2013 Edition

Background

The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal 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, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The UK is also an active member of the EU, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999. The latter was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process, but devolution was fully completed in March 2010.

Area

243,610 sq km 241,930 sq km 1,680 sq km includes Rockall and Shetland Islands

total

243,610 sq km

water

1,680 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate

temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast

Coastline

12,429 km

Elevation extremes

The Fens -4 m Ben Nevis 1,343 m

highest point

Ben Nevis 1,343 m

lowest point

The Fens -4 m

Environment - current issues

continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and intends to meet the legally binding target and move toward a domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the government reduced the amount of industrial and commercial waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and recycled or composted at least 25% of household waste, increasing to 33% by 2015

Environment - international agreements

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

13.03 cu km/yr (58%/33%/9%) 213.2 cu m/yr (2008)

per capita

213.2 cu m/yr (2008)

total

13.03 cu km/yr (58%/33%/9%)

Geographic coordinates

54 00 N, 2 00 W

Geography - note

lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters

Irrigated land

2,280 sq km (2005)

Land boundaries

360 km Ireland 360 km

border countries

Ireland 360 km

total

360 km

Land use

24.88% 0.18% 74.93% (2011)

arable land

24.88%

other

74.93% (2011)

permanent crops

0.18%

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

12 nm 200 nm as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries

continental shelf

as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

winter windstorms; floods

Natural resources

coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land

Terrain

mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast

Total renewable water resources

147 cu km (2011)

Age structure

17.3% (male 5,625,040/female 5,346,815) 12.8% (male 4,158,813/female 3,986,831) 41.1% (male 13,250,434/female 12,807,328) 11.5% (male 3,589,345/female 3,680,392) 17.3% (male 4,877,079/female 6,073,497) (2013 est.)

0-14 years

17.3% (male 5,625,040/female 5,346,815)

15-24 years

12.8% (male 4,158,813/female 3,986,831)

25-54 years

41.1% (male 13,250,434/female 12,807,328)

55-64 years

11.5% (male 3,589,345/female 3,680,392)

65 years and over

17.3% (male 4,877,079/female 6,073,497) (2013 est.)

Birth rate

12.26 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

84% percent of women aged 16-49 (2008/09)

Death rate

9.33 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Dependency ratios

54 % 27.1 % 26.9 % 3.7 (2013)

elderly dependency ratio

26.9 %

potential support ratio

3.7 (2013)

total dependency ratio

54 %

youth dependency ratio

27.1 %

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2010 est.)

rural

100% of population

total

100% of population (2010 est.)

urban

100% of population

Education expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

white (of which English 83.6%, Scottish 8.6%, Welsh 4.9%, Northern Irish 2.9%) 92.1%, black 2%, Indian 1.8%, Pakistani 1.3%, mixed 1.2%, other 1.6% (2001 census)

Health expenditures

9.3% of GDP (2011)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

85,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

3 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

4.5 deaths/1,000 live births 4.93 deaths/1,000 live births 4.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

female

4.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

total

4.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English the following are recognized regional languages: Scots (about 30% of the population of Scotland), Scottish Gaelic (about 60,000 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 in Cornwall) (2012)

the following are recognized regional languages

Scots (about 30% of the population of Scotland), Scottish Gaelic (about 60,000 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 in Cornwall) (2012)

Life expectancy at birth

80.29 years 78.16 years 82.54 years (2013 est.)

female

82.54 years (2013 est.)

total population

80.29 years

Literacy

age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling 99% 99% 99% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling

female

99% (2003 est.)

male

99%

total population

99%

Major urban areas - population

LONDON (capital) 8.615 million; Birmingham 2.296 million; Manchester 2.247 million; West Yorkshire 1.541 million; Glasgow 1.166 million (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

12 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

40.3 years 39.1 years 41.4 years (2013 est.)

female

41.4 years (2013 est.)

male

39.1 years

total

40.3 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

30 (2006 est.)

Nationality

Briton(s), British (collective plural) British

adjective

British

noun

Briton(s), British (collective plural)

Net migration rate

2.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

26.9% (2008)

Physicians density

2.77 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

63,395,574 (July 2013 est.)

Population growth rate

0.55% (2013 est.)

