World · permanent entity record · UK
United Kingdom
Thirty-second orientation
United Kingdom at a glance
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural); adjective: British
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
- Government
- parliamentary constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
Independently structured milestones · not a complete national history
United Kingdom through time
Admitted to the United Nations
United Kingdom became a member of the United Nations.
United Nations, Member States · source checked 2026-09-04
Source history · changed fields only
Changes since the final CIA profile
| Field | Maintained Almanac value | Final CIA profile |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 69,487,000World Bank, World Development Indicators · observation year 2025 | total: 68,751,311 (2025 est.) male: 34,145,455 female: 34,605,856CIA World Factbook · as of 2026-01-19 |
A difference may reflect a newer observation, a revised estimate, or a different source definition. This table reports the values and dates; it does not manufacture a trend.
Claims are attributed · classifications are dated
Claims and contested status
Related territory records
- Akrotiri
United Kingdom
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31 - Anguilla
United Kingdom
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31 - Bermuda
United Kingdom
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31 - British Indian Ocean Territory
United Kingdom
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31 - Cayman Islands
United Kingdom
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31 - Dhekelia
United Kingdom
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31 - Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Administered by the United Kingdom; claimed by Argentina
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31 - Gibraltar
United Kingdom
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31 - Guernsey
British Crown Dependency
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31 - Isle of Man
British Crown Dependency
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31 - Jersey
British Crown Dependency
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31 - Montserrat
United Kingdom
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31 - Pitcairn Islands
United Kingdom
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31 - Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
United Kingdom
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31 - South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Administered by the United Kingdom; claimed by Argentina
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31 - Turks and Caicos Islands
United Kingdom
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31 - Virgin Islands, British
United Kingdom
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31
A claim’s appearance records that the cited source reports it. It does not constitute an Almanac ruling on sovereignty.
World Development Indicators · latest available observation
People, economy, and access
Observation years vary by measure. Each row identifies the series and year instead of presenting unlike dates as one current snapshot.
- Gross domestic product
- $4.00 trillion
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Gross domestic product per person
- $57,602
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Life expectancy at birth
- 81.4 years
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Urban population
- 83.3%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, World Urbanization Prospects. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS. Underlying providers: World Bank ESMAP, Tracking SDG 7. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- People using the internet
- 95.5%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS. Underlying providers: International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
World Development Indicators data are provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). The linked indicator metadata identifies the underlying statistical providers.
Maintained profile
- Capital
- London
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · The nation set and displayed federal short name follow the current State Department independent-states register, dated August 11, 2026.
- Area
- 243,610 sq km
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Final CIA source data preserved by a community mirror after the Factbook was retired; the mirror is not the issuing authority.
- Population
- 69,487,000
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.POP.TOTL. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Currency
- British pounds (GBP)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Currency label extracted from the Factbook exchange-rate field.
- Languages
- English
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Factbook language listing reproduced without inferring official status beyond the source wording.
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural); adjective: British
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · The source’s noun and adjective forms are retained. These are language labels, not evidence of any individual person’s citizenship.
- Government
- parliamentary constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json ·
- Continent
- Europe
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Continental label standardized from the archived profile region “Europe.”
- Coastline
- 12,429 km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Climate
- temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Religions
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Flag colors
- blue, red, white
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Colors extracted from the flag description in the preserved final CIA profile.
- National symbol
- lion (all of Britain); lion, Tudor rose, oak (England); lion, unicorn, thistle (Scotland); dragon, daffodil, leek (Wales); shamrock, flax (Northern Ireland)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Nationally recognized
- No inscriptions. The United Kingdom ratified the 2003 Convention on 7 March 2024 and has nothing on the lists yet.
- UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity · Recognitions a state actively sought from 2008 onward, when the UNESCO lists opened. These are the soft-power designations: a dish, a dance, a drink a government decided was worth putting on an international register.
- Highest point
- Ben Nevis · 4,413 ft (1,345 m)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Lowest point
- The Fens · -13 ft (-4 m)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- NATO membership
- Member
- NATO, What is NATO? · Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
- BRICS membership
- Not a member
- BRICS Brazil, About the BRICS · Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data
Final CIA World Factbook profile
This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.
CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b
Introduction1 fields
- Background
- 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.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Geography17 fields
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area - comparative
- twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land boundaries
- total: 499 km border countries (1): Ireland 499 km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Terrain
- mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Elevation
- highest point: Ben Nevis 1,345 m lowest point: The Fens -4 m mean elevation: 162 m
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural resources
- coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Geography - note
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
People and Society35 fields
- Population
- total: 68,751,311 (2025 est.) male: 34,145,455 female: 34,605,856
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Nationality
- noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural) adjective: British
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Languages
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Religions
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Dependency ratios
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Median age
- total: 40.9 years (2025 est.) male: 40.1 years female: 41.5 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Birth rate
- 10.76 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Death rate
- 9.25 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Net migration rate
- 2.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 84.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Mother's mean age at first birth
- 29 years (2018 est.) note: data represents England and Wales only
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Maternal mortality ratio
- 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Infant mortality rate
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 82.2 years (2024 est.) male: 80.1 years female: 84.4 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total fertility rate
- 1.64 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Drinking water source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Health expenditure
- 11.3% of GDP (2022) 20.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Physician density
- 3.3 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Hospital bed density
- 2.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sanitation facility access
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Alcohol consumption per capita
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Tobacco use
- total: 11.5% (2025 est.) male: 13.3% (2025 est.) female: 9.8% (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Children under the age of 5 years underweight
- 0.6% (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Currently married women (ages 15-49)
- 49.7% (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Child marriage
- women married by age 18: 0% (2021)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Education expenditure
- 5.9% of GDP (2021 est.) 11.8% national budget (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
- total: 18 years (2022 est.) male: 17 years (2022 est.) female: 18 years (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Environment12 fields
- Environmental issues
- air pollution in the London region; soil pollution from pesticides and heavy metals; decline in marine and coastal habitats from housing, tourism, and industry
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 84.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Carbon dioxide emissions
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Particulate matter emissions
- 7.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Methane emissions
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually: 30.771 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 34.2% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total renewable water resources
- 147 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Geoparks
- total global geoparks and regional networks: 10 (2025) global geoparks and regional networks: Arran; Black Country; Cuilcagh Lakelands (includes Ireland); English Riviera; Fforest Fawr; GeoMôn; Mourne Gullion Strangford; North Pennines AONB; North-West Highlands; Shetland (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Government26 fields
- Country name
- 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"
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Government type
- parliamentary constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Capital
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Administrative divisions
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legal system
- common law system; has nonbinding judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Constitution
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International law organization participation
- accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Executive branch
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch
- legislature name: UK Parliament legislative structure: bicameral
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch - lower chamber
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch - upper chamber
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Judicial branch
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation from the US
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Independence
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National holiday
- the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Flag
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National symbol(s)
- lion (all of Britain); lion, Tudor rose, oak (England); lion, unicorn, thistle (Scotland); dragon, daffodil, leek (Wales); shamrock, flax (Northern Ireland)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National color(s)
- red, white, blue (all of Britain); red, white (England); blue, white (Scotland); red, white, green (Wales)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National anthem(s)
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National heritage
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Economy31 fields
- Economic overview
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
- $3.636 trillion (2024 est.) $3.596 trillion (2023 est.) $3.582 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP growth rate
- 1.1% (2024 est.) 0.4% (2023 est.) 4.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP per capita
- $52,500 (2024 est.) $52,500 (2023 est.) $53,000 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $3.644 trillion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Inflation rate (consumer prices)
- 3.3% (2024 est.) 6.8% (2023 est.) 7.9% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by end use
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Agricultural products
- milk, wheat, sugar beets, barley, potatoes, chicken, rapeseed, pork, beef, oats (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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, other consumer goods
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industrial production growth rate
- -0.5% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Labor force
- 35.359 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Unemployment rate
- 4.2% (2024 est.) 4% (2023 est.) 3.8% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total: 12.4% (2024 est.) male: 14.9% (2024 est.) female: 9.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population below poverty line
- 18.6% (2017 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
- 32.4 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Average household expenditures
- on food: 8.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Household income or consumption by percentage share
- lowest 10%: 3% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 24.6% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Remittances
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Budget
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Public debt
- 138.6% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Taxes and other revenues
- 27.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Current account balance
- -$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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports
- $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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - partners
- USA 14%, China 8%, Germany 8%, Netherlands 7%, Ireland 7% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - commodities
- cars, gold, gas turbines, packaged medicine, crude petroleum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports
- $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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - partners
- China 13%, USA 11%, Germany 10%, France 5%, Norway 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - commodities
- cars, gold, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
- $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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exchange rates
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Energy8 fields
- Electricity access
- electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 99.9% electrification - rural areas: 100%
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Electricity
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Electricity generation sources
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Nuclear energy
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Coal
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Petroleum
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural gas
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Energy consumption per capita
- 94.28 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Communications6 fields
- Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions: 26.627 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Telephones - mobile cellular
- total subscriptions: 84.1 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadcast media
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Internet users
- percent of population: 96% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total: 28.2 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transportation7 fields
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- G
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Railways
- total: 16,390 km (2020) 6,167 km electrified
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Merchant marine
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Ports
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Transportation - note
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Military and Security7 fields
- Military and security forces
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military expenditures
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military and security service personnel strengths
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military service age and obligation
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military deployments
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military - note
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Space4 fields
- Space agency/agencies
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Space program overview
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Key space-program milestones
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Terrorism1 fields
- Terrorist group(s)
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transnational Issues2 fields
The underlying United States government material is public domain. The Almanac’s reuse terms do not change the legal status of this preserved source layer.