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
- Britain is a ‘powder keg’ of tensions which could easily ignite once again, report warns after summer riotsby Amy-Clare Martin and Alicja Hagopian (The Independent UK) on July 14, 2025
Sajid Javid says the ‘very basis of our democracy is at risk’ without action to bring communities together
- Rachel Reeves set to bet the house on economic growth by loosening mortgage rulesby David Maddox (The Independent UK) on July 14, 2025
The chancellor is set to rip up many of the rules brought in after the 2008 financial crash to encourage investors and businesses to take risks again and open up the housing market to thousands more first-time buyers
- Reform UK is on the march - and the most popular party on TikTok. There's just one problemby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on July 14, 2025
Reform UK is on the march.
- Southend Airport plane crash latest: ‘Beloved’ flight nurse killed in crash was on first day of new jobby Simon Calder and Rebecca Whittaker (The Independent UK) on July 14, 2025
Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, 31, a German citizen born in Chile has been named as one of the victims of the crash.
- UK to start processing Syrian asylum claims againby BBC News on July 14, 2025
Decisions were paused more than seven months ago, following the fall of the Assad regime.
- World's biggest human imaging project reaches new milestoneby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on July 14, 2025
Steve's morning starts lying still in the clanging magnet of an MRI machine as his body is slowly scanned from neck to knee in intimate detail.
- Aristocrat’s ‘evil’ partner should have been jailed for life for raping me, his first victim saysby Jane Dalton (The Independent UK) on July 14, 2025
The victim has spoken out after she was attacked in her home by Mark Gordon, who was armed with a knife and hedge-clippers
- John Torode says allegation he used racist language upheld in MasterChef reportby BBC News on July 14, 2025
The TV presenter said he had "no recollection" of any of it, adding: "I do not believe that it happened."
- Faroes-style tunnels could 'transform' fortunes for Shetland islesby BBC News on July 14, 2025
The local council says it is pushing ahead with plans to build tunnels to four outlying isles in the archipelago.
- Post Office could be owned by its postmasters, government saysby BBC News on July 14, 2025
The service could be turned into an employee-owned business, under options set out by the government.
- Make destroying a body a crime, man's family saysby BBC News on July 14, 2025
Several families are meeting the MOJ to try to make the desecration of remains a crime.
- Thames Water announces hosepipe ban for large parts of southern Englandby Athena Stavrou (The Independent UK) on July 14, 2025
The ban will begin on July 22 for customers in affected areas
- The extraordinary manhunt: How Constance Marten and Mark Gordon evaded police for 53 daysby Amy-Clare Martin (The Independent UK) on July 14, 2025
Marten and her rapist boyfriend Gordon spent 53 days on the run with baby Victoria amid a nationwide search
- Who was on the Southend airport plane crash? What we know about the victims as four deaths confirmedby Rebecca Whittaker (The Independent UK) on July 14, 2025
Friends of the Chilean nurse Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz said she was the ‘kindest soul’ and that she ‘didn't have a single bad bone in her body’
- Want to get paid £70,000 to move to a remote island? Here’s how - but there’s a catchby Rebecca Whittaker (The Independent UK) on July 14, 2025
Properties up for grabs are located on islands such as Aran Islands, Clare Island, Dursey, Inishturk, Inishbofin and Bere
- Peter Mandelson says Trump should expect ‘warm reception’ on full state visit to UK later this yearby Rebecca Whittaker (The Independent UK) on July 14, 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 14, 2025
Parts of England, Scotland and Wales all reached 30C on Sunday - but the third heatwave this summer is expected end in coming days
- Beech b200: What is the aircraft involved in the Southend airport plane crash?by Rebecca Whittaker (The Independent UK) on July 14, 2025
Flight tracking data suggests the aircraft was a Beech B200 Super King Air – a US-built plane that can carry more than 20 people
- MasterChef presenter John Torode says he was accused of racism in Gregg Wallace reportby Rebecca Whittaker (The Independent UK) on July 14, 2025
Posting on Instagram, John Torode confirmed he was ‘the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion’ - but has no recollection of the incident
- McVitie’s owner invests £68 million into factories across the UKby Henry Saker-Clark (The Independent UK) on July 14, 2025
Turkish-owned snacking giant Pladis said investment funds will be used to boost manufacturing capacity and productivity across its factories.
- Reform defector left Tories after mayoral candidate selection row involving Theresa May’s husbandby David Maddox (The Independent UK) on July 14, 2025
Exclusive: A prospective Tory candidate for a mayoral race next year has switched to Reform after he was not added to a shortlist following an interview with Sir Philip May
- 'It's a really nasty virus': Liverpool health official urges public to be aware of measles symptoms after child diesby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on July 14, 2025
A Liverpool City Council official has urged the public to be aware of the symptoms of measles after a child died from the disease.
- Homes evacuated as grassfire tackled in Dagenhamby BBC News on July 14, 2025
Firefighters tackle an eight-hectare grassfire in Dagenham that saw some people leave their homes.
- Reddit starts verifying ages of users in the UKby BBC News on July 14, 2025
The platform will bring in the measures from 14 July to stop under-18s looking at "certain mature content".
- ‘Unconscionable’ for doctors not to tell their employers if they plan to strike, Streeting warnsby Kate Devlin and Rebecca Thomas (The Independent UK) on July 14, 2025
Health secretary warns doctors that striking is ‘unreasonable’ and ‘self-defeating’ ahead of talks to avert planned action
- Watch: Timeline of the allegations against Gregg Wallaceby BBC News on July 14, 2025
BBC culture reporter Noor Nanji takes a look at when the allegations were first made and what's happened since.
- Wes Streeting says doctors' strikes 'a gift to Nigel Farage'by UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on July 14, 2025
Wes Streeting has stepped up his war of words with junior doctors by telling Labour MPs that strikes would be "a gift to Nigel Farage".
- MasterChef presenter John Torode says allegation he used racist language upheld in reportby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on July 14, 2025
MasterChef presenter John Torode says an allegation he used "racial language" was upheld in a report as part of a review into the behaviour of his former co-presenter Gregg Wallace.
- Why zero-hours contracts could be here to stay in new blow to workers’ rightsby Nick Lester (The Independent UK) on July 14, 2025
Plans by the Government to crack down on zero-hour contracts in the workplace have suffered a setback
- Kneecap Glastonbury gig 'higher risk' than Bob Vylan, BBC saysby BBC News on July 14, 2025
BBC director general Tim Davie was responding to MPs' questions about the corporation's Glastonbury coverage.