If you’re not sure where to start your UK research, have a look at some of the information below. This three-minute crash course will give you the essential information, figures and facts about the United Kingdom.

Map of the United Kingdom

Understanding the United Kingdom 

The UK is short for "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". 

The phase was used to name the political union of these countries. The UK is a fully sovereign state in the same way as France or the US. But, and this is where it gets odd, the UK is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

The four nations that make up the UK are also countries in their own right and have a certain extent of autonomy. People also see themselves separately and identify with the unique culture of each of the four nations. People will usually refer to themselves as either Welsh, Scottish, Irish or English depending on where they are from and might get offended if you call them “British”. 

Great Britain 

The term "Great Britain" refers to a landmass, not a country. The term "Great" is used simply because it is the largest island in the British Isles, with the countries of England, Scotland and Wales within its shores. Although it has also been said that ‘Great’ was stuck on the front of ‘Britain’ (the Roman word Britannia) to differentiate Britain from its neighbour, Brittany, in Northern France.

Capital cities of the UK 

Country

Capital

The population of the capital *

England

London

9,304,000

Scotland

Edinburgh

537,000

Northern Ireland

Belfast

631,000


Wales

Cardiff

478,000

*Estimated, 2020. Source: Worldometer

As of 2020, the approximate population size of the whole of the UK is 67.8 million people.

Official languages

The UK’s official language is English and English is the most commonly spoken language. 

However, you will hear:

  • Welsh in Wales.

  • Gaelic and Scots in Scotland

  • Irish and Ulster-Scots in Northern Ireland

Government

The UK is a constitutional monarchy and a representative democracy.

The monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II, is recognized as the head of state. The sovereign of the UK also acts as head of state of fifteen other Commonwealth countries, putting the UK in a union with those states. The Crown has sovereignty over the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey.

The elected Prime Minister is the head of government. The current Prime Minister is Borris Johnson who is the leader of the Conservative Party (often referred to as the Tories). 

Economic profile

The UK is a leading trading power and a financial centre. Agriculture is an important industry and highly efficient. Primary energy, like coal and oil, are major contributors to the economy, but services like banking and insurance are the greatest contributors.

Currency

Britain uses the Pound Sterling. The sign for the Great British Pound (GBP) is £.

Time zone and Climate

Season

Time zone

Climate

Summer (June-August)

UTC + 1

14 - 25° C

Winter months (December-February)

(UTC)

1 - 4° C

 

Major UK holidays 2021

Date

Holiday

Friday, 02 April

Good Friday

Monday, 05 April

Easter Monday

Monday, 03 May

Early May bank holiday

Monday, 31 May

Spring bank holiday

Monday, 30 August

Summer bank holiday

Monday, 27 December

Christmas Day (substitute day)

Tuesday, 28 December

Boxing Day (substitute day)

Weights and measures

Historically, the UK used the imperial system. The metric system is now more commonly used, with the exception of a few items. For example, distance and speed are measured in miles and miles per hour.

Electricity

Voltage is 240 volts AC at 50HZ. Appliances generally use standard 3-pin square plugs and sockets.


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