Must know facts about the UK
by Leanne Shrosbree | Apr 20, 2021
If you’re not sure where to start your UK research, have a look at some of the information below. This three-minute crash course will give you the essential information, figures and facts about the United Kingdom.
Understanding the United Kingdom
The UK is short for "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
The phase was used to name the political union of these countries. The UK is a fully sovereign state in the same way as France or the US. But, and this is where it gets odd, the UK is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The four nations that make up the UK are also countries in their own right and have a certain extent of autonomy. People also see themselves separately and identify with the unique culture of each of the four nations. People will usually refer to themselves as either Welsh, Scottish, Irish or English depending on where they are from and might get offended if you call them “British”.
Great Britain
The term "Great Britain" refers to a landmass, not a country. The term "Great" is used simply because it is the largest island in the British Isles, with the countries of England, Scotland and Wales within its shores. Although it has also been said that ‘Great’ was stuck on the front of ‘Britain’ (the Roman word Britannia) to differentiate Britain from its neighbour, Brittany, in Northern France.
Capital cities of the UK
Country | Capital | The population of the capital * |
England | London | 9,304,000 |
Scotland | Edinburgh | 537,000 |
Northern Ireland | Belfast | 631,000 |
Wales | Cardiff | 478,000 |
*Estimated, 2020. Source: Worldometer
As of 2020, the approximate population size of the whole of the UK is 67.8 million people.
Official languages
The UK’s official language is English and English is the most commonly spoken language.
However, you will hear:
Welsh in Wales.
Gaelic and Scots in Scotland
Irish and Ulster-Scots in Northern Ireland
Government
The UK is a constitutional monarchy and a representative democracy.
The monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II, is recognized as the head of state. The sovereign of the UK also acts as head of state of fifteen other Commonwealth countries, putting the UK in a union with those states. The Crown has sovereignty over the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey.
The elected Prime Minister is the head of government. The current Prime Minister is Borris Johnson who is the leader of the Conservative Party (often referred to as the Tories).
Economic profile
The UK is a leading trading power and a financial centre. Agriculture is an important industry and highly efficient. Primary energy, like coal and oil, are major contributors to the economy, but services like banking and insurance are the greatest contributors.
Currency
Britain uses the Pound Sterling. The sign for the Great British Pound (GBP) is £.
Time zone and Climate
Season | Time zone | Climate |
Summer (June-August) | UTC + 1 | 14 - 25° C |
Winter months (December-February) | (UTC) | 1 - 4° C |
Major UK holidays 2021
Date | Holiday |
Friday, 02 April | Good Friday |
Monday, 05 April | Easter Monday |
Monday, 03 May | Early May bank holiday |
Monday, 31 May | Spring bank holiday |
Monday, 30 August | Summer bank holiday |
Monday, 27 December | Christmas Day (substitute day) |
Tuesday, 28 December | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Weights and measures
Historically, the UK used the imperial system. The metric system is now more commonly used, with the exception of a few items. For example, distance and speed are measured in miles and miles per hour.
Electricity
Voltage is 240 volts AC at 50HZ. Appliances generally use standard 3-pin square plugs and sockets.
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