There were 34,711 companies formed in Scotland in 2015 — and 19,772 businesses dissolved — according to research by Inform Direct.

That took the total number of businesses in Scotland to a record high of 213,480, up 7.5 per cent from 2014.

In 2015, there were 6.6 incorporations for every 1,000 people in Scotland, compared to a UK average of 9.7.

That means there are now 40.3 companies for every 1,000 people in Scotland, compared to a UK average of 59.4.

In 2015, Edinburgh created 6,924 new companies, Glasgow launched 6,700 new firms, South Lanarkshire created 2,573, Fife launched 1,879, and Aberdeen created 1,602 firms.

Edinburgh now has 42,293 companies, Glasgow has 35,363, Aberdeen has 14,348, South Lanarkshire 12,940 and Aberdeenshire 10,584.

In 2011, there were only 157,378 companies in Scotland.

Full report: http://www.informdirect.co.uk/infographics/id/?location=scotland&year=2015