Key Scottish Environment Statistics 2009

Annual publication containing summary of key statistics on environmental trends in Scotland


Background

Gross Domestic Product ( GDP) R,2: 1978-2008

Scottish GDP at basic prices (2004=100)

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)R,2: 1978-2008

1978

1980

1990

2000

2005

2006

2007

2008

Scottish GDP
(2004=100)

61.5

60.9

73.7

91.9

102.2

104.9

107.0

107.6

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, a high GDP does not necessarily imply an efficient use of resources.

Between 1978 and 2008, the Scottish GDP index increased from 61.5 to 107.6, representing an average annual growth of 1.9%. Over the 2008 calendar year GDP in Scotland rose by 0.5%, compared to a rise of 0.8% in the UK. Although Scotland's GDP increased by 0.5% over the year to the end of 2008, it has fallen each quarter since the third quarter of 2008. UKGDP has been falling since the second quarter of 2008.

In 2007, the Scottish Government set a purpose target to raise the GDP growth rate to the UK level by 2011 and a further target to match the GDP growth rate of the small independent EU countries by 2017.

Source: Scottish Government

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