Countries of the World:
Resources about United Kingdom including maps, facts about the land, people,
history, government, political conditions, and economy.
Economy of United Kingdom
GDP (at current market prices, 2009): $2.184 trillion.
Annual growth rate (2009): -4.8%.
Per capita GDP (at current market prices, 2009): $35,334.
Natural resources: Coal, oil, natural gas, tin, limestone,
iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica.
Agriculture (1.2% of GDP): Products--cereals, oilseed,
potatoes, vegetables, cattle, sheep, poultry, fish.
Industry: Types--steel, heavy engineering and metal
manufacturing, textiles, motor vehicles and aircraft,
construction (23.8% of GDP), electronics, chemicals.
Services (75% of GDP): Types--financial, business,
distribution, transport, communication, hotels.
Trade (2009): Exports of goods and services--$351.3 billion:
manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages,
tobacco. Major markets--U.S., European Union. Imports of goods
and services--$473.6 billion: manufactured goods, machinery,
fuels, foodstuffs. Major suppliers--U.S., European Union, and
Geography of United Kingdom
Area: 243,000 sq. km. (93,000 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than
Cities: Capital--London (metropolitan pop. about 7.56
million). Other cities--Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Sheffield,
Liverpool, Bradford, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, Belfast.
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: Generally mild and temperate; weather is subject to
frequent changes but to few extremes of temperature.
Government of United Kingdom
Type: Constitutional monarchy.
Constitution: Unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law
Branches: Executive--monarch (head of state), prime minister
(head of government), cabinet. Legislative--bicameral
Parliament: House of Commons, House of Lords; Scottish
Parliament, Welsh Assembly, and Northern Ireland Assembly.
Judicial--magistrates' courts, county courts, high courts,
appellate courts, House of Lords, Supreme Court.
Subdivisions: Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
(municipalities, counties, and parliamentary constituencies).
Political parties: Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrats, UK
Independence Party, British National Party, Green Party; also,
in Scotland--Scottish National Party. Wales--Plaid Cymru
(Party of Wales). Northern Ireland--Ulster Unionist Party,
Social Democratic and Labour Party, Democratic Unionist Party,
Sinn Fein, Alliance Party, Progressive Unionist Party.
Suffrage: British subjects and citizens of other Commonwealth
countries and the Irish Republic resident in the U.K., at 18.
Map of United Kingdom
This Map of United Kingdom shows the borders of the country,
as well as rivers, and cities including London the capital of
United Kingdom. (Maps from the U.S. State Department)
Official Name of United Kingdom
The Official Name of United Kingdom is the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland. (Facts from the U.S. State
People of United Kingdom
Nationality: Noun--Briton(s). Adjective--British.
Population (2010 est.): 62.2 million.
Annual population growth rate (2010 est.): 0.56%.
Major ethnic groups: British, Irish, West Indian, South Asian.
Major religions: Church of England (Anglican), Roman Catholic,
Church of Scotland (Presbyterian), Muslim.
Major languages: English, Welsh, Irish Gaelic, Scottish
Education: Years compulsory--12. Attendance--nearly 100%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (2009 est.)--4.69/1,000. Life
expectancy (2009 est.)--males 77.8 yrs.; females 82.1 yrs.;
total 79.9 years.
Work force (2009, 31.25 million): Services--80.4%; industry--
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