CapitalLondon
Population68,751,311
Area243,610 km²
GDP per capita$52,500
LanguagesEnglish
CurrencyBritish pounds
Life Expectancy82.2 yr
Governmentparliamentary constitutional monarchy; a member of the Commonwealth
Introduction
Background
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was established when the separate realms of England and Scotland, which had been distinct entities under a unified monarchy, were united through the 1707 Acts of Union. The island of Ireland was added to the union with the 1800 Acts of Union, while Wales had been integrated into the Kingdom of England since the 16th century. Historically, the United Kingdom has played a significant role in the evolution of parliamentary democracy, as well as in enhancing literature and science. The 18th and 19th centuries witnessed the swift growth of the British Empire, despite the loss of the Thirteen Colonies; at its peak in the early 20th century, the Empire encompassed over a quarter of the Earth's landmass. The first half of the 20th century was marked by two World Wars that severely weakened the UK's power and led to the departure of the Irish Republic from the union. The latter half saw the disintegration of the Empire and the transformation of the UK into a modern, affluent European nation. As one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth of Nations, the UK adopts a global perspective in its foreign policy. The devolved Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were created in 1998.
The UK was a proactive member of the EU following its accession in 1973, although it opted to stay outside the Economic and Monetary Union. However, driven in part by dissatisfaction with a distant bureaucracy in Brussels and significant migration to the country, citizens of the UK voted in 2016 by 52 to 48 percent in favor of leaving the EU. On 31 January 2020, the UK became the first nation to exit the EU, a process referred to as "Brexit," after extended negotiations concerning EU-UK economic and security relations.
Geography
Area
land
241,930 sq km
water
1,680 sq km
total
243,610 sq km
Climate
characterized by a temperate climate; influenced by the prevailing southwest winds from the North Atlantic Current; more than half of the days experience overcast conditions
Terrain
predominantly features rugged hills and low mountain ranges; contains flat to gently rolling plains in the eastern and southeastern regions
Land use
other
14.7% (2023 est.)
forest
13.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
70.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 25% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.)
Location
located in Western Europe, comprising islands - including the northern sixth of the island of Ireland - situated between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea; positioned to the northwest of France
Coastline
12,429 km
Elevation
lowest point
The Fens -4 m
highest point
Ben Nevis 1,345 m
mean elevation
162 m
Irrigated land
718 sq km (2018)
Map references
Europe
Land boundaries
total
499 km
border countries
Ireland 499 km
Maritime claims
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
subject to winter windstorms and flooding
Geography - note
situated near crucial North Atlantic shipping routes; only 35 km (22 mi) away from France and connected by a tunnel beneath the English Channel (the Channel Tunnel or Chunnel); due to its highly indented coastline, no area is further than 125 km (78 mi) from tidal waters
Natural resources
resources include coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, and arable land
Area - comparative
approximately twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than the state of Oregon
Geographic coordinates
54 00 N, 2 00 W
Population distribution
the majority of the population is concentrated in and around London, with notable populations in central Britain near Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, in southern Wales around Cardiff, and in the northeastern part of Northern Ireland, centered on Belfast
People & Society
Languages
English
Religions
Christian (comprising Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 59.5%, Muslim 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%, other 2%, unspecified 7.2%, none 25.7% (2011 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.02 male(s)/female
total population
0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.85 male(s)/female
Birth rate
10.76 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
9.25 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
40.1 years
total
40.9 years (2025 est.)
female
41.5 years
Population
male
34,145,455
total
68,751,311 (2025 est.)
female
34,605,856
Nationality
noun
Briton(s), British (collective plural)
adjective
British
Tobacco use
male
13.3% (2025 est.)
total
11.5% (2025 est.)
female
9.8% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
84.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.8% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
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)
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.)
Child marriage
women married by age 18
0% (2021)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
56.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
26 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
3.3 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
30.7 (2025 est.)
Physician density
3.3 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
11.3% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
20.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
2.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
2.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.64 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
11.8% national budget (2021 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
total
3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.4% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.8 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
the population is primarily concentrated in and around London, with notable clusters located in central Britain near Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, in southern Wales around Cardiff, and in far-eastern Northern Ireland, particularly in Belfast
Life expectancy at birth
male
80.1 years
female
84.4 years
total population
82.2 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
3.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
3.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
9.8 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.)
Major urban areas - population
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)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
27.8% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
29 years (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
49.7% (2021 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
0.6% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
17 years (2022 est.)
total
18 years (2022 est.)
female
18 years (2022 est.)
