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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