Regions of Scotland

Scotland is a country located in the northern region of the United Kingdom, off the northwestern coastline of continental Europe. It is positioned in both the northern and western hemispheres. The country shares borders with England to the south, North Sea to the east, Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the southwest.

The total area covered by Scotland is 30,414 square miles. According to the 2010 census, the estimated population of the country is 5,222,100.

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland. Covering an area of 100.00 square miles, it is the second-largest city in Scotland. The city is well known for its ancient Georgian and Victorian buildings. The Scottish Parliament is housed in the city. Also, Edinburgh is well known for hosting a number of festivals and cultural events like the annual Edinburgh Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland. It covers a total area of 67.76 square miles and is home to over 592,820 people.

Earlier, Scotland was divided into mormaerdom, stewartry, earldom, burgh, parish, county and regions and districts. However, today's administrative structure is different and designed to suit the present circumstances. The local government is divided into thirty-two council areas whose councils are unitary authorities. These authorities are responsible for the provision of all local government services.

The politics of Scotland takes place in the framework of a devolved government. The country is a constitutional monarchy with the Monarch of the United Kingdom as the head of state. Elizabeth II is the present ruling monarch while Alex Salmond is the First Minister.

Christianity is the official and the largest religion in Scotland. The various denominations include the Presbyterians, Baptists, Congregationalists, Methodists, and Unitarians. There are also a significant number of Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu and Sikh communities in the country.

English is the official language of Scotland spoken by the majority of the population. Scottish Gaelic is the ancient language of the country and is spoken by a few people.

Pound sterling denoted by the ISO code GBP, is the official currency of Scotland. Textile production, distilling, tourism and fishing are the major industries. The primary exports include whisky, electronics and financial services. Major trade flows are with the United States, Netherlands, Germany, France and Spain.

• Scotland Political Map
• Scotland Road Map
• Edinburgh Map