The population of Scotland is approximately 5,062,000, from the 2001 census; about 25 million people worldwide are believed to be of Scottish descent. The highest percentage of the population in Scotland itself is located in the central lowlands with the two largest cities being Edinburgh, the capital with a population of about 450,000, and Glasgow, population over 600,000.

For anyone wanting to trace their Scottish ancestry, Scotland’s People is one of the largest online sources of original genealogical information with almost 50 million records to access. Another site worth checking out is Scottish Family Roots who provide a personal, professional, value-for-money genealogy research service; their research can reveal your family’s unique Scottish history and traditions, giving you a fascinating insight into your family’s Scottish ancestry!

Scotland and the Scottish people have contributed to many fields throughout history; the following sections look at these people and their culture!