Religions

Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified or none 23.1% (2001 census)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2010 est.)

rural

100% of population

total

100% of population (2010 est.)

urban

100% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

17 years 16 years 17 years (2010)

female

17 years (2010)

male

16 years

total

17 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.8 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.03 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.8 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (2013 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

20% 22% 17.7% (2011)

female

17.7% (2011)

total

20%

Urbanization

80% of total population (2010) 0.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

80% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

27 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 56 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*) Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Worcestershire 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 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 Bath and North East Somerset, Blackburn with Darwen, Bedford, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove, City of Bristol, Central Bedfordshire, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Cornwall, Darlington, Derby, 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 Somerset, Northumberland*, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Poole, 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, Wiltshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham, York 26 district council areas Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon, Derry, Down, Dungannon and South Tyrone, Fermanagh, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne, Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, Strabane 32 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 22 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

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

district council areas

Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon, Derry, Down, Dungannon and South Tyrone, Fermanagh, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne, Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, Strabane

England

27 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 56 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*)

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

Northern Ireland

26 district council areas

Scotland

32 council areas

two-tier counties

Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Worcestershire

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

Wales

22 unitary authorities

Capital

London 51 30 N, 0 05 W UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October applies to the United Kingdom proper, not to its overseas dependencies or territories

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

51 30 N, 0 05 W

name

London

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice; note - recent additions include the Human Rights Act of 1998, the Constitutional Reform and GovernanceAct 2010, the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011, and the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (2011)

Country name

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; note - Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales United Kingdom UK

abbreviation

UK

conventional long form

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; note - Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales

conventional short form

United Kingdom

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Matthew W. BARZUN (since 15 August 2013) 24 Grosvenor Square, London, W1K 6AH note - a new embassy is scheduled to open by the end of 2017 in the Nine Elms area of Wandsworth PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040 [44] (0) 20 7499-9000 [44] (0) 20 7629-9124 Belfast, Edinburgh

chief of mission

Ambassador Matthew W. BARZUN (since 15 August 2013)

consulate(s) general

Belfast, Edinburgh

embassy

24 Grosvenor Square, London, W1K 6AH note - a new embassy is scheduled to open by the end of 2017 in the Nine Elms area of Wandsworth

FAX

[44] (0) 20 7629-9124

mailing address

PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040

telephone

[44] (0) 20 7499-9000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Peter John WESTMACOTT (since 17 January 2012) 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 588-6500 [1] (202) 588-7850 Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco Dallas, Orlando (FL)

chancery

3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Peter John WESTMACOTT (since 17 January 2012)

consulate(s)

Dallas, Orlando (FL)

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 588-7850

telephone

[1] (202) 588-6500

Executive branch

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born 14 November 1948) Prime Minister David CAMERON (since 11 May 2010) Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born 14 November 1948)

elections

the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister

head of government

Prime Minister David CAMERON (since 11 May 2010)

Flag description

blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); properly known as the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth countries and their constituent states or provinces, and British overseas territories

Government type

constitutional monarchy and Commonwealth realm

Independence

12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act establishes current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); notable earlier dates: 927 (minor English kingdoms united); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union formally incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union formally unite England and Scotland as Great Britain); 1 January 1801 (Acts of Union formally 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 remain part of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland)

12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act establishes current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); notable earlier dates

927 (minor English kingdoms united); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union formally incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union formally unite England and Scotland as Great Britain); 1 January 1801 (Acts of Union formally 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 remain part of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, C, CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EITI (implementing country), ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), 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, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNSC (permanent), UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (consists of 12 justices including the court president and deputy president) note - the Supreme Court was established by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and implemented in October 2009, replacing the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords as the highest court in the United Kingdom judge candidates selected by an independent committee of several judicial commissions, followed by their recommendations to the prime minister, and appointed by Her Majesty The Queen; justices appointed during period of good behavior England and Wales - Court of Appeal (civil and criminal divisions); High Court; Crown Court; County Courts; Magistrates' Courts; Scotland - Court of Sessions; Sherrif Courts; High Court of Justiciary; tribunals; Northern Ireland - Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland; High Court; county courts; magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals

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, followed by their recommendations to the prime minister, and appointed by Her Majesty The Queen; justices appointed during period of good behavior

subordinate courts

England and Wales - Court of Appeal (civil and criminal divisions); High Court; Crown Court; County Courts; Magistrates' Courts; Scotland - Court of Sessions; Sherrif Courts; High Court of Justiciary; tribunals; Northern Ireland - Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland; High Court; county courts; magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals

