THE 21st century Scot watches an average of 27.9 hours of television each week, is most likely to indulge in the arts by reading a book, and holidays in the Balearic Islands.
A new report published today, drawn from a collection of studies, paints a contemporary look at the life of the typical Scot.
The first publication of Social Statistics, which replaces the lists of tables which once made up the Scottish Abstract of Statistics, will today be launched by the Scottish Executive on the internet and in book form.
Divided into 10 chapters, covering subjects such as population, housing, education, health, transport, and the environment, it provides an insight into life in Scotland today.
The research reveals a prediction of a dramatic decline in the typical "nuclear family" which successive governments in the 1970s and 1980s used to exemplify family life.
By contrast, statisticians have predicted more men and women will choose to live alone, either through choice or through growing divorce rates.
The statistics also reveal that almost half of Scots have fallen away from religion, with 40% admitting they had no religion at all. Of those that admitted a belief, more than a third said they never, or practically never, attend church.
More than 60% of Scots regard themselves as Scottish and not British, while more than a third are in favour of remaining in the EU, but advocate a reduction in EU powers.
Politically, Scots perceive health as a priority for government spending, followed by education, with defence spending near the bottom of the pile.
The survey showed that a growing number of Scottish homes boast household goods such as a dishwasher, washing machines, and home computers.
But that full equality between men and women has yet to reach the home, with women expected to carry the burden for childcare, washing, cleaning, and cooking.
Weekly earnings are lower in Scotland than in Great Britain as a whole and the gap is widening. In 1975, men in Scotland earned 99% of the UK figure, but in 2000 this had fallen to only 93%, while the gap between the cost of buying a home in Scotland is around three-quarters of the UK figure.
The figures reveal almost all households now have television, while more than a quarter have access to satellite TV, with an average of 27.9 hours viewed each week.
On a lighter note, Bob the Builder was Scotland's best-selling single of 2000, followed by All Saints' Pure Shores and Robbie Williams' Rock DJ.
Scots were most likely to read a book or attend the cinema, while the Balearic Islands, followed by mainland Spain and the Canary Islands, were among the favoured holiday destinations.
Fran Wasoff, a senior lecturer in social policy at Edinburgh University, said: "It is important that we have repeated snapshots. In some ways we are moving in a new direction in Scotland.
"It is not only important for government to have accurate social statistics but for researchers like me, policy-makers, and people running government services.
"One of the issues we have on the political agenda is the work-family balance. The distribution of household tasks between men and women will affect their availability for work. If we are going to understand how the work-family balance operates, we need there to be this kind of information."
Father Danny McLoughlin, spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland, expressed concern at the change in family life. "Traditional family values have been under attack for many years, therefore it is hardly surprising there is that trend away from the traditional family. In the church, we still believe that the family is the basic and best unit for a healthy society.
"We have been aware of the level of participation by people in formal religion for some time. At the same time, it is worth noting that 60% of people in Scotland claim some sort of religious affiliation which, in a sense, is still good news."
Rev Alan McDonald, convener of the Church of Scotland's church and nation committee, said: "This survey does not seem to be telling us anything that we don't already know.
"It might be useful to wait to offer any comment until the results of the forthcoming census, which will give us a much more accurate picture, have been published."
-March 28th