Technical Information: Economy: Our thriving, sustainable economy conserves and grows our natural assets
Last updated: 25 June 2025
Natural capital accounts
Indicator Updated: 25 June 2025
| Year | Value of Natural Capital (Million Pounds) |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 5613.41 |
| 2017 | 4757.84 |
| 2018 | 4512.51 |
| 2019 | 4731.56 |
| 2020 | 4580.38 |
| 2021 | 3301.75 |
| 2022 | 5872.13 |
The UK Natural Capital Accounts (NCAs) produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) take a range of ecosystem services and aim to value, in monetary terms, the benefits they bring to society. Within the UK NCAs, data is available for Scotland on the “annual value” and overall lifetime “asset value” to the Scottish economy of sixteen ecosystem services, split into three broad categories:
- Provisioning services - material outputs such as fish, timber and fossil fuels
- Regulating services - that help to maintain the quality of the environment, such as greenhouse gas regulation, air pollution removal and noise mitigation
- Cultural services - such as recreation, tourism and aesthetics
The NCAs should be interpreted as a minimum value of the services provided by the natural environment as not all services can currently be monetised, such as pollination or flood protection.
Source: UK natural capital accounts 2024. These are official statistics in development, further information about the methodology is available at UK natural capital accounts methodology guide: 2024 - Office for National Statistics.
Update Frequency: Annual
Further Information: Summary of Scottish Data from UK Natural Capital Accounts, 2024
Natural capital asset index
Indicator Updated: 25 June 2025
| Year | Natural Capital Asset Index (relative to 2000) |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 100.00 |
| 2001 | 100.16 |
| 2002 | 100.47 |
| 2003 | 100.75 |
| 2004 | 100.92 |
| 2005 | 101.22 |
| 2006 | 101.31 |
| 2007 | 101.27 |
| 2008 | 101.02 |
| 2009 | 100.66 |
| 2010 | 100.01 |
| 2011 | 99.56 |
| 2012 | 99.33 |
| 2013 | 99.57 |
| 2014 | 100.06 |
| 2015 | 100.86 |
| 2016 | 101.50 |
| 2017 | 102.16 |
| 2018 | 102.46 |
| 2019 | 102.58 |
| 2020 | 102.65 |
| 2021 | 102.66 |
This National Performance Framework indicator measures the ability which our natural assets have to provide ecosystem services to society (through measurements of their quantity and quality) now and into the future. The Natural Capital Asset Index (NCAI) is a composite index, based (i.e. equal to 100) in the year 2000.
It is recognised that at this point in time, the NCAI still requires further development and refinement. The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with key stakeholders over time to develop the NCAI and other potential future measures.
Source: Scotland’s Natural Capital Asset Index.
Update Frequency: Annual
Further Information: Scotland’s Natural Capital Asset Index.