United Kingdom

total: 28.2 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2023 est.)

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

.uk

percent of population: 96% (2023 est.)

total subscriptions: 26.627 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions: 84.1 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2024 est.)

milk, wheat, sugar beets, barley, potatoes, chicken, rapeseed, pork, beef, oats (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on food: 8.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

revenues: $1.211 trillion (2023 est.) expenditures: $1.442 trillion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

-$96.634 billion (2024 est.) -$118.354 billion (2023 est.) -$70.962 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

high-income, non-EU European economy; global financial center and dominant service sector; sluggish growth from stringent monetary policy, reduced business investment, low productivity and participation rates; fiscal austerity in face of high public debt

British pounds (GBP) per US dollar - 0.782 (2024 est.) 0.805 (2023 est.) 0.811 (2022 est.) 0.727 (2021 est.) 0.78 (2020 est.)

$1.117 trillion (2024 est.) $1.078 trillion (2023 est.) $1.041 trillion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

cars, gold, gas turbines, packaged medicine, crude petroleum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

USA 14%, China 8%, Germany 8%, Netherlands 7%, Ireland 7% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

$3.644 trillion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

household consumption: 61.3% (2023 est.) government consumption: 20.5% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.6% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: -0.4% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 32% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -33.1% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture: 0.6% (2024 est.) industry: 16.7% (2024 est.) services: 72.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

32.4 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

lowest 10%: 3% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 24.6% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$1.158 trillion (2024 est.) $1.114 trillion (2023 est.) $1.1 trillion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

cars, gold, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 13%, USA 11%, Germany 10%, France 5%, Norway 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-0.5% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

3.3% (2024 est.) 6.8% (2023 est.) 7.9% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

35.359 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

18.6% (2017 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

138.6% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

$3.636 trillion (2024 est.) $3.596 trillion (2023 est.) $3.582 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

1.1% (2024 est.) 0.4% (2023 est.) 4.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$52,500 (2024 est.) $52,500 (2023 est.) $53,000 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

0.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

$174.598 billion (2024 est.) $177.915 billion (2023 est.) $176.41 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

27.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

4.2% (2024 est.) 4% (2023 est.) 3.8% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 12.4% (2024 est.) male: 14.9% (2024 est.) female: 9.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

production: 1.568 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 7.372 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 981,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 6.633 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 26 million metric tons (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity: 114.749 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 262.166 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 9.449 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 33.212 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 28.961 billion kWh (2023 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 99.9% electrification - rural areas: 100%

fossil fuels: 36.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 13.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 30.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 12.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

94.28 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

production: 34.029 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 63.553 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 15.842 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 45.226 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 180.661 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 9 (2025) Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 2 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 5.88GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 12.5% (2023 est.) Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 36 (2025)

total petroleum production: 753,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1.406 million bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)

340.94 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 17.093 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 197.133 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 126.713 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

air pollution in the London region; soil pollution from pesticides and heavy metals; decline in marine and coastal habitats from housing, tourism, and industry

total global geoparks and regional networks: 10 (2025) global geoparks and regional networks: Arran; Black Country; Cuilcagh Lakelands (includes Ireland); English Riviera; Fforest Fawr; GeoM n; Mourne Gullion Strangford; North Pennines AONB; North-West Highlands; Shetland (2025)

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

agricultural land: 70.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 25% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.) forest: 13.4% (2023 est.) other: 14.7% (2023 est.)

energy: 353.4 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 1,030.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 1,070.1 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 62 kt (2019-2021 est.)

7.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

147 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal: 6.227 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 1.01 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 1.183 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

urban population: 84.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 30.771 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 34.2% (2022 est.)

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

twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon

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

12,429 km

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

54 00 N, 2 00 W

lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km (22 mi) 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 (78 mi) from tidal waters

718 sq km (2018)

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

agricultural land: 70.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 25% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.) forest: 13.4% (2023 est.) other: 14.7% (2023 est.)

