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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 26,586,110 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2018 est.)

Broadcast media [time series]

public service broadcaster, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world; BBC operates multiple TV networks with regional and local TV service; a mixed system of public and commercial TV broadcasters along with satellite and cable systems provide access to hundreds of TV stations throughout the world; BBC operates multiple national, regional, and local radio networks with multiple transmission sites; a large number of commercial radio stations, as well as satellite radio services are available (2018)

Communications - note [time series]

note 1: the British Library claims to be the largest library in the world with well over 150 million items and in most known languages; it receives copies of all books produced in the UK or Ireland, as well as a significant proportion of overseas titles distributed in the UK; in addition to books (print and digital), holdings include: journals, manuscripts, newspapers, magazines, sound and music recordings, videos, maps, prints, patents, and drawings note 2: on 1 May 1840, the United Kingdom led the world with the introduction of postage stamps; the Austrian Empire had examined the idea of an "adhesive tax postmark" for the prepayment of postage in 1835; while the suggestion was reviewed in detail, it was rejected for the time being; other countries (including Austria) soon followed the UK's example with their own postage stamps; by the 1860s, most countries were issuing stamps; originally, stamps had to be cut from sheets; the UK issued the first postage stamps with perforations in 1854

Internet country code [time series]

.uk

Internet users [time series]

total: 61,784,878 | percent of population: 94.9% (July 2018 est.)

Telecommunication systems [time series]

general assessment: technologically advanced domestic and international system; one of the largest mobile and telecom markets in Europe for revenue and subscribers; will complete the switch to fiber by 2033; mobile penetration above the EU average; govt. to invest in fiber infrastructure and 5G technologies; operators expanded the reach of 5G services; FttP provided to over a million customers; super-fast broadband available to about 95% of customers (2020) | domestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and fiber-optic systems; fixed-line 48 per 100 and mobile-cellular 118 per 100 (2019) | international: country code - 44; Landing points for the GTT Atlantic, Scotland-Northern Ireland -1, & -2, Lanis 1,-2, &-3, Sirius North, BT-MT-1, SHEFA-2, BT Highlands and Islands Submarine Cable System, Northern Lights, FARICE-1, Celtic Norse, Tampnet Offshore FOC Network, England Cable, CC-2, E-LLan, Sirius South, ESAT -1 & -2, Rockabill, Geo-Eirgrid, UK-Netherlands-14, Circle North & South, Ulysses2, Conceto, Farland North, Pan European Crossing, Solas, Swansea-Bream, GTT Express, Tata TGN-Atlantic & -Western Europe, Apollo, EIG, Glo-1, TAT-14, Yellow, Celtic, FLAG Atlantic-1, FEA, Isle of Scilly Cable, UK-Channel Islands-8 and SeaMeWe-3 submarine cables providing links throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, and US; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 large international switching centers (2018) | note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 31,160,866 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47.62 (2019 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 76,920,618 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117.55 (2019 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fish; milk, eggs

Budget [time series]

revenues: 1.028 trillion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 1.079 trillion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-1.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings [time series]

Fitch rating: AA- (2020) | Moody's rating: Aaa (2020) | Standard & Poors rating: AA (2016)

Current account balance [time series]

-$121.921 billion (2019 est.) | -$104.927 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$8.126 trillion (31 March 2016 est.) | $8.642 trillion (31 March 2015 est.)

Ease of Doing Business Index scores [time series]

93.8 (2020)

Economic overview [time series]

