Economic activity: Gross Domestic Product / Gross Domestic Product per head
Maintaining economic growth is an important aspect of sustainable development. A healthy economy leads to higher living standards and greater prosperity for individuals. It also helps businesses to be profitable, which generates employment and income.
Gross Domestic Product ( GDP) is an important measure of the activity and strength of the economy. However, high GDP growth does not necessarily imply an efficient use of resources.
Long-run economic growth in Scotland over the period 1977-2007 is lower than that of the UK at 1.9 per cent per year on average compared to 2.4 per cent per year for the UK as a whole.
More recently, over the period 1990 to 2007 the Scottish economy grew by 31 per cent and by 16 per cent between 1999 and 2007. Expressed in terms of GDP per head of resident population, the growth rate is slightly lower (30% between 1990-2005 and 15% between 1999-2007).
Source: Scottish Government
Further Information
Last updated: August 2008