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

Europe

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

winter windstorms; floods

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

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

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

England: 24 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*) two-tier counties: Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, 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; Buckinghamshire; 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 Northamptonshire; 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; West Northamptonshire; 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

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 time zone 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 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

history: uncoded; partly statutes, partly common law and practice amendment process: 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)

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: the name United Kingdom is self-descriptive; the name Britain probably derives from the Celtic word pretani , meaning "painted people;" the designation of Great Britain for England, Scotland, and Wales dates back to medieval times and was used to distinguish the island from Little Britain, or Brittany, in modern France; the name Ireland evolved from the Gaelic name Eriu, which is possibly derived from the Old Celtic iveriu , meaning "good land"

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 (12)

chief of mission: Ambassador Warren A. STEPHENS (since 21 May 2025) embassy: 33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US mailing address: 8400 London Place, Washington DC 20521-8400 telephone: [44] (0) 20-7499-9000 FAX: [44] (0) 20-7891-3845 email address and website: SCSLondon@state.gov https://uk.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg d'Affaires James ROSCOE (since 11 September 2025) chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-6500 FAX: [1] (202) 588-7870 email address and website: ukin.washington@fcdo.gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-washington consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022) head of government: Prime Minister Keir STARMER (since 5 July 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister note 1: in addition to serving as the UK head of state, the British sovereign is the constitutional monarch for 14 additional Commonwealth countries (each referred to as a "Commonwealth realm") note 2 : King CHARLES III succeeded his mother, Queen ELIZABETH II, after serving as Prince of Wales (heir apparent) for over 64 years -- the longest such tenure in British history

description: blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white on top of the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is on top of the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland) history: the official name is the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union Jack; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags

parliamentary constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

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 incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union unite England, Scotland, and Wales as Great Britain); 1 January 1801 (Acts of Union 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 become Northern Ireland and remain part of the UK); 12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act establishes current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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, 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, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (permanent), UNSOM, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 12 justices, including the court president and deputy president) judge selection and term of office: judge candidates selected by an independent committee of several judicial commissions, then recommended 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

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

legislature name: UK Parliament legislative structure: bicameral

chamber name: House of Commons number of seats: 650 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 7/4/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Labour Party (411); Conservative Party (121); Liberal Democrats (72); Other (46) percentage of women in chamber: 40.5% expected date of next election: July 2029

chamber name: House of Lords number of seats: 800 (all appointed) parties elected and seats per party: Conservative Party (286); Labour Party (212); Liberal Democrats (76); Crossover (Independents) 180; other (6) percentage of women in chamber: 31% note: the number of total seats in the House of Lords does not include ineligible members or members on leave of absence

title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: in use since 1745; by tradition, the song serves as both the national and royal anthem; 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 for many Commonwealth nations

red, white, blue (all of Britain); red, white (England); blue, white (Scotland); red, white, green (Wales)

total World Heritage Sites: 33 (28 cultural, 4 natural, 1 mixed); note - includes one site in Bermuda selected World Heritage Site locales: Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast (n); Ironbridge Gorge (c); Stonehenge, Avebury, and Associated Sites (c); Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd (c); Blenheim Palace (c); City of Bath (c); Tower of London (c); St Kilda (m); Maritime Greenwich (c); Old and New Towns of Edinburgh (c); Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (c); The English Lake District (c)

the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday

lion (all of Britain); lion, Tudor rose, oak (England); lion, unicorn, thistle (Scotland); dragon, daffodil, leek (Wales); shamrock, flax (Northern Ireland)

Alliance Party or APNI (Northern Ireland) Conservative and Unionist Party Democratic Unionist Party or DUP (Northern Ireland) Green Party of England and Wales or Greens Labor (Labour) Party Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru) Reform UK Scottish National Party or SNP Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) Social Democratic and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland) Traditional Unionist Voice or TUV UK Independence Party or UKIP Ulster Unionist Party or UUP (Northern Ireland) Workers Party of Great Britian

18 years of age; universal

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. The island of Ireland was incorporated under the 1800 Acts of Union, while Wales had been part of the Kingdom of England since the 16th century. The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. The 18th and 19th centuries saw the rapid expansion of the British Empire despite the loss of the Thirteen Colonies, and at its zenith in the early 20th century, the British Empire stretched over one fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw two World Wars seriously deplete the UK's strength and the Irish Republic withdraw 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 of Nations, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The devolved Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1998. The UK was an active member of the EU after 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 in 2016 voted by 52 to 48 percent to leave the EU. On 31 January 2020, the UK became the only country to depart the EU -- a move known as "Brexit" -- after prolonged negotiations on EU-UK economic and security relationships.