The UK, a leading trading power and financial center, is the third largest economy in Europe after Germany and France. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with less than 2% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil resources, but its oil and natural gas reserves are declining; the UK has been a net importer of energy since 2005. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, are key drivers of British GDP growth. Manufacturing, meanwhile, has declined in importance but still accounts for about 10% of economic output. In 2008, the global financial crisis hit the economy particularly hard, due to the importance of its financial sector. Falling home prices, high consumer debt, and the global economic slowdown compounded the UK’s economic problems, pushing the economy into recession in the latter half of 2008 and prompting the then BROWN (Labour) government to implement a number of measures to stimulate the economy and stabilize the financial markets. Facing burgeoning public deficits and debt levels, in 2010 the then CAMERON-led coalition government (between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats) initiated an austerity program, which has continued under the Conservative government. However, the deficit still remains one of the highest in the G7, standing at 3.6% of GDP as of 2017, and the UK has pledged to lower its corporation tax from 20% to 17% by 2020. The UK had a debt burden of 90.4% GDP at the end of 2017. The UK economy has begun to slow since the referendum vote to leave the EU in June 2016. A sustained depreciation of the British pound has increased consumer and producer prices, weighing on consumer spending without spurring a meaningful increase in exports. The UK has an extensive trade relationship with other EU members through its single market membership, and economic observers have warned the exit will jeopardize its position as the central location for European financial services. The UK is slated to leave the EU at the end of January 2020.

Exchange rates [time series]

British pounds (GBP) per US dollar - | 0.7836 (2017 est.) | 0.738 (2016 est.) | 0.738 (2015 est.) | 0.607 (2014 est.) | 0.6391 (2013 est.)

Exports [time series]

$901.882 billion (2019 est.) | $877.501 billion (2018 est.) | $851.693 billion (2017 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, tobacco

Exports - partners [time series]

US 13.2%, Germany 10.5%, France 7.4%, Netherlands 6.2%, Ireland 5.6%, China 4.8%, Switzerland 4.5% (2017)

Fiscal year [time series]

6 April - 5 April

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$2,827,918,000,000 (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity) - real) [time series]

$2,683,983,000,000 (2019 est.) | $2,650,562,000,000 (2018 est.) | $2,617,772,000,000 (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2010 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 65.8% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 18.3% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 17.2% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 0.2% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 30.2% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -31.5% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 0.7% (2017 est.) | industry: 20.2% (2017 est.) | services: 79.2% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$43,111 (2019 est.) | $42,821 (2018 est.) | $42,554 (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

1.26% (2019 est.) | 1.25% (2018 est.) | 1.74% (2017 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

13.6% of GDP (2017 est.) | 12% of GDP (2016 est.) | 12.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.7% | highest 10%: 31.1% (2012)

Imports [time series]

$987.018 billion (2019 est.) | $955.655 billion (2018 est.) | $930.354 billion (2017 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany 13.7%, US 9.5%, China 9.3%, Netherlands 8%, France 5.4%, Belgium 5% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.4% (2017 est.)

Industries [time series]

machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, other consumer goods

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.7% (2019 est.) | 2.4% (2018 est.) | 2.6% (2017 est.)

Labor force [time series]

16.033 million (2020 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 1.3% | industry: 15.2% | services: 83.5% (2014 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

15% (2013 est.)

Public debt [time series]

87.5% of GDP (2017 est.) | 87.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$150.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $129.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

39.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

3.17% (2019 est.) | 2.51% (2018 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

424 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

710,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

907,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

1 million bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

2.069 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

309.2 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

2.153 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

50% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

9% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

39% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

19.7 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

97.06 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

318.2 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

79.17 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

11.27 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

47 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

42.11 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

176 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

1.584 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

613,800 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

907,500 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

1.29 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 243,610 sq km | land: 241,930 sq km | water: 1,680 sq km | note 1: the percentage area breakdown of the four UK countries is: England 53%, Scotland 32%, Wales 9%, and Northern Ireland 6% note 2: includes Rockall and the Shetland Islands, which are part of Scotland

Area - comparative [time series]

twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Europe :: United Kingdom Print Image Description twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate [time series]

temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast

Coastline [time series]

12,429 km

Elevation [time series]

mean elevation: 162 m | lowest point: The Fens -4 m | highest point: Ben Nevis 1,345 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

air pollution improved but remains a concern, particularly in the London region; soil pollution from pesticides and heavy metals; decline in marine and coastal habitats brought on by pressures from housing, tourism, and industry

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling | signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

54 00 N, 2 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and linked by tunnel under the English Channel (the Channel Tunnel or Chunnel); because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters

Irrigated land [time series]

950 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 499 km | border countries (1): Ireland 499 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 71% (2011 est.) | arable land: 25.1% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0.2% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 45.7% (2011 est.) | forest: 11.9% (2011 est.) | other: 17.1% (2011 est.)