Environment
Climate
The climate is temperate, influenced by prevailing southwest winds from the North Atlantic Current, with over half of the days being cloudy.
Geoparks
global geoparks and regional networks
Arran; Black Country; Cuilcagh Lakelands (which includes Ireland); English Riviera; Fforest Fawr; GeoMôn; Mourne Gullion Strangford; North Pennines AONB; North-West Highlands; Shetland (2025)
total global geoparks and regional networks
10 (2025)
Land use
other
14.7% (2023 est.)
forest
13.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
70.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 25% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
84.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.8% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
62 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
1,070.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
353.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
1,030.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
30.771 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
34.2% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
air contamination in the London area; soil contamination resulting from pesticides and heavy metals; deterioration of marine and coastal ecosystems due to housing development, tourism, and industrial activities.
Total water withdrawal
municipal
6.227 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
1.01 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
1.183 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
340.94 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
126.713 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.)
Particulate matter emissions
7.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
147 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
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
Government
Flag
description: a blue background featuring the red cross of Saint George (the patron saint of England) outlined in white, overlaying the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (the patron saint of Ireland), which is positioned above the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (the patron saint of Scotland)
history: formally known as the Union Flag, it is colloquially referred to as the Union Jack; the emblem's design and colors have inspired various other flags
Capital
name
London
etymology
the term originates from the Roman settlement of Londinium, which was established on the location of present-day London around A.D. 43; the precise meaning of the name remains unclear
time zone note
the temporal references pertain specifically to the United Kingdom itself, excluding its crown dependencies or overseas territories
time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1 hour, commencing on the last Sunday of March and concluding on the last Sunday of October
geographic coordinates
51 30 N, 0 05 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
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
history
uncodified; consists of a combination of statutes, common law, and customary practices
amendment process
introduced as a legislative proposal for an Act of Parliament by the government, the House of Commons, or the House of Lords; to be enacted, it must receive approval from both houses and the monarch (Royal Assent)
Country name
etymology
the designation United Kingdom is descriptive; the term Britain is likely derived from the Celtic word pretani, which translates to "painted people;" the term Great Britain, referring to England, Scotland, and Wales, originates from medieval times, used to differentiate the island from Little Britain, or Brittany, located in modern France; the name Ireland comes from the Gaelic term Eriu, possibly sourced from the Old Celtic iveriu, meaning "good land"
abbreviation
UK
conventional long form
officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; note - the island of Great Britain comprises England, Scotland, and Wales
conventional short form
United Kingdom
Independence
no definitive date of independence: 927 (unification of minor English kingdoms); 3 March 1284 (Statute of Rhuddlan enacts unification of England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union integrates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union merge England, Scotland, and Wales into Great Britain); 1 January 1801 (Acts of Union merge Great Britain and Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland); 6 December 1921 (Anglo-Irish Treaty formalizes the partition of Ireland, establishing six counties as Northern Ireland, which remains part of the UK); 12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act establishes the current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
Legal system
common law framework; features nonbinding judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998
Dependent areas
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)
Government type
parliamentary constitutional monarchy; a member of the Commonwealth
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (composed of 12 justices, including the president and deputy president of the court)
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
judge selection and term of office
candidates for judges are chosen by an independent committee from various judicial commissions, then recommended to the prime minister, and appointed by the monarch; justices hold their positions for life
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
chief of state
King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022)
head of government
Prime Minister Keir STARMER (since 5 July 2024)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; post-legislative elections, the leader of the party or coalition with the majority typically becomes the prime minister
National holiday
the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday
National color(s)
red, white, blue (common across Britain); red, white (specific to England); blue, white (specific to Scotland); red, white, green (specific to Wales)
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
33 (28 cultural, 4 natural, 1 mixed); note - this count includes one site located 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)
Political parties
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
Legislative branch
legislature name
UK Parliament
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"God Save the King"
history
in use since 1745; traditionally, the anthem functions as both the national and royal anthem; it is known as either "God Save the Queen" or "God Save the King," contingent upon the gender of the reigning monarch; it also acts as the royal anthem for numerous Commonwealth countries
lyrics/music
unknown
National symbol(s)
lion (representing all of Britain); lion, Tudor rose, oak (representing England); lion, unicorn, thistle (representing Scotland); dragon, daffodil, leek (representing Wales); shamrock, flax (representing Northern Ireland)
Administrative divisions
England: 24 two-tier counties, 32 boroughs within London, and 1 City of London or Greater London, alongside 36 metropolitan districts and 59 unitary authorities (which includes 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, and 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, Mourne, 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
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Commons
term in office
5 years
number of seats
650 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
7/4/2024
expected date of next election
July 2029
percentage of women in chamber
40.5%
parties elected and seats per party
Labour Party (411); Conservative Party (121); Liberal Democrats (72); Other (46)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
House of Lords
number of seats
800 (all appointed)
percentage of women in chamber
31%
parties elected and seats per party
Conservative Party (286); Labour Party (212); Liberal Democrats (76); Crossover (Independents) 180; other (6)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 588-7870
chancery
3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 588-6500
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires James ROSCOE (since 11 September 2025)
consulate(s) general
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
email address and website
[email protected]
https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-washington
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[44] (0) 20-7891-3845
embassy
33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US
telephone
[44] (0) 20-7499-9000
mailing address
8400 London Place, Washington DC 20521-8400
chief of mission
Ambassador Warren A. STEPHENS (since 21 May 2025)
consulate(s) general
Belfast, Edinburgh
email address and website
[email protected]
https://uk.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$1.211 trillion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$1.442 trillion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$1.041 trillion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$1.078 trillion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$1.117 trillion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$1.1 trillion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$1.114 trillion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$1.158 trillion (2024 est.)
