Scottish economy performed better than UK, GDP figures show

Over 2025 as a whole, Scotland’s GDP rose by 1.4%. UK GDP increased by 1.3% last year, according to data published by the Office for National Statistics earlier this month.

Scottish GDP rose by 0.1% month-on-month in December.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: "These figures are encouraging. Scotland's economy grew in every quarter of 2025, with growth of 1.4% over the year.”

The Scottish Government figures show that, comparing last year with 2024, Scotland’s services sector grew by 2%, with production output falling by 1.7%. Over the same timeframe, the Scottish construction sector grew by 1.3%, and agriculture, forestry and fishing output contracted by 1%.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes highlighted a milestone. (Image: Colin Mearns)

Ms Forbes highlighted a milestone reached this week by the Scottish National Investment Bank, in her comments on the latest GDP figures. She also flagged other Scottish Government measures aimed at boosting the economy.

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The Deputy First Minister said: “The Scottish Government has a strong record of investing in businesses through programmes like the Scottish National Investment Bank, which reached £1 billion in committed investment this week, and our enterprise agencies.

"Our Techscaler initiative, which helps tech start-ups to scale and grow, and our small business bonus scheme - the most generous of its kind in the UK - show our commitment to a thriving economy.”

Ms Forbes meanwhile highlighted the fact that migration policy is controlled by the UK Government, and again criticised Labour’s hike in employer national insurance contributions.

She said: “At present migration and most economic, fiscal and other levers lie with the UK Government and policy choices like the increase to employer's national insurance contributions have damaged Scotland's economy and caused job losses. With the full powers of an independent country, we can deliver a better, fairer, growing economy.”

Comparing the fourth quarter of 2025 with the final three months of 2024, Scottish GDP was up by 1.2% and UK GDP rose by 1%.

Scotland's 0.1% growth in the final three months of 2025 matched expansion in the UK as a whole in the fourth quarter.

In the final three months of last year, Scotland’s services sector grew by 0.1% quarter on quarter, with production output increasing by 1.4%, and agriculture, forestry and fishing expanding by 0.1%, while construction contracted by 2.1%.