Location [time series]

Western Europe, islands - including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland - between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea; northwest of France

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm | continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries | exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

winter windstorms; floods

Natural resources [time series]

coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land

Population distribution [time series]

the core of the population lies in and around London, with significant clusters found in central Britain around Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scotish lowlands between Endinburgh and Glasgow, southern Wales in and around Cardiff, and far eastern Northern Ireland centered on Belfast

Terrain [time series]

mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

England: 26 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 56 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*); two-tier counties: Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Worcestershire London boroughs and City of London or Greater London: Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of London, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster metropolitan districts: Barnsley, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Bury, Calderdale, Coventry, Doncaster, Dudley, Gateshead, Kirklees, Knowlsey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham, Salford, Sandwell, Sefton, Sheffield, Solihull, South Tyneside, St. Helens, Stockport, Sunderland, Tameside, Trafford, Wakefield, Walsall, Wigan, Wirral, Wolverhampton unitary authorities: Bath and North East Somerset; Bedford; Blackburn with Darwen; Blackpool; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; Bracknell Forest; Brighton and Hove; City of Bristol; Central Bedfordshire; Cheshire East; Cheshire West and Chester; Cornwall; Darlington; Derby; Dorset; Durham County*; East Riding of Yorkshire; Halton; Hartlepool; Herefordshire*; Isle of Wight*; Isles of Scilly; City of Kingston upon Hull; Leicester; Luton; Medway; Middlesbrough; Milton Keynes; North East Lincolnshire; North Lincolnshire; North Somerset; Northumberland*; Nottingham; Peterborough; Plymouth; Portsmouth; Reading; Redcar and Cleveland; Rutland; Shropshire; Slough; South Gloucestershire; Southampton; Southend-on-Sea; Stockton-on-Tees; Stoke-on-Trent; Swindon; Telford and Wrekin; Thurrock; Torbay; Warrington; West Berkshire; Wiltshire; Windsor and Maidenhead; Wokingham; York Northern Ireland: 5 borough councils, 4 district councils, 2 city councils; borough councils: Antrim and Newtownabbey; Ards and North Down; Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon; Causeway Coast and Glens; Mid and East Antrim district councils: Derry City and Strabane; Fermanagh and Omagh; Mid Ulster; Newry, Murne, and Down city councils: Belfast; Lisburn and Castlereagh Scotland: 32 council areas; council areas: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, The Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian Wales: 22 unitary authorities; unitary authorities: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea, The Vale of Glamorgan, Torfaen, Wrexham

Capital [time series]

name: London | geographic coordinates: 51 30 N, 0 05 W | time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October | note: the time statements apply to the United Kingdom proper, not to its crown dependencies or overseas territories etymology: the name derives from the Roman settlement of Londinium, established on the current site of London around A.D. 43; the original meaning of the name is uncertain

Citizenship [time series]

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the United Kingdom | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution [time series]

history: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice | amendments: proposed as a bill for an Act of Parliament by the government, by the House of Commons, or by the House of Lords; passage requires agreement by both houses and by the monarch (Royal Assent); note - additions include the Human Rights Act of 1998, the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011, the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, and the House of Lords (Expulsion and Suspension) Act 2015

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; note - the island of Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales | conventional short form: United Kingdom | abbreviation: UK | etymology: self-descriptive country name; the designation "Great Britain," in the sense of "Larger Britain," dates back to medieval times and was used to distinguish the island from "Little Britain," or Brittany in modern France; the name Ireland derives from the Gaelic "Eriu," the matron goddess of Ireland (goddess of the land)

Dependent areas [time series]

Anguilla; Bermuda; British Indian Ocean Territory; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; Pitcairn Islands; Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Turks and Caicos Islands

