Interesting facts about co-operatives
2012 is the International Year of the co-operative
2012 has been recognised as the International Year of Co-operatives by the United Nations. This is an acknowledgement by the international community that co-operatives drive the economy, respond to social change, are resilient to the global economic crisis and are serious, successful businesses creating jobs in all sectors. Find out more at www.2012.coop.
Internationally
- 800 million people are members of Co-operatives around the world
- 9.8 million are members in the United Kingdom
- Co-operatives provide 100 million jobs worldwide, 20% more than multinational enterprises
In Scotland
- Approximately 450 co-ops and 12 mutual companies are active
- One in five adults is a member of a co-operative, one in four of a mutual
- £4 billion (approximately 4.25% of Scottish GDP) is the estimated combined turnover of all co-operatives and mutuals
- 22,000 people are employed by co-ops and mutuals
- 20 large housing co-ops have a combined turnover of £19 million p.a.
- 16 retail co-ops employ around 12,500 employees and turnover £1.1 billion
- 10 employee-owned businesses and 34 worker co-ops, some operating since the 1970s
- 26 fishing co-ops
- 80 agricultural co-ops have a £1 billion turnover
- Credit unions have 206,000 members and a £130m turnover
- 12 mutuals have around 1m policyholders and assets of £19.6 billion
- 31 football Supporters' Trusts have 30,000 member fans
