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United Kingdom

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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign country in northwestern Europe.

Europe-UK
Europe-UK

It is located off the coast of the European mainland. The UK is composed of four distinct countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

United Kingdom labelled map7 vector
United Kingdom labelled map7 vector

It includes the island of Great Britain and the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland. The nation also includes most smaller islands within the British Isles. The UK is surrounded by several bodies of water. These include the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, and the English Channel. It also sits by the Celtic Sea and the Irish Sea.

Territorial waters - United Kingdom
Territorial waters - United Kingdom

The political structure of the UK is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. This means it has a monarch and a system of elected government. The country operates through three distinct jurisdictions. These are England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own governments and parliaments. These bodies manage various devolved matters, which are specific powers given to local governments. London serves as the capital of both England and the entire United Kingdom.

Houses of Parliament in 2022 (cropped)
Houses of Parliament in 2022 (cropped)

Other national capitals include Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast.

Human history in this region stretches back many thousands of years. The islands have been continuously inhabited since the last retreat of the ice around 11,500 years ago.

Stonehenge2007 07 30
Stonehenge2007 07 30

Ancient cultures, such as the Insular Celtic, lived here during the prehistoric period. In AD 43, the Roman conquest of Britain began. This was followed by the arrival of Germanic Anglo-Saxon settlers around AD 450. In 1066, the Normans invaded and conquered England.

Bayeux Tapestry WillelmDux
Bayeux Tapestry WillelmDux

The Normans brought feudalism and French culture to the region. Over many centuries, these various groups and cultures influenced the development of the modern nation.

The formation of the current United Kingdom happened through several important treaties. In 1707, the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland united. This happened under the Treaty of Union to create the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Articles of Union between England and Scotland 28 Jan 1707
Articles of Union between England and Scotland 28 Jan 1707

Later, the Acts of Union 1800 incorporated the Kingdom of Ireland. This created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801. Following the partition of Ireland in 1922, most of Ireland became the Irish Free State. The Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 finally established the present name of the United Kingdom.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the UK was a dominant global power. It was the first country to become industrialised. This period is often called the Pax Britannica, lasting from 1815 to 1914. The British Empire was the leading economic power for most of the 1800s. This strength came from agricultural prosperity and massive industrial capacity. At its peak in the 1920s, the empire was the largest in history.

British Empire 1921
British Empire 1921

It encompassed around a quarter of the world's landmass and population. However, participation in the First and Second World Wars damaged this economic power. A global wave of decolonisation eventually led to the independence of most colonies.

Today, the UK maintains a highly developed and advanced economy. It ranks among the largest economies in the world by nominal GDP. The nation is also one of the world's largest exporters and importers. London has long been a principal global financial centre.

Bank-of-England
Bank-of-England

The UK is also a nuclear state with a very high defence budget. This allows it to maintain one of the strongest militaries in Europe. In 2024, the population of the United Kingdom was over 69 million people.

MODIS - Great Britain and Northern Ireland - 2012-06-04 during heat wave (cropped)
MODIS - Great Britain and Northern Ireland - 2012-06-04 during heat wave (cropped)

British culture exerts significant influence across the globe. This is often called soft power. This influence is visible in the legal and political systems of many former colonies. The UK also exports its language, literature, theatre, cinema, music, and sport. This cultural reach is especially strong in the Anglosphere and the Commonwealth. The UK remains a great power and participates in many international organisations. It continues to play a major role in global politics and trade.

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🖼️ Images & Media (43)
File:Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, both variants).svg
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022,...
United States Navy Band - God Save the Queen.ogg
File:Europe-UK (orthographic projection).svg
Europe-UK (orthographic projection).svg
File:Europe-UK.svg
Europe-UK.svg
File:United Kingdom (+overseas territories and crown dependencies) in the World (+Antarctica claims).svg
United Kingdom (+overseas territories and...
File:Territorial waters - United Kingdom.svg
Territorial waters - United Kingdom.svg
File:Stonehenge2007 07 30.jpg
Stonehenge2007 07 30.jpg
File:Roman Baths in Bath Spa, England - July 2006.jpg
Roman Baths in Bath Spa, England - July 2006.jpg
File:Bayeux Tapestry WillelmDux.jpg
Bayeux Tapestry WillelmDux.jpg
File:Articles of Union between England and Scotland 28 Jan 1707.png
Articles of Union between England and...
File:Victoria in her Coronation robes.jpg
Victoria in her Coronation robes.jpg
File:Wreaths Are Laid at the Cenotaph, London During Remembrance Sunday Service MOD 45152052.jpg
Wreaths Are Laid at the Cenotaph, London...

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