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert Wood "Woody" JOHNSON IV (since 29 August 2017) | telephone: [44] 20-7499-9000 | embassy: 33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US or SW8 5DB (driving/GPS postcode) | mailing address: PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040 | FAX: [44] 20-7891-3151 | consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Karen Elizabeth PIERCE (since 8 April 2020) | chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 588-6500 | FAX: [1] (202) 588-7870 | consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco | consulate(s): Orlando (FL), San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born 14 November 1948) | head of government: Prime Minister Boris JOHNSON (Conservative) (since 24 July 2019) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister; election last held on 12 December 2019 (next to be held by 2 May 2024) | note: in addition to serving as the UK head of state, the British sovereign is the constitutional monarch for 15 additional Commonwealth countries (these 16 states are each referred to as a Commonwealth realm)

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); properly known as the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth countries and their constituent states or provinces, and British overseas territories

Government type [time series]

parliamentary constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Independence [time series]

no official date of independence: 927 (minor English kingdoms unite); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union formally incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union formally unite England, Scotland, and Wales as Great Britain); 1 January 1801 (Acts of Union formally unite Great Britain and Ireland as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland); 6 December 1921 (Anglo-Irish Treaty formalizes partition of Ireland; six counties remain part of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland); 12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act establishes current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

International law organization participation [time series]

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, C, CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNRWA, UN Security Council (permanent), UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 12 justices, including the court president and deputy president); note - the Supreme Court was established by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and implemented in 2009, replacing the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords as the highest court in the United Kingdom | judge selection and term of office: judge candidates selected by an independent committee of several judicial commissions, followed by their recommendations to the prime minister, and appointed by the monarch; justices serve for life | subordinate courts: England and Wales: Court of Appeal (civil and criminal divisions); High Court; Crown Court; County Courts; Magistrates' Courts; Scotland: Court of Sessions; Sheriff Courts; High Court of Justiciary; tribunals; Northern Ireland: Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland; High Court; county courts; magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals

Legal system [time series]

common law system; has nonbinding judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998

Legislative branch [time series]

description: bicameral Parliament consists of: House of Lords (membership not fixed; as of December 2019, 796 lords were eligible to participate in the work of the House of Lords - 679 life peers, 91 hereditary peers, and 26 clergy; members are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister and non-party political members recommended by the House of Lords Appointments Commission); note - House of Lords total does not include ineligible members or members on leave of absence House of Commons (650 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve 5-year terms unless the House is dissolved earlier) | elections: House of Lords - no elections; note - in 1999, as provided by the House of Lords Act, elections were held in the House of Lords to determine the 92 hereditary peers who would remain; elections held only as vacancies in the hereditary peerage arise) House of Commons - last held on 12 December 2019 (next to be held by 2 May 2024) | election results: House of Lords - composition - men 579, women 217, percent of women 27.3% House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Conservative 43.6%, Labor 32.1%, Lib Dems 11.6%, SNP 3.9%, Greens 2.7%, Brexit Party 2.0%, other 4.1%; seats by party - Conservative 365, Labor 202, SNP 48, Lib Dems 11, DUP 8, Sinn Fein 7, Plaid Cymru 4, other 9; composition - men 430, women 220, percent of women 34%; total Parliament percent of women 30.2%

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: God Save the Queen | lyrics/music: unknown | note: in use since 1745; by tradition, the song serves as both the national and royal anthem of the UK; it is known as either "God Save the Queen" or "God Save the King," depending on the gender of the reigning monarch; it also serves as the royal anthem of many Commonwealth nations

