SCOTLAND would move higher up the world league table for human development if it became independent, while the rest of the UK would go backwards after a Yes vote, according to new research by a leading economic research body.

The report, The Success of Small Countries by the Credit Suisse Research Institute, found an independent Scotland would easily outperform the rump UK on the United Nation's Human Development Index (HDI), which combines economic, education and health measurements.

Catalonia would also outrank the rest of Spain on the HDI if it became independent.

The report compares the performance of the world's 109 small countries, with populations below 10 million, to that of the 85 countries with more than 10 million people.

The report said the recent economic crisis showed the fragility of some small countries, with the "peak-to-trough falls in GDP from 2008 to 2014 being the most dramatic for the Baltic states, Iceland, Ireland and Portugal." Sweden and Switzerland fared much better.

But the report also identifies strengths seen in small countries, such as strong HDI.

In the event of independence, it said: "Both Catalonia and Scotland will rank higher than Spain and the UK respectively. Catalonia would rank 20th globally, while Spain ranks currently 23rd and would slip to 26th ex-Catalonia.

"Scotland would rank 23rd if we include a geographical allocation … related to North Sea oil output, versus the current 27th place for the UK and the hypothetical 30th for the UK ex-Scotland.

"Note that even excluding any allocation of oil output, Scotland would still rank ahead of the UK, but just so."

The report also found small countries were strongest for "intangible infrastructure", the political, legal and socio-economic factors which foster social and economic progress.

These include political stability, strong institutions, rule of law, stable tax policies, research and development, and education. It said: "It seems excellence in intangible infrastructure is a small country speciality."

However, the report also suggests SNP plans to model Scotland on Nordic nations such as Norway would not be straightforward.

Small countries such as Norway and Switzerland benefited from "vintage", the report said, with stable institutions and good infrastructure.

"Older, small countries, notably those in the alpine and Nordic regions, tend to be pinpointed as the model for other small nations to follow, though many of the factors that have contributed to the success of the alpine or Nordic countries are not transferable … Many of the ingredients that have contributed to one country's success are very difficult to 'cut and paste' on to other nations."

Shortly before 2008 turned Iceland into an economic basketcase, Alex Salmond hailed it as part of an "arc or prosperity" with Ireland. The report says such praise can be a bad sign.

"The designation of a particular country as a model for others to follow invariably marks the peak in that country's (hubristic) growth. Iceland and Turkey are good recent examples."

SNP Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "This highlights once again that Scotland is perfectly positioned to flourish as an independent nation able to concentrate on our talents, grow our economy and build a better and fairer society."