A Profile of Scotland
A Guide to the Highland Nation
Scotland occupies the upper third of the island that is Great Britain. Scotland, as well as its main landmass also includes around 800 islands which lie of its coasts. These islands include the Hebrides and Northern Isles.
Scotland was an independent state until 1707 when the Act of Union was signed, and the Kingdom of Scotland (as it was then known), joined in a political union with England. This union in 1707, created the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Religion in Scotland
According to a census taken in 2001, just under 70% of the Scottish population were reported as being Christians and nearly 30% claimed to have no religious views at all. Since the Scottish Reformation, the national church has been the Church of Scotland and is, like the Church of England, a protestant church.
Culture in Scotland
Scottish music plays a significant part of Scotland's culture. Both traditional music and instruments such as the bagpipes play a major role, but Scotland has produced more modern bands such as the popular band Franz Ferdinand.
In literature, Scotland has given us poets such as Robert Burns as well as popular writers such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who created and wrote the Sherlock Holmes detective stories. Scottish literature includes texts written in English, Scottish, Gaelic, French and also Latin.
Sport is another important aspect of Scotland's culture. The Scottish town of St. Andrews is renowned to be the "Home of Golf" and rugby is also one of Scotland's major sports. Scotland is also home to a number of successful football teams such as Rangers and Celtic.
Government and Politics in Scotland
The head of state of Scotland is whoever is the monarch of England and the rest of the United Kingdom. Since 1952, this has been Queen Elizabeth II. Scotland has limited self-governance. The Scottish Parliament has power over some domestic policy such as education and healthcare, however the government of the United Kingdom, based in London has most power and has done since the Act of Union in 1707 when the Scottish government was abolished. The Scottish government was the recreated as a devolved parliament.
Economy of Scotland
Traditionally, the Scottish economy has been dominated by heavy industry with shipbuilding in Glasgow and also coal mining and the steel industry. Industries related to the extraction of oil in the North Sea provided a lot of stimulation to the Scottish economy in the 1970s, however in the 1980s, Scotland suffered from major deindustrialisation and saw a shift from the heavy industry to a more service-based economy.
Tourism plays a key part in the Scottish economy, with tourists travelling from all over the world to experience the highlands, Scotland's rich music and art culture and many other things.
General Facts about Scotland:
- Population: 5,144, 200
- Flag: Cross of St. Andrew
- Area: 778, 772 km sq
- GDP per Capita: $39, 680
- Currency: Pound Sterling (GBP)
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