| 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
- Weeks of disruption for passengers on one of UK's busiest rail linesby BBC News on May 23, 2026
The Severn Tunnel, which connects south Wales with London and Bristol, is closing for 16 days.
- Are letters to 'dodgy stick' viewers a new anti-piracy approach?by BBC News on May 23, 2026
Sky has issued about 200 cease-and-desist letters to alleged users in the Republic of Ireland.
- The Papers: 'Heat leaves Africa and Med in shade' and 'Can't cope without Catherine'by BBC News on May 23, 2026
An expected heatwave, tax proposals and the Prince of Wales are prominent on Saturday's papers.
- UK officials suggested single market for goods with Europeby BBC News on May 23, 2026
Industry figures briefed on the move said the idea has not been taken forward at this point, after EU scepticism.
- King appears as surprise guest at sold-out Shakespeare playby BBC News on May 23, 2026
The monarch sat with the audience to watch a performance of the Royal Shakespeare Company's The Tempest.
- UK faces 'economic catastrophe' unless it adapts to young people 'rewired by smartphones'by UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on May 23, 2026
The UK is facing an "economic catastrophe" unless it adapts to younger generations who have grown up in a digital world, a former minister has warned.
- The 'raucous' debut novel set entirely on one epic night outby BBC News on May 22, 2026
Sufiyaan Salam has won an award from Stormzy, been nominated for a Bafta and made a video for Elton John.
- Ice baths, almond milk, meditation and a 'house like a hospital': The secrets of Salah's successby BBC News on May 22, 2026
He's been hailed as an all-time great - but there's more to his success than meets the eye.
- 'Suddenly I could see myself': Why breast reductions are more popular nowby BBC News on May 22, 2026
More women in the UK are choosing to have breast reductions than enlargements for the first time.
- Hot weather to intensify in UK over bank holiday weekendby BBC News on May 22, 2026
Amber heat health alerts are in place for the Midlands, eastern and south-east England.
- How Panorama exposed rape allegations on Married at First Sight UKby BBC News on May 22, 2026
Two women said they were raped by their on-screen husbands during filming of the Channel 4 show.
- Charmain 'was on a mission' to find out who her prophet husband was. Then she died.by BBC News on May 22, 2026
After a whirlwind romance and quickfire wedding, she was mysteriously found dead in a bathtub in Ghana.
- 'Eat, sleep, rave, repeat': Fatboy Slim lights up Radio 1's Big Weekendby BBC News on May 22, 2026
The veteran DJ closed out the dance-focused day as the festival landed in Sunderland's Herrington Country Park.
- Red Arrows to fly with fewer jets to preserve ageing fleetby BBC News on May 22, 2026
The famous display team will fly with seven rather than nine aircraft for most of its displays.
- King surprises audience at production of Shakespeare's The Tempestby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on May 22, 2026
The King delighted the audience at a production of Shakespeare's The Tempest by taking a seat near members of the public to watch the play.
- Man who killed 'much-loved' grandfather outside pub jailed for 10 yearsby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on May 22, 2026
A man who killed a "much-loved" grandfather after losing a fight outside a pub has been jailed for 10 years for manslaughter.
- Teen boys' racist murder sentences to be referred to Court of Appealby BBC News on May 22, 2026
Kamran Aman was killed by Marcus Staniforth and another boy outside his mother's home.
- War losses making Russia reckless and dangerous, NATO is warned as UK signals defence spending boostby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on May 22, 2026
The UK appears poised to increase spending on defence after the foreign secretary said everyone must "face up to the need to do much more" to counter a "reckless" Russia.
- Drake's surprise three-album drop makes UK chart historyby BBC News on May 22, 2026
The Canadian rapper becomes the first artist to debut three studio albums inside the top 10.
- Red Arrows to fly with reduced numbers because of ageing enginesby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on May 22, 2026
The Red Arrows will fly with just seven aircraft rather than nine for the majority of displays until at least 2030 because their engines are so old, Sky News understands.
- Attorney general to review teen boys' rape sentencesby BBC News on May 22, 2026
The three teenagers were not given custodial sentences for their roles in the rape of two girls.
- Attorney general to review teen boys' rape sentencesby BBC News on May 22, 2026
The three teenagers were not given custodial sentences for their roles in the rape of two girls.
- England's omitted XI: The big names who won’t be going to the World Cupby UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on May 22, 2026
Thomas Tuchel has made some ruthless calls in naming his squad for the World Cup this summer.
- Seven Afghan men charged over child sexual exploitationby BBC News on May 22, 2026
The men are charged with 40 offences as part of an investigation into group-based child exploitation.
- 'Ancient' statues fraud foiled by fake paperworkby BBC News on May 22, 2026
Andrew Crowley presented invoices purportedly written in 1976, but they were made using print methods invented in 2001.
- Revealed: 117 waste sites 'of concern' identified across England - is there a mega dump near you?by UK News - The latest headlines from the UK | Sky News on May 22, 2026
The Environment Agency (EA) has released a list of 117 waste sites "of concern" across England, collectively holding almost two million tonnes of refuse.
- UK scientists developing Ebola vaccine that could be ready for trials in monthsby BBC News on May 22, 2026
The rare species of Ebola involved - known as Bundibugyo - kills around a third of those infected and has no proven vaccine yet.
- Nearly 30 illegal waste 'super sites' revealed in new government watchlistby BBC News on May 22, 2026
The list, published by the Environment Agency on Friday, includes 28 so-called "super sites" that contain more than 20,000 tonnes of waste.
- Borrowing in April hit highest level since Covidby BBC News on May 22, 2026
Borrowing was higher than expected last month and retail sales fell as fuel prices surged.
- TV presenter Judith Chalmers dies aged 90by BBC News on May 22, 2026
She was best known for hosting ITV's long-running travel show Wish You Were Here...?































