Demographics
Scotland’s demographics further illustrate why we offer fantastic investment opportunities.
The varied Scottish economy and strong labour market continue to attract international investment with many companies choosing Scotland as their European or global headquarters.
Scotland’s population
Scotland is home to over 5,222,100 people with a labour force of 2,703,000 people.
Our average gross weekly wage is £486.90.
Source: General Register Office for Scotland, Dec 2010
The populations of our major cities are:
- Glasgow: 1,184,350
- Edinburgh: 467,660
- Aberdeen: 195,530
- Dundee: 152,320
- Inverness: 55,660
- Stirling: 45,750
Source: General Register Office for Scotland, Mid 2008 population estimates
Scotland’s workforce
Scotland’s 2,336,100 workers are employed across a diverse range of industries.
Key employement sectors in Scotland include:
- Real estate and business services: 349,700
- Retail and wholesale: 350,500
- Manufacturing: 201,600
- Hotels and catering: 165,700
- Financial services: 84,600
Scotland’s industries
The European Union region remains our biggest export market with Scottish based firms also enjoying great export success in North America and Asia.
Our leading export industries are:
- Food and drink
- Chemicals
- Business services
- Electrical and instrument engineering
- Mechanical engineering
The Scottish Government website has more information on Scotland's demographics