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
- Latin makeup labels put people with allergies 'at risk'by BBC News on July 13, 2025
Cosmetic ingredients should be listed in English to protect people with allergies, campaigners say.
- Britons say ‘sorry’ in 15 different ways – but which one really means genuine regret?by Tara Cobham (The Independent UK) on July 13, 2025
Using the term ‘sorry’ is as much a social lubricant than a genuine apology, academics have found
- Grave restored to mark Wimbledon's first championby BBC News on July 13, 2025
The grave of Wimbledon's first winner, Spencer Gore, has been restored to mark his tennis success.
- M54-M6 link road 'could generate more than £500m'by BBC News on July 13, 2025
The project could generate between £555m and £634m in economic benefits, a council leader claims.
- 'My father was an unsung hero of Live Aid'by BBC News on July 13, 2025
Nicola Jones says her father Maurice helped organise the huge star-studded event 40 years ago.
- The Papers: 'Kate aces it' and UK PM 'won't stop a single boat'by BBC News on July 13, 2025
The Princess of Wales' appearance at the Wimbledon women's singles final dominates the Sunday papers.
- Heatwave continues across UK ahead of Monday temperature dipby BBC News on July 13, 2025
Sunday will see possible highs of 31C before a slight dip that will bring a cooler change next week, the Met Office says.
- Drake's still relevant - as his famous friends will tell youby BBC News on July 13, 2025
The Toronto rapper's performance at Wireless Festival was his first UK appearance since 2016.
- Health secretary and BMA to meet in bid to avoid strikesby BBC News on July 13, 2025
The meeting with Wes Streeting will take place next week, the BBC understands.
- Lab-grown cheese is coming. But would you eat it?by BBC News on July 13, 2025
As vegan cheese sales decline and concerns about ultra-processed foods grow, a new cheese on the block faces challenges.
- I finally found my brother, just in time to make memoriesby BBC News on July 13, 2025
Jess is determined to make the most of the time she has left with her brother, who has cancer.
- 'I was wrongly accused of felling the Sycamore Gap tree'by BBC News on July 13, 2025
Walter Renwick says he wore a "Rod Stewart" wig to hide while accused of the Sycamore Gap attack.
- I was wrongly accused of felling the Sycamore Gap treeby BBC News on July 13, 2025
Walter Renwick says he wore a "Rod Stewart" wig to hide while accused of the Sycamore Gap attack.
- Tuam: Ireland's secret mass baby grave and the wait for the truthby BBC News on July 13, 2025
With an excavation set to begin at a sewage tank where hundreds of babies are believed to be buried, we speak to those who lived Ireland's secret burial shame.
- Trump's tariffs are looming large over the UK’s last surviving steel townsby BBC News on July 12, 2025
The future of industrial towns like Scunthorpe and Port Talbot may rest on the wider fate of the UK's steel industry.
- Love Island seems to be having a moment this year - but why?by BBC News on July 12, 2025
Viewers are glued to the villa once again - but more of them are watching on a small screen than a TV.
- Peter Mandelson says Trump should expect ‘warm reception’ on full state visit to UK later this yearby Rebecca Whittaker (The Independent UK) on July 12, 2025
US president Donald Trump’s UK visit is reportedly taking place in September
- When will the heatwave end? UK weather forecast to change over next few daysby Rebecca Whittaker (The Independent UK) on July 12, 2025
Temperatures are expected to reach 33C in parts of England and Wales this weekend
- Job-related reasons driving almost two-thirds of UK workers to drink - surveyby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on July 12, 2025
Some 64% of UK workers drink alcohol for work-related reasons, according to a survey.
- 'My voice box was removed after NHS missed my throat cancer'by UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on July 12, 2025
Steve Barton is angry, and he has every right to be.
- Justice system 'close to broken', Met Police chief says - as he admits London's 'shameful' racism challengeby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on July 12, 2025
It is "shameful" that black boys growing up in London are "far more likely" to die than white boys, Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley has told Sky News.
- Hosepipe ban mapped: Which areas are affected – and the places that could face restrictionsby Tom Watling (The Independent UK) on July 12, 2025
More than 10 per cent of England’s population is under a hosepipe ban with millions more battling drought conditions
- Thousands attending Twelfth of July parades in Northern Irelandby BBC News on July 12, 2025
Crowds lined the streets as the annual commemoration of the Battle of the Boyne took place.
- Police hunt four people who fled after fatal motorway crashby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on July 12, 2025
Police are trying to locate four people who got out of a Mercedes car and ran off after it was involved in a motorway crash that left a man dead.
- Major music festival cancelled as headliner pulls out a day before eventby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on July 12, 2025
BST Hyde Park festival has cancelled its final night after Jeff Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra pulled out of the headline slot.
- More than 70 arrests at Palestine Action ban protestsby BBC News on July 12, 2025
The protests - and the arrests - come after the pro-Palestinian group was proscribed as a terror organisation.
- 'Who would have expected that?' - Swiatek triumphs on grassby BBC News on July 12, 2025
Few would have predicted Iga Swiatek's best Grand Slam result so far this season would come at Wimbledon - including herself.
- BST cancels final day after Jeff Lynne pulls outby BBC News on July 12, 2025
The band withdrew from its headline performance over concerns about the health of frontman Jeff Lynne.
- Lancaster sends emergency alert after engine issueby BBC News on July 12, 2025
Black smoke was seen coming from one of the engines of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight plane.
- Starmer’s migrants return deal a ‘publicity stunt’ that won’t win back voters, top pollsters warnby David Maddox (The Independent UK) on July 12, 2025
Exclusive: The warning comes as new survey of Labour members seen by The Independent reveals concerns about Keir Starmer’s wider migration policy