Continent: Europe
Population: (2003 estimate) 5.5 million
Area: 78,783 sq km (30,414 sq miles)
Capital: Edinburgh
Edinburgh Population: 450,000
Government: Parliamentary democracy
Major industries: banking and finance, electronics, oil and gas, whisky, tourism
Major trading partners: European Union and USA
Health risks: None
Local Time: GMT (for US citizens this is 5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and 8 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time)
People: Traditionally Celts, Anglo-Saxons, however Scotland is now a multi-racial country.
Language: Traditionally English, Gaelic, Scots, however Scotland is now a multi-racial country.
Currency: Pound Sterling (GBP) where £1 = 100 pence
Religions: Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu.
Public Holidays: 25 Dec - Christmas Day, 1 & 2 Jan - New Year's Day, March / April - Good Friday,
March / April - Easter Monday
National day: St Andrew’s Day (November 30th)
Dialling Code: 44
Electricity: 240V, 50Hz
Weights & Measures: Metric (except beer, which is measured in pints)
Famous Scots: Alexander Graham Bell (telephone), Robert Burns (poet), Sir Alexander Fleming (penicillin), William Murdoch (gas lighting), Alan Pinkerton (detective agency)