Overview of United Kingdom (UK)

Profile

The UK is an island nation consisting of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, known as the birthplace of parliamentary democracy and the Industrial Revolution. The country enjoys a temperate oceanic climate with rolling hills, pastures, and highlands in the northwest. London, the capital, is one of the world's leading financial, cultural, and tourism centers, and English is the global lingua franca. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and part of the G7 and G20, the UK wields significant influence in international politics and economics.

Official name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Common name: United Kingdom (UK)
Numeric code: 826
Alpha-3 code: GBR
Alpha-2 code: GB
Population: approximately 67 million (2023)
Population density: approximately 280 per km2
Primary languages: English, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Cornish, Irish, Ulster Scots
Major religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism
National anthem: God Save the King
Calling code: +44
Internet TLD: .uk

History

From the 1707 Act of Union forming the kingdom to the expansion of the British Empire, followed by two World Wars establishing the current United Kingdom framework.

Following Roman rule and the Anglo-Saxon period, feudalism was established with the Norman Conquest of 1066. After the Reformation and Glorious Revolution in the 16th-17th centuries, England and Scotland united in 1707 to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. In the 18th-19th centuries, industrial revolution and naval power built the British Empire, ruling one-quarter of the world's land. The empire contracted after two World Wars and decolonization. Post-1945, the welfare state and Thatcher reforms transitioned to a service economy, with Brexit from the EU in 2020. Charles III ascended in 2022 to the present.

Geography & climate

Hills and fertile lowlands dominate most of the country, with mountainous regions and fjord-like inlets in the northwest. Complex coastlines and numerous islands.

Temperate oceanic (West Coast maritime)

Area: Europe / 243610 km²
Capital: London
Largest city: London
Coastal status: Yes
Major lakes: Loch Ness, Lough Neagh, Lake Windermere
Bordering countries: Ireland

Natural resources

North Sea oil fields, Natural gas, Coal, Limestone, Slate, Wind energy, Tidal energy, Farmland, Fishery resources, Tourism resources

Politics

Government: Constitutional monarchy, parliamentary system

Economy

Currency: Pound Sterling (GBP)

GDP (nominal): Approximately 3.1 trillion USD (2023)

GDP (PPP): Approximately 3.8 trillion International dollars (2023)

Language & timezone

Primary languages: English, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Cornish, Irish, Ulster Scots

Time zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), British Summer Time (BST)

Culture & customs

Ethnic groups

English, Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Afro-Caribbean, Chinese

Life expectancy

Approximately 81 years

Literacy rate

99%

National sports

Football, Rugby Union, Cricket, Golf, Tennis, Horse Racing, Rowing, Snooker