National holiday [time series]

the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday

National symbol(s) [time series]

lion (Britain in general); lion, Tudor rose, oak (England); lion, unicorn, thistle (Scotland); dragon, daffodil, leek (Wales); shamrock, flax (Northern Ireland); national colors: red, white, blue (Britain in general); red, white (England); blue, white (Scotland); red, white, green (Wales)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Alliance Party (Northern Ireland) [Naomi LONG] Brexit Party [Nigel FARAGE] Conservative and Unionist Party [Boris JOHNSON] Democratic Unionist Party or DUP (Northern Ireland) [Arlene FOSTER] Green Party of England and Wales or Greens [Sian BERRY and Jonathan BARTLEY] Labor (Labour) Party [Sir Keir STARMER] Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) [Ed Davey] Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru) [Adam PRICE] Scottish National Party or SNP [Nicola STURGEON] Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) [Mary Lou MCDONALD] Social Democratic and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland) [Colum EASTWOOD] Ulster Unionist Party or UUP (Northern Ireland) [Robin SWANN] UK Independence Party or UKIP [Pat MOUNTAIN, interim leader]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1998. The UK has been an active member of the EU since its accession in 1973, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. However, motivated in part by frustration at a remote bureaucracy in Brussels and massive migration into the country, UK citizens on 23 June 2016 narrowly voted to leave the EU. The UK is scheduled to depart the EU on 31 January 2020, but negotiations on the future EU-UK economic and security relationship will continue throughout 2020 and potentially beyond.

Military and Security

Military and security forces [time series]

British Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines), Royal Air Force (2019)

Military and security service personnel strengths [time series]

the British military has approximately 149,000 total active duty troops (83,000 Army; 33,000 Navy, including 7,000 marines; 33,000 Air Force) (2020)

Military deployments [time series]

950 Afghanistan (NATO); approximately 1,000 Brunei; more than 400 Canada (BATUS); est. 2,200 Cyprus; 250 Cyprus (UNFICYP); 900 Estonia (NATO); approx. 1,200 Falkland Islands; est. 200 Germany (note - previously about 2,500, but the UK pledged to remove all but 200 troops by the end of 2020); 570 Gibraltar; approx. 1,300 Middle East (coalition against ISIS; NATO); up to 350 Kenya (BATUK); 400 Mali (EUTM, MINUSMA, and Operation Barkhane; 150 Poland (NATO) (2020)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions [time series]

the inventory of the British military is comprised of a mix of domestically-produced and imported Western weapons systems; the US is the leading supplier of armaments to the UK since 2010; the UK defense industry is capable of producing a wide variety of air, land, and sea weapons systems (2019 est.)

Military expenditures [time series]

2.14% of GDP (est) (2019 est.) | 2.13% of GDP (2018) | 2.11% of GDP (2017) | 2.11% of GDP (2016) | 2.05% of GDP (2015)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

slight variations by service, but generally 16-36 years of age for enlisted (with parental consent under 18) and 18-29 for officers; minimum length of service 4 years; women serve in military services including ground combat roles (2019)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 17.63% (male 5,943,435/female 5,651,780) | 15-24 years: 11.49% (male 3,860,435/female 3,692,398) | 25-54 years: 39.67% (male 13,339,965/female 12,747,598) | 55-64 years: 12.73% (male 4,139,378/female 4,234,701) | 65 years and over: 18.48% (male 5,470,116/female 6,681,311) (2020 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Europe :: United Kingdom Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for the United Kingdom. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate [time series]

11.9 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]

9.6% (2017)

Death rate [time series]

9.5 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 57.1 | youth dependency ratio: 27.8 | elderly dependency ratio: 29.3 | potential support ratio: 3.4 (2020 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5.4% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Hospital bed density [time series]

2.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)

Languages [time series]

English | note: the following are recognized regional languages: Scots (about 30% of the population of Scotland), Scottish Gaelic (about 60,000 speakers 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.)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 81.1 years | male: 78.8 years | female: 83.5 years (2020 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

Covid-19 (see note) (2020) | note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout the UK; as of 8 December 2020, the UK has reported a total of 1,705,975 cases of COVID-19 or 25,130 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 1 million population with 899 cumulative deaths per 1 million population; individuals arriving in the UK must self-isolate for 14 days and may be contacted to verify compliance; new arrivals will be required to provide UK officials with contact and travel information prior to arrival; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in the UK to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures

Major urban areas - population [time series]

