| Area Total | 243,610 sq km |
| Climate | temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast |
| Natural Resources | coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land |
| Imports | $602.5 billion (2017 est.) partners: Germany 13.7%, US 9.5%, China 9.3%, Netherlands 8%, France 5.4%, Belgium 5% (2017) |
| Exports | $436.5 billion (2017 est.) partners: US 13.2%, Germany 10.5%, France 7.4%, Netherlands 6.2%, Ireland 5.6%, China 4.8%, Switzerland 4.5%, (2017) |
| Government | parliamentary constitutional monarchy; a Constitutional realm |
| Capital | London |
| Population | 65.6 million (July 2017 est.) |
| Ethnicity | 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 est.) |
| Language | English; recognized languages are: Scots (about 30% of the population of Scotland), Scottish Gaelic (about 60,000 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.) |
News about United Kingdom
- UK weather: Month’s worth of rain to fall in 24 hours as Met Office issues flood warningsby Harriette Boucher (The Independent UK) on November 30, 2025
Several weather warnings are in place as torrential rain is set to lash the UK on Sunday night
- Andreas Whittam Smith, co-founder and first editor of The Independent, dies aged 88by Tara Cobham (The Independent UK) on November 30, 2025
The editor and media entrepreneur changed the landscape of British journalism over his decades-long career
- Ousted Oxford Union president-elect 'threatened' over Kirk postsby BBC News on November 30, 2025
George Abaraonye lost a no-confidence vote after appearing to celebrate the death of Charlie Kirk.
- Actor Sam Hoare backs The Independent’s SafeCall campaign with rallying call for helpby Lucy Leeson (The Independent UK) on November 30, 2025
Actor Sam Hoare has backed The Independent’s SafeCall campaign with rallying call for help.
- Rachel Reeves responds to Kemi Badenoch’s ‘misogyny and mansplaining’ Budget attackby Lucy Leeson (The Independent UK) on November 30, 2025
Rachel Reeves has responded to Kemi Badenoch’s “misogyny and mansplaining” attack following her Budget announcement.
- Rachel Reeves denies lying about Budget black hole to justify tax hikes – UK politics liveby Kate Devlin and Bryony Gooch (The Independent UK) on November 30, 2025
Rachel Reeves denies breaking Labour manifesto pledge not to raise taxes – but admits she is asking people to pay more
- Rachel Reeves denies lying about Budget black hole to justify £26bn tax hikesby Kate Devlin (The Independent UK) on November 30, 2025
Calls for investigation into accusation Labour chancellor misled the public
- Treatment works issue leaves 23,000 without waterby BBC News on November 30, 2025
The problem is not expected to be resolved until Monday morning, South East Water says.
- 'Highly likely' bluetongue virus has arrived in Ireland, says ministerby BBC News on November 30, 2025
A temporary control zone is in place as vets investigate the suspected presence of the disease in two cows at a holding near Bangor, County Down.
- The health condition people now fear more than cancerby Bryony Gooch (The Independent UK) on November 30, 2025
As progress continues in the treatment of cancer, another illness is causing family carers concern
- Your Party reveals new name after months of indecision and confusionby Bryony Gooch (The Independent UK) on November 30, 2025
Members were told to choose between Your Party, Our Party, Popular Alliance and For The Many
- Power outage leads to widespread rail disruptionby BBC News on November 30, 2025
The disruption at Leeds Station is expected to last until 17:00 GMT, National Rail says.
- Old infighting habits die hard at newest left-wing party's acrimonious conferenceby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on November 30, 2025
Anyone playing bingo with the left-wing lexicon would have been sure of a fully marked-off card by the close of Your Party's founding conference on the banks of the Mersey.
- Reeves denies she misled public over UK's finances in run-up to Budgetby BBC News on November 30, 2025
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says she's not satisfied with the chancellor's denial of lying and called on her to resign.
- Attempted murder arrest as four injured in attackby BBC News on November 30, 2025
Police appeal for witnesses following the attack on Railway Street in Altrincham earlier.
- Thousands march against barracks asylum seeker planby BBC News on November 30, 2025
The demonstrators oppose Home Office plans to house up to 540 male asylum seekers in the town.
- Axed Manchester to London commuter train to continue running – but without passengersby Harriette Boucher (The Independent UK) on November 30, 2025
The train, one of the country’s fastest intercity services, is popular with commuters – but they won’t be able to board it
- New party founded by Corbyn and Sultana adopts Your Party as nameby BBC News on November 30, 2025
Your Party delegates also vote to be led by a panel of members - avoiding a potentially explosive leadership race.
- Warning Reeves’s landlord tax will push up rents and ‘dry up’ housing supplyby David Maddox (The Independent UK) on November 30, 2025
Simon Gammon, founder of Knight Frank Finance, says tax hike on landlords’ rental income will be the ‘last straw’ for many, forcing them to sell up
- Attempted murder arrest after teenage boy shotby BBC News on November 30, 2025
A 26-year-old man was arrested in Aberdeen on Saturday night and remains in custody, police say.
- Attempted murder arrest after teenage boy shotby BBC News on November 30, 2025
A 26-year-old man was arrested in Aberdeen on Saturday night and remains in custody, police say.
- Zarah Sultana hits out at 'witch hunts' and 'bullying' - as Your Party is officially namedby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on November 30, 2025
Zarah Sultana has hit out at the factionalism within Your Party that has been on stark display at its founding conference this weekend. She also slammed "the sight of a Muslim woman being manhandled and dragged out of conference".
- He fought alongside the British special forces in Afghanistan. This is the reality of trying to build a life in the UKby Holly Bancroft (The Independent UK) on November 30, 2025
Thousands of former Afghan special forces soldiers are being brought to the UK after a campaign by The Independent. Holly Bancroft speaks to one family about the reality of starting a life in Britain
- Thousands protest far-right surge in Croatia following incidentsby Via AP news wire (The Independent UK) on November 30, 2025
Thousands of people have joined protest marches in Croatia against a surging far right following a spate of incidents targeting ethnic minorities and liberals that have fueled both ethnic and political tensions in the European Union country
- Former West Ham captain and manager Billy Bonds diesby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on November 30, 2025
Former West Ham captain and manager Billy Bonds has died at the age of 79, his family has said.
- Cameron barracks asylum plans 'made up on back of an envelope' - Swinneyby BBC News on November 30, 2025
John Swinney made the remarks the day after plans to place 300 men in Cameron Barracks in Inverness by early December were delayed.
- Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana dropped as Your Party leadersby Kate Devlin (The Independent UK) on November 30, 2025
Members vote in favour of 'collective leadership' option, with a ‘lay’ chair – who cannot be an MP
- West Ham legend Billy Bonds dies aged 79by BBC News on November 30, 2025
Billy Bonds, West Ham's record appearance maker who led them to two FA Cup titles, passes away peacefully on Sunday morning.
- Your Party votes to be led by members rather than single MP - avoiding Corbyn-Sultana battleby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on November 30, 2025
Your Party will be led by its members rather than a single MP, avoiding a battle between its two co-founders, Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana.
- Defiant Rachel Reeves says she will be Chancellor for years and pledges to ‘defy her critics’by Lucy Leeson (The Independent UK) on November 30, 2025
A defiant Rachel Reeves has said she will be Chancellor for years and is “determined to defy her critics” following her controversial Budget.






























