Scotland would be the third-wealthiest country in Europe regardless of whether it was allocated 90% or 75% of the UK's oil wealth, according to figures published yesterday.
The Government figures, an early draft of which caused controversy when ministers quoted from them at the SNP conference last weekend, were placed in the Scottish Parliament library yesterday.
Based on information supplied by the UK Office for National Statistics, the table puts Scotland just behind Luxembourg and Ireland, and still ahead of the Netherlands whichever of the two oil share percentage examples are used.
The UK, with full North Sea wealth, come eighth in the table.
Commenting on the figures, First Minister Alex Salmond said: "If Scotland had 75% or 90% of the wealth from North Sea oil and gas, it would move up to third place, behind Luxembourg and Ireland.
"If you include Scotland's resources, as you should and as we would if we were an independent country, it is impossible to argue that the third most prosperous country in Europe cannot afford to be a splendid success as an independent country."
He added: "These figures do not even take account of the recent surge in oil prices.
"This is further evidence that fundamentally dispels the argument that Scotland is too poor or too small to stand on its own two feet and reinforces the powerful findings of the Herald's own research stating the reality of Scotland's economy and finances."
The report in The Herald yesterday reported that the UK's total North Sea revenues for 2005-06 were £9.7bn.
However, at that time, Brent crude was trading for around $50 a barrel. Since then, the price has risen to more than $90.
The exact amount of oil money that would come to Scotland has always been open to question.
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