9.304 million LONDON (capital), 2.730 million Manchester, 2.607 million Birmingham, 1.889 million West Yorkshire, 1.663 million Glasgow, 928,000 Southampton/Portsmouth (2020)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

7 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 40.6 years | male: 39.6 years | female: 41.7 years (2020 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

28.8 years (2017 est.) | note: data represent England and Wales only

Nationality [time series]

noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural) | adjective: British

Net migration rate [time series]

2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

27.8% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

2.79 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population [time series]

65,761,117 United Kingdom (July 2020 est.) | constituent countries by percentage of total population: England 84% Scotland 8% Wales 5% Northern Ireland 3%

Population distribution [time series]

Population growth rate [time series]

0.49% (2020 est.)

Religions [time series]

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.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 17 years | male: 17 years | female: 18 years (2018)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.86 children born/woman (2020 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 11.3% | male: 12.2% | female: 10.3% (2018 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 83.9% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s) [time series]

Continuity Irish Republican Army; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham; New Irish Republican Army (2020) | note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement between the UK and Spain; the Government of Gibraltar insisted on equal participation in talks between the two countries; Spain disapproved of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory); in 2001, the former inhabitants of the archipelago, evicted 1967 - 1973, were granted UK citizenship and the right of return, followed by Orders in Council in 2004 that banned rehabitation, a High Court ruling reversed the ban, a Court of Appeal refusal to hear the case, and a Law Lords' decision in 2008 denied the right of return; in addition, the UK created the world's largest marine protection area around the Chagos islands prohibiting the extraction of any natural resources therein; UK rejects sovereignty talks requested by Argentina, which still claims the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory) overlaps Argentine claim and partially overlaps Chilean claim; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

Illicit drugs [time series]

producer of limited amounts of synthetic drugs and synthetic precursor chemicals; major consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and synthetic drugs; money-laundering center

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 19,744 (Iran), 13,755 (Eritrea), 10,575 (Sudan), 10,389 (Syria), 9,513 (Afghanistan), 8,164 (Pakistan), 5,522 (Sri Lanka) (2019) | stateless persons: 161 (2019)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

460 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 271 (2013) | over 3,047 m: 7 (2013) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 29 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 89 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 80 (2013) | under 914 m: 66 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 189 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 26 (2013) | under 914 m: 160 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

G (2016)

Heliports [time series]

9 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1,426 | by type: bulk carrier 143, container ship 108, general cargo 125, oil tanker 137, other 913 (2019)

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 20 (2020) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 794 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 165,388,610 (2018) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 6,198,370,000 mt-km (2018)

Pipelines [time series]

502 km condensate, 9 km condensate/gas, 28603 km gas, 59 km liquid petroleum gas, 5256 km oil, 175 km oil/gas/water, 4919 km refined products, 255 km water (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Dover, Felixstowe, Immingham, Liverpool, London, Southampton, Teesport (England); Forth Ports (Scotland); Milford Haven (Wales) | oil terminal(s): Fawley Marine terminal, Liverpool Bay terminal (England); Braefoot Bay terminal, Finnart oil terminal, Hound Point terminal (Scotland) | container port(s) (TEUs): Felixstowe (3,849,700), London (2,431,000), Southampton (2,040,000) (2017) | LNG terminal(s) (import): Isle of Grain, Milford Haven, Teesside

Railways [time series]

total: 16,837 km (2015) | standard gauge: 16,534 km 1.435-m gauge (5,357 km electrified) (2015) | broad gauge: 303 km 1.600-m gauge (in Northern Ireland) (2015)

Roadways [time series]

total: 394,428 km (2009) | paved: 394,428 km (includes 3,519 km of expressways) (2009)

Transportation - note [time series]

begun in 1988 and completed in 1994, the Channel Tunnel (nicknamed the Chunnel) is a 50.5-km (31.4-mi) rail tunnel beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover that runs from Folkestone, Kent, England to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais in northern France; it is the only fixed link between the island of Great Britain and mainland Europe

Waterways [time series]

3,200 km (620 km used for commerce) (2009)