The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland lies on the British Isles in north-west Europe; its area is about 244 thousand km², population about 69 million, and capital London. It is surrounded by the North Sea, the Irish Sea and the Atlantic; the English Channel separates it from France and its only land border is with Ireland. The form of government is a constitutional monarchy: King Charles III is head of state, the prime minister actually runs the government and parliament plays the decisive role. The king is also the formal head of 14 other independent states (Canada, Australia, New Zealand and others). The country is a unitary state made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; the other three have their own parliament or assembly. The UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020 (Brexit). Its nature: plains in the south-east, low and middle mountains in the north-west (highest point Ben Nevis, about 1,345 m); under the Gulf Stream and Atlantic winds the climate is temperate maritime, with mild winters and much rain. The North Sea has oil and gas, but output is falling, and coal mining has almost ended. More than 80 % of people live in cities (London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh); population growth depends mainly on immigration, and about 85 % live in England. Britain was the cradle of the Industrial Revolution; today services lead the economy, and London with New York is among the world’s biggest financial centres. In industry, cars, aerospace, chemicals and pharmaceuticals stand out; in farming, dairy-beef cattle and sheep, wheat and barley. It is a G7 member and one of the most visited countries.