Legal system

common law system; has nonbinding judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of House of Lords; note - membership is not fixed (788 seats; consisting of approximately 670 life peers, 92 hereditary peers, and 26 clergy - as of 1 April 2012) and House of Commons (650 seats since 2010 elections; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms unless the House is dissolved earlier) House of Lords - no elections (note - in 1999, as provided by the House of Lords Act, elections were held in the House of Lords to determine the 92 hereditary peers who would remain there; elections are held only as vacancies in the hereditary peerage arise); House of Commons - last held on 6 May 2010 (next to be held by June 2015) House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Conservative 36.1%, Labor 29%, Liberal Democrats 23%, other 11.9%; seats by party - Conservative 305, Labor 258, Liberal Democrat 57, other 30 in 1998 elections were held for a Northern Ireland Assembly (because of unresolved disputes among existing parties, the transfer of power from London to Northern Ireland came only at the end of 1999 and has been suspended four times, the latest occurring in October 2002 and lasting until 8 May 2007); in 1999, the UK held the first elections for a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly; the most recent elections for the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Scottish Parliament, and the Welsh Assembly took place in May 2011

election results

House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Conservative 36.1%, Labor 29%, Liberal Democrats 23%, other 11.9%; seats by party - Conservative 305, Labor 258, Liberal Democrat 57, other 30

elections

House of Lords - no elections (note - in 1999, as provided by the House of Lords Act, elections were held in the House of Lords to determine the 92 hereditary peers who would remain there; elections are held only as vacancies in the hereditary peerage arise); House of Commons - last held on 6 May 2010 (next to be held by June 2015)

National anthem

"God Save the Queen" unknown in use since 1745; by tradition, the song serves as both the national and royal anthem of the United Kingdom; 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 of many Commonwealth nations

lyrics/music

unknown

name

"God Save the Queen"

National holiday

the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday

National symbol(s)

lion (Britain in general); lion (England); lion, unicorn (Scotland); dragon (Wales); harp (Northern Ireland)

Political parties and leaders

Conservative [David CAMERON] Democratic Unionist Party or DUP (Northern Ireland) [Peter ROBINSON] Labor Party [Ed MILIBAND] Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) [Nick CLEGG] Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru) [Leanne WOOD] Scottish National Party or SNP [Alex SALMOND] Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) [Gerry ADAMS] Social Democratic and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland) [Alasdair MCDONNELL] Ulster Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) [Mike NESBITT] United Kingdom Independent Party or UKIP [Nigel FARAGE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Confederation of British Industry National Farmers' Union Trades Union Congress

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fish

Budget

$986.1 billion $1.186 trillion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$1.186 trillion (2012 est.)

revenues

$986.1 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-8.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.5% (31 December 2012 est.) 0.5% (31 December 2011 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

4.22% (31 December 2012 est.) 4.08% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$-93.6 billion (2012 est.) $-32.8 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$10.09 trillion (31 December 2012) $9.961 trillion (31 December 2011)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40 (FY08/09) 34 (2005)

Economy - overview

The UK, a leading trading power and financial center, is the second largest economy in Europe after Germany. Over the past two decades, the government has greatly reduced public ownership and contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with less than 2% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil resources, but its oil and natural gas reserves are declining and the UK became a net importer of energy in 2005. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to decline in importance. After emerging from recession in 1992, Britain's economy enjoyed the longest period of expansion on record during which time growth outpaced most of Western Europe. In 2008, however, the global financial crisis hit the economy particularly hard, due to the importance of its financial sector. Sharply declining home prices, high consumer debt, and the global economic slowdown compounded Britain's economic problems, pushing the economy into recession in the latter half of 2008 and prompting the then BROWN (Labour) government to implement a number of measures to stimulate the economy and stabilize the financial markets; these include nationalizing parts of the banking system, temporarily cutting taxes, suspending public sector borrowing rules, and moving forward public spending on capital projects. Facing burgeoning public deficits and debt levels, in 2010 the CAMERON-led coalition government (between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats) initiated a five-year austerity program, which aimed to lower London's budget deficit from over 10% of GDP in 2010 to nearly 1% by 2015. In November 2011, Chancellor of the Exchequer George OSBORNE announced additional austerity measures through 2017 because of slower-than-expected economic growth and the impact of the euro-zone debt crisis. The CAMERON government raised the value added tax from 17.5% to 20% in 2011. It has pledged to reduce the corporation tax rate to 21% by 2014. The Bank of England (BoE) implemented an asset purchase program of up to £375 billion (approximately $605 billion) as of December 2012. During times of economic crisis, the BoE coordinates interest rate moves with the European Central Bank, but Britain remains outside the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). In 2012, weak consumer spending and subdued business investment weighed on the economy. GDP fell 0.1%, and the budget deficit remained stubbornly high at 7.7% of GDP. Public debt continued to increase.

Exchange rates

British pounds (GBP) per US dollar - 0.63 (2012 est.) 0.62 (2011 est.) 0.65 (2010 est.) 0.62 (2009) 0.53 (2008)

Exports

$473 billion (2012 est.) $479.1 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, tobacco

Exports - partners

Germany 11.3%, US 10.5%, Netherlands 8.8%, France 7.4%, Ireland 6.2%, Belgium 5.1% (2012)

Fiscal year

6 April - 5 April

GDP - composition, by end use

65.8% 21.8% 14.3% 0.3% 31.6% -33.8% (2012 est.)

exports of goods and services

31.6%

government consumption

21.8%

household consumption

65.8%

imports of goods and services

-33.8%

investment in fixed capital

14.3%

investment in inventories

0.3%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

0.7% 20.8% 78.5% (2012 est.)

agriculture

0.7%

industry

20.8%

services

78.5% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$36,600 (2012 est.) $36,800 (2011 est.) $36,700 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.2% (2012 est.) 1.1% (2011 est.) 1.7% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.443 trillion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.313 trillion (2012 est.) $2.309 trillion (2011 est.) $2.283 trillion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Gross national saving

11% of GDP (2012 est.) 13.7% of GDP (2011 est.) 11.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.1% 28.5% (1999)

highest 10%

28.5% (1999)

lowest 10%

2.1%

Imports

$643.5 billion (2012 est.) $639.9 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Germany 12.6%, China 8%, Netherlands 7.5%, US 6.7%, France 5.4%, Belgium 4.4%, Norway 4% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

-4% (2012 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2012 est.) 4.5% (2011 est.)

Labor force

32.07 million (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

1.4% 18.2% 80.4% (2006 est.)

agriculture

1.4%

industry

18.2%

services

80.4% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$ NA (31 December 2011) $3.107 trillion (31 December 2010) $2.796 trillion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

14% (2006 est.)

Public debt

88.7% of GDP (2012 est.) 84.3% of GDP (2011 est.) data cover general government debt, and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$105.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $94.54 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$3.884 trillion (31 December 2011 est.) $4.116 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.808 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.696 trillion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$1.321 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.185 trillion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$3.756 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) $3.671 trillion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$101.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $92.77 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

40.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

8% (2012 est.) 8.1% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

496.8 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

740,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

965,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

1.009 million bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

3.122 billion bbl (1 January 2013 es)

Electricity - consumption

329.3 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - exports

1.747 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

75.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

1.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

11.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

8.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - imports

13.79 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

93.45 million kW (2010 est.)

Electricity - production

342.1 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

82.21 billion cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - exports

11.97 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

49.1 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

40.99 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

246 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1.608 million bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

679,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

680,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

1.549 million bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

public service broadcaster, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world; BBC operates multiple TV networks with regional and local TV service; a mixed system of public and commercial TV broadcasters along with satellite and cable systems provide access to hundreds of TV stations throughout the world; BBC operates multiple national, regional, and local radio networks with multiple transmission sites; a large number of commercial radio stations as well as satellite radio services are available (2008)

Internet country code

.uk

Internet hosts

8.107 million (2012)

Internet users

51.444 million (2009)

Telephone system

technologically advanced domestic and international system equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and fiber-optic systems country code - 44; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 large international switching centers (2011)

domestic

equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and fiber-optic systems

general assessment

technologically advanced domestic and international system

international

country code - 44; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 large international switching centers (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

33.01 million (2012)

Telephones - mobile cellular

82.109 million (2012)

Airports

460 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

66 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

89

2,438 to 3,047 m

29

914 to 1,523 m

80

over 3,047 m

7

total

271

under 914 m

66 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

160 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

26

total

189

Heliports

9 (2013)

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 33, cargo 76, carrier 4, chemical tanker 58, container 178, liquefied gas 6, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 66, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 31, vehicle carrier 25 271 (Australia 1, Bermuda 6, China 7, Denmark 43, France 39, Germany 59, Hong Kong 12, Ireland 1, Italy 3, Japan 5, Netherlands 1, Norway 32, Sweden 28, Taiwan 11, Tanzania 1, UAE 8, US 14) 308 (Algeria 15, Antigua and Barbuda 1, Argentina 2, Australia 5, Bahamas 18, Barbados 6, Belgium 2, Belize 4, Bermuda 14, Bolivia 1, Brunei 2, Cabo Verde 1, Cambodia 1, Cayman Islands 2, Comoros 1, Cook Islands 2, Cyprus 7, Georgia 5, Gibraltar 6, Greece 6, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 33, Indonesia 2, Italy 2, Liberia 22, Liberia 32, Luxembourg 5, Malta 21, Marshall Islands 12, Marshall Islands 3, Moldova 3, Nigeria 2, NZ 1, Panama 37, Panama 5, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 6, Thailand 6, Tonga 1, US 4, unknown 1) (2010)

