

Scotland’s sporting traditions are legendary worldwide. Our country can lay

claim to the invention of a number of popular international sports, including golf, rugby

and tennis. Other sports are also rooted in Scotland’s history books, such as hockey

(which originates from shinty), curling, and, of course, the Scottish Highland Games.

Football is one of the nation’s most popular spectator sports. It was a Scotsman,

William McGregor, who set up the first English football league and it was in Scotland

in 1872 that the first international match was played in Partick, Glasgow, where

England and Scotland drew 0-0.

Today, a passion for football is played out in villages, towns and cities across

Scotland, where you’ll discover amateur through to world-beating professional matches,

leagues, cups and championships.

Olympic Games success

Scottish sport is a hotbed of talent. Our country was even more proud of its

sporting heroes when 55 Scottish Olympians and 27 Scottish Paralympians were

selected for the 2012 London Olympic Games. Team GB exceeded all expectations

during this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic games, winning an unprecedented 185

medals in total.

Scotland’s 24 medals were in athletics, cycling, hockey, judo, rowing, sailing,

slalom canoeing, swimming and tennis.

And in 2014, Glasgow hosts the XX Commonwealth Games. Already the excitement is

building for sports men and women – and spectators – with the opening of the Sir Chris

Hoy Velodrome and a myriad of other work being carried out on athletics arenas,

swimming complexes and mountain bike trails.

There is also a wealth of opportunities for Scotland’s people to become involved

in sports. State-of-the-art facilities, such as at the Edinburgh International Climbing

Arena at Ratho; a wide variety of dry slope and real snow ski centres, world-acclaimed

mountain biking trails, excellent athletics complexes and Sport Scotland’s National

Sailing Centre on the Isle of Cumbrae all combine to provide a sporting environment to

rival many countries worldwide.

Scottish Highland Games

More traditional Scottish sports, such as tossing the caber, hammer throwing, tug

o’ war and cross-country running, are celebrated at more than 60 Scottish Highland

Games events across the country every year. Bringing a host of fun for spectators and

participants alike, the Highland Games are a major part of Scotland’s summer sporting

agenda.

Sport For All

The Scottish Government is committed to committed to removing all barriers in

anyone's path and encouraging people to take part in sporting activities at all levels.

Facts about ScotlandSituated within a vibrant Europe, Scotland is progressive nation built on

dynamism, creativity and the fabulous warmth of its people. Here you will find a range

of Scottish facts, from information on its diverse and dramatic landscape and natural

resources to facts about Scotland’s population, economy and industry.

Tourism is one of Scotland’s most lucrative assets, focusing on such attractions

as golf, walking and a rich history. In industry, too, the country is pioneering and

enterprising. Key business sectors include life sciences, electronic technologies, energy

and financial services.

Scotland also boats a thriving export market with an impressive global reach,

especially in food and drink – including Scotland’s famous whisky – and chemicals.

Our people are also a major strength. In the workplace, we are well-educated, skilled

and motivated – and we are proud of our heritage of inventiveness and innovation.We

also like to play – whether it’s a party, festival or sporting event.

While Scotland is a small nation it has big ambitions.

Scotland’s GeographyScotland's physical geography, including details of landmass, islands, coastline,

major rivers, highest mountains and largest lochs.

Total Area78,772 sq km (30,414 sq mi)

Highest mountainBen Nevis 1344m

Other mountainsBen Macdui 1309m

Braeriach 1296m

Largest lochLoch Lomond 56 sq km

Longest river River Tay 193km

Other major rivers

River Spey 172kmRiver Clyde 171kmRiver Tweed 156km

River Forth 105km

Islands800 (130 inhabited)

CoastlineApproximately 10,000km with3,900km mainland coast

The Scottish GovernmentThe devolved government for Scotland is responsible for most of the issues of

day-to-day concern to the people of Scotland, including health, education, justice, rural

affairs, and transport.The Scottish Government was known as the Scottish Executive

when it was established in 1999 following the first elections to the Scottish Parliament.

The current administration was formed after elections in May 2011.

The Government's Purpose

To focus government and public services on creating a more successful country, with

opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic

growth.

Scotland's Constitutional HistoryOn 15th October 2012, the Edinburgh Agreement was signed by First Minister

Alex Salmond and UK Prime Minister David Cameron. It paves the way for a

referendum on Scottish independence in 2014 by confirming the Scottish Parliament’s

power to hold a vote that will be respected by both governments.

Mariana Sardinha

Nr 11 6th C