United Kingdom
The Country of the Week
Quick Facts
- Capital
- London
- Population
- 68,751,311 (2025 est.)
- Area
- 243,610 sq km
- Government
- parliamentary constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- Languages
- English
- Religions
- Christian (includes Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 59.5%, Muslim 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%, other 2%, unspecified 7.2%, none 25.7% (2011 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- 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.)
- Currency
- British pounds (GBP)
- Life Expectancy
- 82.2 years (2024 est.)
- Internet Domain
- .uk
- Climate
- temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
- Terrain
- mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast
- Natural Resources
- coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land
- Major Exports
- cars, gold, gas turbines, packaged medicine, crude petroleum (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Overview
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was created when the Kingdoms of England and Scotland -- which previously had been distinct states under a single monarchy -- were joined under the 1707 Acts of Union.