the British military has a long history, a global presence, and a wide range of missions and responsibilities, including protecting the UK, its dependencies and territories, national interests, and values, preventing conflict, providing humanitarian assistance, participating in international peacekeeping, building relationships, and fulfilling the UK s alliance and treaty commitments; in addition to its role in the UN, the UK is a leading member of NATO the UK is a member of the Five Power Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; in 2014, the UK led the formation of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a pool of high-readiness military forces from the Baltic and Scandinavian countries intended to respond to a wide range of contingencies both in peacetime and in times of crisis or conflict; the UK military also has strong bilateral ties with a variety of foreign militaries, particularly the US, with which it has a mutual defense treaty; British and US military forces have routinely operated side-by-side across a wide range of operations; other close military relationships include Australia, France, Germany, and the Netherlands; in 2010, for example, France and the UK signed a declaration on defense and security cooperation that included greater military interoperability and a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), a deployable, combined Anglo-French military force for use in a range of crisis scenarios (2025)

United Kingdom Armed Forces (aka British Armed Forces, aka His Majesty's Armed Forces): British Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines), Royal Air Force (2025)

approximately 138,000 Regular Forces (75,000 Army including the Gurkhas; 32,000 Navy including the Royal Marines; 31,000 Air Force) (2025) note: the military also maintains approximately 40-45,000 reserves and other personnel on active duty

the British military has more than 8,000 personnel on permanent or long-term rotational deployments around the globe in support of NATO, UN, or other commitments and agreements; key deployments include approximately 1,000 in Brunei, approximately 2,500 in Cyprus (includes 250 for UNFICYP), approximately 900-1,000 in Estonia (NATO), over 1,000 in the Falkland Islands, 500-600 in Gibraltar, and more than 1,000 in the Middle East; its air and naval forces conduct missions on a global basis; the British military also participates in large scale NATO exercises, including providing some 16,000 personnel for the 6-month 2024 Steadfast Defender exercise (2024)

the British military's inventory is comprised of domestically produced armaments and imported Western weapons systems, particularly from the US; the UK defense industry is capable of producing air, land, and sea weapons systems and is one of the world's top weapons suppliers; it also cooperates with other European countries, as well as Australia and the US, in the research and development of weapons systems (2025)

2.4% of GDP (2025 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

16 years of age for enlisted ranks (with parental consent for under 18) and 18 years of age for officers; maximum age varies by military service; conscription abolished in 1963 (2026) note 1: women serve in all branches and made up nearly 12% of the military's full-time personnel in 2025 note 2: the British military allows Commonwealth nationals who are current UK residents and have been in the country for at least 5 years to apply; it also accepts Irish citizens note 3: the British Army has continued the historic practice of recruiting Gurkhas from Nepal to serve in the Brigade of Gurkhas; the British began to recruit Nepalese citizens (Gurkhas) into the East India Company Army during the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-1816); the Gurkhas subsequently were brought into the British Indian Army and by 1914, there were 10 Gurkha regiments, collectively known as the Gurkha Brigade; following the partition of India in 1947, an agreement between Nepal, India, and Great Britain allowed for the transfer of the 10 regiments from the British Indian Army to the separate British and Indian armies; four of the regiments were transferred to the British Army, where they have since served continuously as the Brigade of Gurkhas

0-14 years: 16.7% (male 5,872,937/female 5,592,665) 15-64 years: 63.9% (male 22,062,643/female 21,702,401) 65 years and over: 19.3% (2024 est.) (male 6,069,865/female 7,158,544)

total: 9.8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 3.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

10.76 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

women married by age 18: 0% (2021)

0.6% (2019 est.)

49.7% (2021 est.)

9.25 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio: 56.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 26 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 30.7 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.3 (2025 est.)

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

5.9% of GDP (2021 est.) 11.8% national budget (2021 est.)

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.)

0.8 (2025 est.)

