United Kingdom

Location

• Western Europe, islands - including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland - between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea; northwest of France
• lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km (22 mi) from France and linked by tunnel under the English Channel (the Channel Tunnel or Chunnel); because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km (78 mi) from tidal waters

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
London	8,961,989	Capital
Birmingham	1,157,603
Glasgow	626,410
Manchester	568,996
Sheffield	556,500
Leeds	536,280
Edinburgh	514,990
Liverpool	496,770
Bristol	479,024
Cardiff	372,089

Size

• 94,525 square miles
• 244,820 square kilometers
• twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon

History

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was created when the Kingdoms of England and Scotland -- which previously had been distinct states under a single monarchy -- were joined under the 1707 Acts of Union. The island of Ireland was incorporated under the 1800 Acts of Union, while Wales had been part of the Kingdom of England since the 16th century. The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. The 18th and 19th centuries saw the rapid expansion of the British Empire despite the loss of the Thirteen Colonies, and at its zenith in the early 20th century, the British Empire stretched over one fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw two World Wars seriously deplete the UK's strength and the Irish Republic withdraw from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth of Nations, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The devolved Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1998. The UK was an active member of the EU after its accession in 1973, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. However, motivated in part by frustration at a remote bureaucracy in Brussels and massive migration into the country, UK citizens in 2016 voted by 52 to 48 percent to leave the EU. On 31 January 2020, the UK became the only country to depart the EU -- a move known as "Brexit" -- after prolonged negotiations on EU-UK economic and security relationships.

Climate

temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast

Terrain

mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast

Languages

Englishnote: the following are recognized regional languages: Scots (about 30% of the population of Scotland), Scottish Gaelic (about 60,000 speakers in Scotland), Welsh (about 20% of the population of Wales), Irish (about 10% of the population of Northern Ireland), Cornish (some 2,000 to 3,000 people in Cornwall) (2012 est.)

Religions

Christian (includes Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 59.5%, Muslim 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%, other 2%, unspecified 7.2%, none 25.7% (2011 est.)

Government

parliamentary constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• Constitution: history: uncoded; partly statutes, partly common law and practiceamendment process: proposed as a bill for an Act of Parliament by the government, by the House of Commons, or by the House of Lords; passage requires agreement by both houses and by the monarch (Royal Assent)
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: common law system; has nonbinding judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998
• Executive Branch: chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022)head of government: Prime Minister Keir STARMER (since 5 July 2024)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime ministerelection/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime ministernote 1: in addition to serving as the UK head of state, the British sovereign is the constitutional monarch for 14 additional Commonwealth countries (each referred to as a "Commonwealth realm")note 2: King CHARLES III succeeded his mother, Queen ELIZABETH II, after serving as Prince of Wales (heir apparent) for over 64 years -- the longest such tenure in British history
• Judicial Branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 12 justices, including the court president and deputy president)judge selection and term of office: judge candidates selected by an independent committee of several judicial commissions, then recommended to the prime minister, and appointed by the monarch; justices serve for lifesubordinate courts: England and Wales: Court of Appeal (civil and criminal divisions); High Court; Crown Court; County Courts; Magistrates' Courts; Scotland: Court of Sessions; Sheriff Courts; High Court of Justiciary; tribunals; Northern Ireland: Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland; High Court; county courts; magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: UK Parliamentlegislative structure: bicameral

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• high-income, non-EU European economy; global financial center and dominant service sector; sluggish growth from stringent monetary policy, reduced business investment, low productivity and participation rates; fiscal austerity in face of high public debt 
• Budget: revenues: $1.211 trillion (2023 est.)expenditures: $1.442 trillion (2023 est.)note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land
• Industries: machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, other consumer goods
• Agricultural Products: milk, wheat, sugar beets, barley, potatoes, chicken, rapeseed, pork, beef, oats (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 69.6% (2022 est.)arable land: 24.8% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 0.2% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 44.6% (2022 est.)forest: 13.3% (2022 est.)other: 17.2% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: cars, gold, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: China 13%, USA 11%, Germany 10%, France 5%, Norway 4% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: cars, gold, gas turbines, packaged medicine, crude petroleum (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: USA 14%, China 8%, Germany 8%, Netherlands 7%, Ireland 7% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports