Country profile

United Kingdom

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland · Northern Europe

About United Kingdom

United Kingdom (officially United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) is a country in Northern Europe, with London as its capital. It is home to roughly 69.49 million people, giving a population density of about 286 people per square kilometre. The country covers 242,900 km² of land and shares land borders with 1 neighbouring country. Its economy is valued at approximately $4T in nominal GDP (2025), and it records a Human Development Index of 0.946. The official currency is the British pound (GBP), and the main language is English.

How United Kingdom is governed

🏛 Constitutional monarchy (parliamentary)

Head of State

Monarch

Ceremonial head of state; symbolic, politically neutral.

Head of Government

Prime Minister

Holds executive power; leads the government.

Legislature

Parliament

Bicameral — House of Commons — 650 elected MPs; House of Lords — appointed & hereditary

Who holds the power?

The UK is a constitutional monarchy with an uncodified constitution. The monarch is the head of state but reigns rather than rules — the role is symbolic and politically neutral. Real power lies with the Prime Minister, who is the leader of the party commanding a majority in the elected House of Commons, and the Cabinet. Parliament is sovereign, meaning it can make or unmake any law, and there is no single written constitution or supreme court that can strike laws down on constitutional grounds in the American sense.

Key indicators

Latest available data · World Bank & UNDP.

💹 Economy

👥 People

🌍 Quality of Life

Travel & practical

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Fun facts about United Kingdom

• The United Kingdom is made up of four nations: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• London was founded around two thousand years ago by the Romans as Londinium.
• The UK has no single written constitution.
• United Kingdom is the 22nd most populous country in the world, with about 69.49 million people.
• By land area it is the 78th-largest country in the world, covering 242,900 km².
• It has the world's 5th-largest economy by nominal GDP ($4T).
• United Kingdom shares land borders with 1 country.

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Neighbouring countries

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