Time Zone: Western European Time Zone (WET). Western European Standard Time is
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
(metropolitan pop. about 9 million)
,
Sheffield.
Government:
Constitutional monarchy.
Constitution: Unwritten, partly statutes, partly common law and practice.
Geography:
Location: 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
Area: 243,000 km² (93,000 sq. mi.)
Terrain: 30% arable, 50% meadow and pasture, 12% waste or urban, 7% forested,
1% inland water.
Land use: 25% arable, 46% meadows and pastures, 10% forests and woodland, 19%
other.
Climate:
Very British: more than one-half of the days are overcast; generally mild and
temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current.
People:
Nationality: Noun--Briton(s). Adjective--British.
Population: 69 million (2024)
Real GDP per capita: $54,100 (2023 est.)
Major ethnic groups: British, Irish, West Indian, South Asian.
Major religions: Church of England (Anglican), Roman Catholic, Church of Scotland
(Presbyterian) 60%, Muslim 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%.
Major languages:
English, Welsh, Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic.
Literacy: 99%.
Transparency: Rank 11 (out of 180 countries); Score 77, on a scale from 100 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt). The United Kingdom is ranked in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2020 between
Hong Kong and
Austria.
Natural resources: Coal, oil, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt,
clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica.
Agriculture products: Cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables, cattle, sheep, poultry, fish, milk, eggs.
Industries: 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, and other consumer goods.
Exports - commodities: manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, and tobacco.
Exports - partners: United States 13%,
Netherlands 9%,
Germany 9%,
China 8%,
Ireland 7% (2022)
Imports - commodities: manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs
Imports - partners: China 12%, Germany 10%, United States 10%,
Norway 8%, Netherlands 5% (2022)
Currency: British Pound £ (GBP)