foreign-owned

271 (Australia 1, Bermuda 6, China 7, Denmark 43, France 39, Germany 59, Hong Kong 12, Ireland 1, Italy 3, Japan 5, Netherlands 1, Norway 32, Sweden 28, Taiwan 11, Tanzania 1, UAE 8, US 14)

registered in other countries

308 (Algeria 15, Antigua and Barbuda 1, Argentina 2, Australia 5, Bahamas 18, Barbados 6, Belgium 2, Belize 4, Bermuda 14, Bolivia 1, Brunei 2, Cabo Verde 1, Cambodia 1, Cayman Islands 2, Comoros 1, Cook Islands 2, Cyprus 7, Georgia 5, Gibraltar 6, Greece 6, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 33, Indonesia 2, Italy 2, Liberia 22, Liberia 32, Luxembourg 5, Malta 21, Marshall Islands 12, Marshall Islands 3, Moldova 3, Nigeria 2, NZ 1, Panama 37, Panama 5, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 6, Thailand 6, Tonga 1, US 4, unknown 1) (2010)

total

504

Pipelines

condensate 502 km; condensate/gas 9 km; gas 28,603 km; liquid petroleum gas 59 km; oil 5,256 km; oil/gas/water 175 km; refined products 4,919 km; water 255 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

Dover, Felixstowe, Immingham, Liverpool, London, Southampton, Teesport (England); Forth Ports (Scotland); Milford Haven (Wales) Fawley Marine terminal, Liverpool Bay terminal (England); Braefoot Bay terminal, Finnart oil terminal, Hound Point terminal (Scotland)

oil terminals

Fawley Marine terminal, Liverpool Bay terminal (England); Braefoot Bay terminal, Finnart oil terminal, Hound Point terminal (Scotland)

Railways

16,454 km 303 km 1.600-m gauge (in Northern Ireland) 16,151 km 1.435-m gauge (5,248 km electrified) (2008)

standard gauge

16,151 km 1.435-m gauge (5,248 km electrified) (2008)

total

16,454 km

Roadways

394,428 km 394,428 km (includes 3,519 km of expressways) (2009)

total

394,428 km

Waterways

3,200 km (620 km used for commerce) (2009)

Manpower available for military service

14,856,917 14,307,316 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

14,307,316 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

14,856,917

Manpower fit for military service

12,255,452 11,779,679 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

11,779,679 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

12,255,452

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

383,989 365,491 (2010 est.)

female

365,491 (2010 est.)

male

383,989

Military branches

Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines), Royal Air Force (2013)

Military expenditures

2.5% of GDP (2012)

Military service age and obligation

16-33 years of age (officers 17-28) for voluntary military service (with parental consent under 18); no conscription; women serve in military services, but are excluded from ground combat positions and some naval postings; as of October 2009, women comprised 12.1% of officers and 9% of enlisted personnel in the regular forces; must be citizen of the UK, Commonwealth, or Republic of Ireland; reservists serve a minimum of 3 years, to age 45 or 55; 17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service by Nepalese citizens in the Brigade of Gurkhas; 16-34 years of age for voluntary military service by Papua New Guinean citizens (2012)

Disputes - international

in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement between the UK and Spain; the Government of Gibraltar insisted on equal participation in talks between the two countries; Spain disapproved of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory); in 2001, the former inhabitants of the archipelago, evicted 1967 - 1973, were granted U.K. citizenship and the right of return, followed by Orders in Council in 2004 that banned rehabitation, a High Court ruling reversed the ban, a Court of Appeal refusal to hear the case, and a Law Lords' decision in 2008 denied the right of return; in addition, the United Kingdom created the world's largest marine protection area around the Chagos islands prohibiting the extraction of any natural resources therein; UK rejects sovereignty talks requested by Argentina, which still claims the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory) overlaps Argentine claim and partially overlaps Chilean claim; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

Illicit drugs

producer of limited amounts of synthetic drugs and synthetic precursor chemicals; major consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and synthetic drugs; money-laundering center

Refugees and internally displaced persons

15,132 (Somalia); 12,155 (Zimbabwe); 11,428 (Iran); 9,901 (Eritrea); 9,842 (Afghanistan); 5,752 (Iraq) (2012) 205 (2012)

refugees (country of origin)

15,132 (Somalia); 12,155 (Zimbabwe); 11,428 (Iran); 9,901 (Eritrea); 9,842 (Afghanistan); 5,752 (Iraq) (2012)

stateless persons

205 (2012)