ONE in three of all minority ethnic groups feel they have some Scottish identity, details revealed by the 2011 Census have shown.
Some 60% of people from a mixed background, 50% of those from a Pakistani ethnic group, and 21% from an African ethnic group described themselves as being at least partly Scottish.
This compares to 82% of the general Scottish population who characterised themselves as at least partially Scottish.
The news has been welcomed by the Scottish Government who said it showed evidence the country is a "welcoming an dynamic nation".
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "The census reflects a strong Scottish identity across all ethnic groups."
The data published by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) showed that 34% of all minority ethnic groups felt they had some Scottish identity, either exclusively or in combination with another nationality.
Ms Hyslop said: "Scotland is a culturally, religious and ethnically diverse place - and these pictures paint a fascinating portrait of Scotland today, telling us more about the people who make up our Scottish nation. It is especially welcome that those proud to claim a Scottish identity include those who have chosen Scotland as their home and the census reflects a strong Scottish identity across all ethnic groups."
The Muslim Council of Scotland (MCS) believed the figures showed the numbers identifying themselves as at least part Scots compared favourably with the main population.
An MCS spokesman said: "Everything depends on how long people have been here. You also have to remember some may feel more British and others have English identity."
The population survey results reveal that six out of 10 people of the general population living in Scotland define themselves as exclusively Scottish.
Young people were most likely to regard themselves as Scottish only, details revealed by the 2011 Census have shown.
The data showed that while 62% of the total population consider themselves "Scottish", the proportion rose to 71% among those aged 10-14. It fell to just 57% of those in their early 30s.
The second biggest identity group was a mixture of Scottish and British, which was subscribed to by 18% of the population, and was most common among those over 65.
Just 8% of the total population stated their national identity as exclusively British.
Ms Hyslop added: "What unites us is our strong sense of Scottish identity, with 83% feeling either solely Scottish or Scottish and something else, compared to, for example, 70% of people in England feeling English.
"These figures show that Scotland is an attractive and dynamic nation and one where people from many different backgrounds, cultures and nationalities want to make a life for themselves and their families and celebrate their Scottish identity."
The census details also revealed that 55 to 74-year-olds were most likely to have some skills in the Scots language, with 43% stating they could do one or a combination of read, write, speak or understand it.
Most people said they had "no religion". But "Church of Scotland" (44%) was the most common answer to the question for those with Scottish and British identities only, while "Muslim" was the most common answer for "Asian" and "Other ethnic groups".
Rt Rev Lorna Hood, the Mod-erator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland said she found the numbers identifying with the Kirk brought a responsibility to reach out to the whole of Scotland.
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