Today, let's visit
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is a country in Europe, home to about 66.5 million people. Its capital is London.
It covers 244,820 square kilometres (94,525 square miles). That's twice the size of Pennsylvania.
A little 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.
What's it like there?
The weather is temperate.
- 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
- Size
-
- Twice the size of Pennsylvania
- Slightly smaller than Oregon
- Climate
-
- Temperate
- Moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current
- More than one-half of the days are overcast
- Landscape
-
- Mostly rugged hills and low mountains
- Level to rolling plains in east and southeast
- Natural resources
-
- Coal
- Petroleum
- Natural gas
- Iron ore
- Lead
- Zinc
- Gold
- Tin
- Limestone
- Salt
- Clay
- Chalk
- Gypsum
- Potash
- Silica sand
- Slate
- Arable land
- Land use
-
Agricultural land 70.3%
Arable land 25%
Permanent crops 0.2%
Permanent pasture 45.2%
Forest 13.4%
Other 14.7%
2023 estimate
- Good to know
-
- 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
Who lives there?
About 66.5 million people live in the United Kingdom, and the biggest city is London.
- Largest cities
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London Capital 8,961,989 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 - Languages
-
English
Note: 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 estimate
- Ethnic groups
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White 87.2% Black/African/Caribbean/black British 3% Asian/Asian British: Indian 2.3% Asian/Asian British: Pakistani 1.9% Mixed 2% Other 3.7% 2011 estimate
- Where people live
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The core of the population lies in and around London, with significant clusters found in central Britain around Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, in southern Wales in and around Cardiff, and in far-eastern Northern Ireland, centered on Belfast
- Cities and towns
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Urban population 84.6% of total population
2023
Rate of urbanization 0.8% annual rate of change
2020-25 estimate
- What people are called
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Noun Briton(s), British (collective plural)
Adjective British
Who's in charge?
Its government is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
- Leaders
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Head of state King Charles III (since 8 September 2022)
Head of government Prime Minister Keir Starmer (since 5 July 2024)
- Parliament
-
Legislature name UK Parliament
Legislative structure Bicameral
- Courts
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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 life
Subordinate 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
- Constitution
-
History - Uncoded
- Partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Amendment 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)
- Legal system
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- Common law system
- Has nonbinding judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998
- Who can vote
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- 18 years of age
- Universal
How does it make a living?
- In short
-
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
- Industries
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- 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
- Farming
-
- Milk
- Wheat
- Sugar beets
- Barley
- Potatoes
- Chicken
- Rapeseed
- Pork
- Beef
- Oats
2023
Note: Top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
- Exports
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- Cars
- Gold
- Gas turbines
- Packaged medicine
- Crude petroleum
2023
Note: Top five export commodities based on value in dollars
- Sells most to
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USA 14% China 8% Germany 8% Netherlands 7% Ireland 7% 2023
Note: Top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- Imports
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- Cars
- Gold
- Crude petroleum
- Refined petroleum
- Natural gas
2023
Note: Top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- Buys most from
-
China 13% USA 11% Germany 10% France 5% Norway 4% 2023
Note: Top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- Workforce
-
35.359 million
2024 estimate
Note: Number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
- Below the poverty line
-
18.6%
2017 estimate
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line
- Electricity
-
Electrification - total population 100%
2022 estimate
Electrification - urban areas 99.9%
Electrification - rural areas 100%
- Government budget
-
Revenues $1.211 trillion
Expenditures $1.442 trillion
2023 estimate
Note: Central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Want to read more? Try the Wikipedia article, the Wikipedia portal or the Human Rights Watch report.
Have a great day!
I'll look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.
The more we all learn about the world, the better a place it becomes. Thank you for your curiosity!