Industries
machine tools, electric power equipment, automation systems, railway equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, automobiles and components, electronics and communication devices, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, apparel, other consumer goods
Labor force
35.359 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2023
138.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
British pounds (GBP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
0.78 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
0.727 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
0.811 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
0.805 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
0.782 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
high-income, non-EU European economy; a major global financial hub with a leading service sector; experiencing sluggish growth due to strict monetary policies, decreased business investments, low productivity, and participation rates; implementing fiscal austerity in response to significant public debt
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
3.8% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
4.2% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 14%, China 8%, Germany 8%, Netherlands 7%, Ireland 7% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 13%, USA 11%, Germany 10%, France 5%, Norway 4% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$53,000 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$52,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$52,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
0.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
1.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, wheat, sugar beets, barley, potatoes, chicken, rapeseed, pork, beef, oats (2023)
Exports - commodities
cars, gold, gas turbines, packaged pharmaceuticals, crude oil (2023)
Imports - commodities
cars, gold, crude oil, refined oil, natural gas (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
-$70.962 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$118.354 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
-$96.634 billion (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
27.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$3.644 trillion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
61.3% (2023 est.)
government consumption
20.5% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories
-0.4% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital
17.6% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services
32% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services
-33.1% (2023 est.)
Population below poverty line
18.6% (2017 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
8.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
7.9% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
6.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
3.3% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
-0.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$3.582 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$3.596 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$3.636 trillion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
14.9% (2024 est.)
total
12.4% (2024 est.)
female
9.7% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$176.41 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$177.915 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$174.598 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
16.7% (2024 est.)
services
72.8% (2024 est.)
agriculture
0.6% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
3% (2021 est.)
highest 10%
24.6% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
32.4 (2021 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
981,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
6.633 million metric tons (2023 est.)
production
1.568 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
7.372 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves
26 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
753,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
1.406 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Electricity
exports
9.449 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports
33.212 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
262.166 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
114.749 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
28.961 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
exports
15.842 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports
45.226 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
production
34.029 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
63.553 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
180.661 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of operational nuclear reactors
9 (2025)
Percent of total electricity production
12.5% (2023 est.)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors
5.88GW (2025 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors under construction
2 (2025)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down
36 (2025)
Electricity access
electrification - rural areas
100%
electrification - urban areas
99.9%
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
94.28 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
30.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear
13.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
36.2% 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.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
96% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), a public-service broadcaster, holds the title of the largest broadcasting entity globally. It manages several television channels, including regional and local networks. In addition, a combination of public and commercial television broadcasters, alongside satellite and cable services, grants viewers access to a vast array of international TV channels. The BBC also runs various national, regional, and local radio networks, supported by numerous transmission facilities. Furthermore, there is a significant presence of commercial and satellite radio stations as of 2018.
