| 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
- Two burglars jailed after using Grindr to trick victimsby Pol Allingham (The Independent UK) on December 22, 2025
Rahmat Khan Mohammadi and Mohammed Bilal Hotak have been found guilty of using the dating app Grindr to trick their victims
- Major incident declared over giant hole at canalby BBC News on December 22, 2025
Two boats have been left at the bottom of the cavity, where water has drained away.
- 'We stripped down to our pants a lot,' says Rob Brydon of new seriesby BBC News on December 22, 2025
The Welsh actor and comedian has been speaking about his latest series with Steve Coogan.
- Two identical Banksy murals appear in Londonby BBC News on December 22, 2025
Artist confirms mural near Notting Hill is his, after an identical one appeared in central London.
- Husband and five other men charged with sex offences against ex-wifeby BBC News on December 22, 2025
Philip Young is charged with offences including rape and administering a substance with intent to stupefy.
- Husband and five other men charged with sex offences against ex-wifeby BBC News on December 22, 2025
Philip Young is charged with offences including rape and administering a substance with intent to stupefy.
- Man accused of racially abusing Antoine Semenyo during Premier League match pleads not guiltyby Mathilde Grandjean (The Independent UK) on December 22, 2025
A Liverpool man appeared in court on Monday after being accused of racially abusing Antoine Semenyo
- Keir Starmer: Protect what’s left of the UK’s funding to end the Aids pandemicby Independent Staff (The Independent UK) on December 22, 2025
Dear Prime Minister,
- Keir Starmer urged to protect HIV funding for once-in-a-generation opportunity to end Aidsby Rachel Schraer and Bel Trew (The Independent UK) on December 22, 2025
Coalition of charities and MPs have signed a letter from Geordie Greig, editor-in-chief of The Independent, appealing to the prime minister to grasp the chance to ‘make Aids history’
- Lib Dems write to human rights watchdog over election delaysby BBC News on December 22, 2025
The government has indicated it would postpone elections if requested by local authorities.
- Husband and five men charged with string of sexual offences against his ex-wifeby Bryony Gooch (The Independent UK) on December 22, 2025
Wiltshire Police have asked that Ms Young’s privacy is respected at this time after the 48-year-old waived her anonymity
- More than 10 rescued after huge sinkhole opens in canal in ‘major incident’by Harry Cockburn (The Independent UK) on December 22, 2025
People are being asked to avoid the incident on the Shropshire Union Canal in Chemistry, Whitchurch
- Man charged with 56 sexual offences against ex-wife - as five other men also chargedby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on December 22, 2025
A man has been charged - alongside five other men - with carrying out sexual offences against his now former wife over a 13-year period.
- Road rage driver who hurled abuse at female motorist now jailed after another tiradeby Dan Haygarth (The Independent UK) on December 22, 2025
Peter Abbott was serving a suspended service for a previous foul-mouthed tirade
- Christmas warning after 100-tonne fatberg discovered in London sewersby Dan Haygarth (The Independent UK) on December 22, 2025
Extraction of the blockage could take ‘weeks to complete’, according to Thames Water
- These are all the countries currently on the Foreign Office ‘do not travel’ listby Natalie Wilson (The Independent UK) on December 22, 2025
Warnings against travel abroad from the UK have been issued for countries including Mali, Russia and Syria
- Fury as bans on hunting trophies and foie gras absent from Labour’s animal-welfare shake-upby Jane Dalton (The Independent UK) on December 22, 2025
‘Loopholes’ in strategy mean imports of hunting trophies, real fur and foie gras will remain legal
- Why drivers could be paying more for fuel than they shouldby Nicole Wootton-Cane (The Independent UK) on December 22, 2025
The UK’s competition watchdog said fuel profit margins were ‘persistently high’ with no explanation
- Rachel Reeves's spring budget date is revealedby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on December 22, 2025
The chancellor's spring budget will take place in March, the Treasury has announced.
- David Walliams removed from children's book festival line-upby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on December 22, 2025
David Walliams has been removed from the line-up for a children's book event.
- Zendaya and Tom Holland in surprise curry house stopby BBC News on December 22, 2025
The famous couple turned up at the restaurant in Leicestershire while visiting the area to see a show.
- Rising prices, closing early and no Christmas parties: Festive season ‘perfect storm’ leaves pubs on the brinkby Athena Stavrou (The Independent UK) on December 22, 2025
Pubs across the UK describe tough Christmas trading conditions after some were left without any festive party bookings for the first time – as they fear they won’t even be able to keep their doors open until the new year
- Driving Home For Christmas singer Chris Rea diesby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on December 22, 2025
Chris Rea, known for hits including Driving Home For Christmas and The Road To Hell, has died after a short illness, according to a family spokesperson.
- Gun attacks linked to 'toxic world of drugs' - DUP MLAby BBC News on December 22, 2025
Brian Kingston told BBC News NI those involved needed to "get off the backs" of people in the community.
- Resident doctor pay talks to continue over Christmas as strike loomsby BBC News on December 22, 2025
Scotland's resident doctors have voted to strike in January, but the health secretary says it is an outcome both sides want to avoid.
- British woman detained in Iran shares pain in poemby BBC News on December 22, 2025
Lindsay Foreman is being held in Tehran's infamous Evin prison alongside her husband.
- Conservationists ‘flabbergasted’ by record number of octopus in UK watersby Nicole Wootton-Cane (The Independent UK) on December 22, 2025
The eight-legged invertebrates were spotted off the British coast in their highest numbers since the 1950s, wildlife charity says
- Rachel Reeves hit by fresh blow as UK economy growth slows down againby David Maddox (The Independent UK) on December 22, 2025
UK economy growth slowed in the third quarter to just 0.1 per cent
- New Uber-backed driverless taxis to hit UK streets in 2026by UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on December 22, 2025
Uber and Lyft are both planning to launch driverless taxi trials in London in 2026, in separate partnerships with Chinese tech giant Baidu.
- Britons poorer than they were in 2019, as living standards continue to fallby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on December 22, 2025
The average person now has £38 less to spend each month after tax than they did at the end of 2024, following three consecutive quarters of falling UK living standards.





























