United Kingdom
Country Guide

Explore United Kingdom

United Kingdom with its capital London is located in Europe (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). It covers some 243,611 square kilometers (twice the size of Pennsylvania) with a population of 64,769,500. English, Welsh and Scottish Gaelic are the languages spoken by people in United Kingdom (consider regional differences). As an interesting fact, Ireland is the only bordering country.

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy comprising most of the British Isles. The Union comprises four constituent nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Great in Great Britain is to distinguish it from the other, smaller Britain: Brittany (Bretagne) in northwestern France. Don't describe citizens of the United Kingdom as English. The Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish do not identify themselves as being from England. If you need to refer to someone's nationality, you can use the most precise term, 'English', 'Northern Irish', 'Welsh' or 'Scottish'. The UK has a benign humid-temperate climate moderated by the North Atlantic current and the country's proximity to the sea. Because the UK stretches nearly a thousand kilometres from end to end, temperatures can vary quite considerably between north and south. All of the UK drives on the left. Most cars in the UK are manual (stick-shift) transmission. The high cost of travelling basics such as transport, accommodation and food means that you will spend at least £50 per day as a budget traveller. This figure climbs higher if you want to use taxis, 3 star hotels, and eat in restaurants. London and the South East can be up to three times as expensive as other parts of the country. Despite jokes and stereotypes, British food is actually very good and internationally orientated British cuisine has improved greatly over the past few decades, and the British remain extremely proud of their native dishes. Restaurants and supermarkets in the middle and upper range have consistently high standards, and the choice of international dishes is among the best in Europe. The legal age to buy and consume alcohol is 18 (16 for a glass of beer, cider, shandy, or perry with a substantial meal and an adult present). The local emergency telephone number is 999; however, the EU-wide 112 can also be used.

Popular Destinations in United Kingdom

Administrative regions of United Kingdom

• England
• Northern Ireland
• Scotland
• Wales

About the country

The topography is mostly rugged hills and low mountains with level to rolling plains in east and southeast. The average density of population is about 266 per km². The climate in United Kingdom can be described as temperatemoderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current, more than one-half of the days are overcast. Potential natural disasters are floods winter windstorms

To reach someone United Kingdom dial +44 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".uk". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: G). The sign for the locally used currency Pound is GBP.

Blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); properly known as the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth countries and their constituent states or provinces, and British overseas territories.

The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal 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, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1998. The latter was suspended from October 2002 until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process. The UK has been an active member of the EU since 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 on 23 June 2016 narrowly voted to leave the EU. The so-called “Brexit” (British exit) will take at least two years to carry out but could help trigger referenda in other EU countries where skepticism of EU membership benefits is strong.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 81)	243,610	sq km
Land (World Rank: 79)	241,930	sq km
Water (World Rank: 93)	1,680	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 25)	45.70	%
Comparative	twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon
Note	includes Rockall and Shetland Islands
Coastline
12429
Landborder
443
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 47)	-4	m
Highest point (World Rank: 149)	1,343	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 24)	71.00	%
Arable (World Rank: 41)	25.10	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 171)	0.20	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 25)	45.70	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 100)	950	sq km
Map reference
Europe
Environment
Issues	- and industry - but air pollution remains a concern - continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - decline in marine and coastal habitats brought on by pressures from housing - particularly in the London region - soil pollution from pesticides and heavy metals - tourism
Agreement party	- Air Pollution - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides - Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants - Air Pollution-Sulfur 94 - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds - Antarctic Seals - Antarctic Treaty - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol - Antarctic-Marine Living Resources - Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Endangered Species - Environmental Modification - Hazardous Wastes - Law of the Sea - Marine Dumping - Marine Life Conservation - Ozone Layer Protection - Ship Pollution - Tropical Timber 83 - Tropical Timber 94 - Wetlands - Whaling
Hazzards	- floods - winter windstorms
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
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

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 22)	64,769,500
Deathrate (World Rank: 56)	0.94	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 164)	1.21	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 152)	0.52	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 37)	0.25	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 139)	1.88	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 46)	39.30
Female (World Rank: 49)	41.70
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 33)	5,819,360
0 14 female (World Rank: 33)	5,532,120
15 24 male (World Rank: 29)	3,938,640
15 24 female (World Rank: 29)	3,770,510
25 54 male (World Rank: 20)	13,387,900
25 54 female (World Rank: 21)	12,873,100
55 64 male (World Rank: 15)	3,843,270
55 64 female (World Rank: 16)	3,918,240
65 x male (World Rank: 11)	5,246,480
65 x female (World Rank: 11)	6,439,830
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 186)	0.43	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 34)	81	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 39)	83	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 28)	79	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 46)	2.81
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 75)	2.90
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 28)	99.20	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 35)	27.80	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 17)	100.00	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 12)	309,800,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 11)	301,600,000,000	kWh
Export (World Rank: 43)	2,153,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 11)	19,700,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 141)	55.60	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 115)	9.40	%
Source renew (World Rank: 9)	33.40	%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 20)	933,000	bbl / day
Exports (World Rank: 20)	636,200	bbl / day
Imports (World Rank: 16)	808,800	bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 31)	2,564,000,000	bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 14)	1,280,000	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 15)	1,586,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 10)	632,200	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 6)	941,200	bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 18)	41,340,000,000	m³
Consumption (World Rank: 6)	186,200,000,000	m³
Export (World Rank: 17)	14,220,000,000	m³
Import (World Rank: 75)	0	m³
Carbon footprint
568300000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 38)	6	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 59)	2	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 38)	9	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 110)	-3	% of GDP
National symbol
unicorn
National colours
white
Adjective
British
Noun
Briton(s), British (collective plural)
Background
The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal 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, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1998. The latter was suspended from October 2002 until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process. The UK has been an active member of the EU since 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 on 23 June 2016 narrowly voted to leave the EU. The so-called “Brexit” (British exit) will take at least two years to carry out but could help trigger referenda in other EU countries where skepticism of EU membership benefits is strong.
Flag description
blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); properly known as the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth countries and their constituent states or provinces, and British overseas territories

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 9)	2,785,000,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 145)	1.80	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 37)	42,400	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 206)	0.60	%
Source industry (World Rank: 156)	19.20	%
Source service (World Rank: 28)	80.20	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 17)	33,360,000
In poverty (World Rank: 131)	15.00	%
Products
Industries	- aircraft - automation equipment - chemicals - clothing - coal - communications equipment - electric power equipment - electronics - food processing - machine tools - metals - motor vehicles - other consumer goods - paper - paper products - parts - petroleum - railroad equipment - shipbuilding - textiles
Agriculture	- cattle - cereals - fish - oilseed - potatoes - poultry - sheep - vegetables
Exports	- beverages - chemicals - food - fuels - manufactured goods - tobacco
Imports	- foodstuffs - fuels - machinery - manufactured goods

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 7)	33,510,800
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 17)	52.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 72)	122.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 10)	61,064,500
Population (World Rank: 14)	94.80	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 9)	271
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 18)	189.00
Heliports (World Rank: 23)	9.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 16)	16,837
Road
Total length (World Rank: 18)	394,428
Paved length (World Rank: 10)	394,428
Water
Total length (World Rank: 32)	3,200

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