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 threatens to retaliate to Trump’s tariffs and draws up 400-page hitlist of US goods to taxby David Maddox,Archie Mitchell,Kate Devlin and Barney Davis (The Independent UK) on April 3, 2025
The government draws up a 417-page list of products to target with import taxes in retaliation against Donald Trump’s tariffs on British goods
- Pylon plans could spark mass social unrest - Plaidby BBC News on April 3, 2025
A green energy company is threatening landowners with legal action as they deny access requests.
- Ship owner takes legal action over North Sea crashby BBC News on April 3, 2025
The Solong cargo ship struck the Stena Immaculate tanker off the East Yorkshire coast on 10 March.
- Twinkle, twinkle, little... carrot? King Charles tries out root musicby BBC News on April 3, 2025
During a reception at Windsor Castle, the King surprised those gathered with a rendition of a popular nursery rhyme.
- Ministers sitting on hands over bin strike - unionby BBC News on April 3, 2025
Unite boss Sharon Graham tells deputy PM Angela Rayner talks on the industrial action are farcical.
- Starmer’s Farage-focused local elections launch shows he knows Reform is the real threat to Labourby Archie Mitchell (The Independent UK) on April 3, 2025
The prime minister’s local election launch showed his focus is on halting the rise of Reform UK, writes Archie Mitchell
- Cash ISA changes are coming, Rachel Reeves confirmsby Albert Toth (The Independent UK) on April 3, 2025
Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirms work is underway in the Treasury on the reforms
- Victorian diseases on the rise due to damp housing and food inequality, doctors warnby Rebecca Whittaker (The Independent UK) on April 3, 2025
Doctors raised concerns that damp housing and food insecurity is leading to more severe illness
- Watch: Starmer refuses to rule out further benefit cuts after Trump’s tariffsby Archie Mitchell (The Independent UK) on April 3, 2025
Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out a fresh round of benefit cuts ahead of the autumn Budget, with Donald Trump’s tariffs threatening to blow a hole in the UK’s public finances.
- Girl, 13, dies in house fireby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on April 3, 2025
A 13-year-old girl has died after a house fire in Merseyside.
- Luton airport expansion approved by governmentby BBC News on April 3, 2025
Annual passenger numbers are due to almost double to 32 million, despite environmental concerns.
- Girl, 13, killed in blaze as seven others escapeby BBC News on April 3, 2025
Police and firefighters say two adults and five children survived the fire.
- Double jeopardy killer refused move to open prisonby BBC News on April 3, 2025
The justice secretary blocks a recommendation to move William Dunlop to an open prison.
- Tormenting Harris's hawk is captured by Mr Harrisby BBC News on April 3, 2025
A resident says he was able to humanely catch the hawk, which has attacked an estimated 50 people.
- Lockerbie bombing whistleblower arrested in Libyaby BBC News on April 3, 2025
Samir Shegwara was arrested after the BBC reported the existence of evidence linking Libya with the bombing.
- 'Vile' police inspector caught in child sex stingby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on April 3, 2025
A 'vile' former police officer who was caught in a sting operation after travelling to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old boy has been jailed.
- Woman punched on Tube 'failed by emergency system'by BBC News on April 3, 2025
Sally Wynter says she hit an emergency button several times after being attacked but received no answer.
- Controversial two-child benefit cap ‘plunges extra 30,000 children into poverty since Labour came to power’by Kate Devlin (The Independent UK) on April 3, 2025
Eight anniversary of the welfare limit, brought in by former Tory chancellor George Osborne as one of his austerity measures, this weekend
- How Trump's tariffs might affect you and your moneyby BBC News on April 3, 2025
The UK has been hit with 10% tariffs by the US, but there is uncertainty as to the impact of them.
- Sword attack victim: 'I cannot get back to normal'by BBC News on April 3, 2025
A safeguarding review has been launched after a 15-year-old boy was sentenced for attempted murder.
- Woman who lost son in terror attack and did masters degree to understand it welcomes new law in his nameby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on April 3, 2025
There is a certain steel about a mother who has lost a child.
- Conservatives should stand aside and let Reform win Runcorn by-election, says senior Tory MPby Millie Cooke (The Independent UK) on April 3, 2025
The Runcorn and Helsby by-election next month will see both Reform and the Conservatives attempt to overturn Labour’s 15,000 vote majority in the safe seat
- Family unlawfully killed in head-on motorway crashby BBC News on April 3, 2025
A coroner rules on the deaths on the M6 near Tebay of two children, their father and his partner.
- Family unlawfully killed in head-on motorway crashby BBC News on April 3, 2025
A coroner rules on the deaths on the M6 near Tebay of two children, their father and his partner.
- Prince Harry hopes charity watchdog’s Sentebale probe will uncover ‘blatant lies’by Jane Dalton (The Independent UK) on April 3, 2025
Charity Commission investigating ‘compliance with legal duties and responsibilities’ after duke quit as patron following bullying claims
- Major supermarket announces new store trial which will track you as you shopby Barney Davis (The Independent UK) on April 3, 2025
The trial will take place at Asda stores in Ashton, Chadderton, Harpurhey, Eastlands and Trafford Park in Greater Manchester
- Man with knife who 'moved at speed' towards police officers before he was shot dead namedby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on April 3, 2025
A man who was shot dead by police after he "moved at speed" towards officers has been named as David Joyce.
- How to cut your council tax with little-known trick helping thousandsby Albert Toth (The Independent UK) on April 3, 2025
Hundreds of thousands of households could be paying too much
- Weather map: Where in the UK will be hotter than the Algarve as temperatures soar to 22Cby Bryony Gooch (The Independent UK) on April 3, 2025
So far this spring, the UK has experienced record-breaking sunny spells
- Benn should 'do the right thing' after murdered GAA official court rulingby BBC News on April 3, 2025
The government's refusal to hold a public inquiry into Sean Brown's killing in 1997 is unlawful, the Court of Appeal rules.