Internet country code
.uk
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
26.627 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
39 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
84.1 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
122 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
28.2 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
41 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
7
small
67
medium
24
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
very small
86
total ports
185 (2024)
size unknown
1
ports with oil terminals
67
Airports
1,057 (2025)
Railways
total
16,390 km (2020) 6,167 km electrified
Heliports
139 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
868 (2023)
by type
bulk carrier 34, container ship 46, general cargo 62, oil tanker 13, other 713
Transportation - note
initiated in 1988 and finalized in 1994, the Channel Tunnel (commonly referred to as the Chunnel) spans 50.5 km (31.4 mi) as a rail tunnel beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover; it connects Folkestone, Kent, in England with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais, in northern France and serves as the sole fixed connection between Great Britain and continental Europe
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
G
Military & Security
Military - note
The British military boasts an extensive history, a worldwide presence, and a diverse array of missions and duties, which encompass safeguarding the United Kingdom, its territories and dependencies, upholding national interests and values, averting conflicts, delivering humanitarian aid, engaging in international peacekeeping efforts, fostering relationships, and honoring the UK's alliances and treaty obligations. Beyond its contributions to the United Nations, the UK plays a prominent role within NATO.
The UK is also a participant in the Five Power Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a set of mutual assistance treaties established in 1971 that includes Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK. In 2014, the UK spearheaded the establishment of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a collection of high-readiness military units from Baltic and Scandinavian nations designed to address a broad spectrum of scenarios during both peacetime and periods of crisis or conflict. Furthermore, the UK military maintains robust bilateral relationships with numerous foreign armed forces, particularly that of the United States, with whom it has a mutual defense treaty. British and US military units have frequently collaborated across various operations. Other close military partnerships involve Australia, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. For instance, in 2010, France and the UK formalized a declaration on defense and security collaboration, which emphasized enhanced military interoperability and the creation of a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), a deployable combined Anglo-French military unit for deployment in various crisis situations (2025).
Military deployments
The British military has over 8,000 personnel engaged in permanent or long-term rotational deployments globally to support NATO, UN, or other agreements and obligations. Notable deployments include roughly 1,000 troops in Brunei, around 2,500 in Cyprus (which includes 250 for UNFICYP), approximately 900-1,000 in Estonia (NATO), more than 1,000 stationed in the Falkland Islands, 500-600 in Gibraltar, and over 1,000 in the Middle East. The air and naval forces of the UK conduct operations on a worldwide scale. Additionally, the British military takes part in large-scale NATO exercises, contributing approximately 16,000 personnel to the six-month 2024 Steadfast Defender exercise (2024).
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2021
2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
2.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2025
2.4% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military and security forces
United Kingdom Armed Forces (also known as British Armed Forces or His Majesty's Armed Forces): British Army, Royal Navy (including Royal Marines), Royal Air Force (2025).
Military service age and obligation
The minimum age for enlistment is 16 years (with parental consent for those under 18), and 18 years for officers; the maximum age varies by branch of service. Conscription was abolished in 1963 (2026).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The British military's arsenal consists of both domestically manufactured weapons and imported Western systems, particularly from the United States. The UK defense sector is capable of producing air, land, and naval weaponry and ranks among the top global arms suppliers. It also collaborates with other European nations, along with Australia and the US, in the research and development of weapon systems (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
Approximately 138,000 Regular Forces (75,000 Army, which includes the Gurkhas; 32,000 Navy, which includes the Royal Marines; 31,000 Air Force) (2025).
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa'ida; Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA)
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
USG identification
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
640,460 (2024 est.)
stateless persons
4,672 (2024 est.)
Space
Space launch site(s)
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)
Space agency/agencies
UK Space Agency (UKSA; established in 2010) (2025)
Space program overview
possesses a well-established, extensive national space program; operates in all sectors of the space industry apart from human spaceflight, including satellite launch vehicles (SLVs)/rockets, probes, satellites, and spaceports; is a founding member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and plays an active role in its programs; maintains bilateral partnerships with numerous ESA countries and is a close collaborator with the US NASA; since 2016, it has developed over 350 partnerships with international entities across nearly 50 nations; engages in global initiatives such as the International Space Station and the James Webb Space Telescope; features a significant commercial space industry; the UK has devised a space industrial strategy, and the UK Space Agency has allocated funds for commercial space endeavors (2025)
Key space-program milestones
1957 - inaugural suborbital sounding rocket (Skylark) launched
1960s - first satellite (Ariel) launched by the US; development of the Black Arrow satellite launch vehicle (SLV); initiated the launch of the first Skynet family of communication satellites
1971 - successful placement of the satellite (Prospero) into orbit using a 3-stage Black Arrow SLV (the Black Arrow SLV program concluded in the early 1970s)
1973 - commenced collaboration on the development of the Ariane SLV alongside other European nations, notably France and Germany
1991 - first British astronaut traveled to space aboard the Russian Mir space station
2015 - first British astronaut arrived at the International Space Station
2019-2020 - commenced participation in the US Gateway lunar orbital station initiative and endorsed the US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration
2024 - launch of the first military remote sensing satellite (Tyche) by the US