11.3% of GDP (2022) 20.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

2.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

total: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

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.)

total population: 82.2 years (2024 est.) male: 80.1 years female: 84.4 years

9.648 million LONDON (capital), 2.791 million Manchester, 2.665 million Birmingham, 1.929 million West Yorkshire, 1.698 million Glasgow, 952,000 Southampton/Portsmouth (2023)

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

total: 40.9 years (2025 est.) male: 40.1 years female: 41.5 years

29 years (2018 est.) note: data represents England and Wales only

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

2.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

27.8% (2016)

3.3 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

total: 68,751,311 (2025 est.) male: 34,145,455 female: 34,605,856

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

0.4% (2025 est.)

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.)

urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

total: 18 years (2022 est.) male: 17 years (2022 est.) female: 18 years (2022 est.)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total: 11.5% (2025 est.) male: 13.3% (2025 est.) female: 9.8% (2025 est.)

1.64 children born/woman (2025 est.)

urban population: 84.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

1957 - first suborbital sounding rocket (Skylark) launched 1960s - first satellite (Ariel) launched by US; development of Black Arrow satellite launch vehicle (SLV); launched first of Skynet family of communications satellites 1971 - first successful placement of satellite (Prospero) in orbit on a 3-stage Black Arrow SLV (Black Arrow SLV program ended in early 1970s) 1973 - began participating in development of Ariane SLV along with other European states, particularly France and Germany 1991 - first British astronaut into space to Russian Mir space station 2015 - first British astronaut on International Space Station 2019-2020 - began participating in US Gateway lunar orbital station program and signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2024 - first military remote sensing satellite (Tyche) launched by US

UK Space Agency (UKSA; established in 2010) (2025) note 1: the UKSA replaced the British National Space Center (BNSC; established in 1985); in 2025, the UK Government announced that the UKSA would be absorbed into the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) as of April 2026 note 2: in 2021, the British formed the joint service UK Space Command under the Ministry of Defense for military space operations, space workforce, and space capabilities

Spaceport 1 (Outer Hebrides, Scotland); Spaceport Machrihanish (Argyll, Scotland); Glasgow Prestwick (South Ayrshire, Scotland); Spaceport Snowdonia (Gwynedd, Wales); SaxaVord UK Spaceport (Unst, Shetland Islands); Sutherland Spaceport (Sutherland, Scotland); Sutherland, Scotland (Cornwall Airport Newquay, Cornwall) (2024)

has a long-standing, comprehensive national space program; is active across all areas of the space sector except human space flight, including satellite launch vehicles (SLVs)/rockets, probes, satellites, and spaceports; is a founding member of the ESA and is deeply involved in ESA programs; has bilateral relations with many ESA members and is a close partner of the US NASA; since 2016 has forged over 350 relationships with international organizations across nearly 50 countries; participates in international programs such as the International Space Station and the James Webb Space Telescope; has a large commercial space sector; the UK has a space industrial plan, and the UK Space Agency has provided funding for commercial space projects (2025) note: the UK was part of several EU-sponsored space programs until departing the EU in 2020, including the Galileo global positioning system and the Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) project; it remained part of the Copernicus Earth observation and Horizon Europe research and innovation programs after 2020; the UK has participated or continues to participate in multiple ESA programs, including Cassini-Huygens research mission to Saturn, the Mars Express space exploration missions, the Rosetta comet probe, and the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission

Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa'ida; Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) 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 the Terrorism reference guide

USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

refugees: 640,460 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 4,672 (2024 est.)

1,057 (2025)

G

139 (2025)

total: 868 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 34, container ship 46, general cargo 62, oil tanker 13, other 713 note: includes Channel Islands (total fleet 2; general cargo 1, other 1); excludes Isle of Man

total ports: 185 (2024) large: 7 medium: 24 small: 67 very small: 86 size unknown: 1 ports with oil terminals: 67 key ports: Aberdeen, Barrow-in-Furness, Barry, Belfast, Blyth, Bristol, Cardiff, Dundee, Falmouth Harbour, Glasgow, Greenock, Grimsby, Immingham, Kingston-upon-Hull, Leith, Lerwick, Liverpool, London, Londonderry, Lyness, Manchester, Milford Haven, Newport, Peterhead, Plymouth, Portland Harbour, Portsmouth Harbour, Southampton, Sunderland, Teesport, Tynemouth

total: 16,390 km (2020) 6,167 km electrified

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