Scotland is one of the countries with one of the largest diasporas in the world. Interestingly, while approximately 4.5 million people live in Scotland today, the number of people worldwide who consider themselves of Scottish descent is estimated to be close to 40 million.
Modern.az reports, citing foreign sources, that according to calculations by the Scottish government, 28-40 million people worldwide consider themselves descendants of Scots. Some studies indicate that this figure reaches up to 80 million.
The largest communities of people of Scottish descent live in the USA, Canada, and Australia. It is reported that there are 5.4-6 million people of Scottish origin in the USA, approximately 4.8 million in Canada, and 4 million in Australia. In proportion to the population, the largest Scottish diaspora has formed in Canada.
In addition, large Scottish communities also exist in New Zealand, Ireland, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil.
According to historians, the mass migration of Scots began in the 17th century and continued for several centuries. During this period, approximately 3.6 million people left Scotland.
The main reasons for migration were economic difficulties, religious persecutions, and political events. Especially after Scotland's union with England in 1707, the process of emigration from the country accelerated.
Today, Scottish culture is kept alive through Robert Burns clubs, Caledonian societies, and national dance groups operating in various countries around the world.
