As the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland played
a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith, 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 withdraw 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, a founding member of NATO, and of the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy; it currently
is weighing the degree of its integration with continental Europe. A member of the EU, it chose to remain outside the Economic
and Monetary Union for the time being. Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK. The Scottish Parliament,
the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999, but the latter was suspended
until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process.
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
Area
Total
Land
Water
244820 sq km
241590 sq km
3230 sq km
Population
Number: 60776238 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14
15-64
65+
Percentage share (count, rate)
17.2% (male 5,349,053/female 5,095,837)
67% (male 20,605,031/female 20,104,313)
15.8% (male 4,123,464/female 5,498,540)
Population grow rate: 0.275% (2007)
Birth rate: 10.67 (2007)
Death rate: 10.09 (2007)
Net migration rate: 2.17 (2007)
Sex birth rate: 1.05 male(s)/female (2007)
Sex rate
0-14
15-64
65+
1.05 male(s)/female 0-14
1.025 male(s)/female 15-64
Infant mortality
Total
Male
Female
5.01 total
5.58 deaths/1,000 live births male
4.4 deaths/1,000 live births female
Life expectancy
Total
Male
Female
78.7 years total
76.23 years male
81.3 years female
1.66 (2007)
Leteracy (age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling)
Total
Male
Female
99% total
99% male
99% female
Economy
Gross domestic product - Purchasing power parity: 1.928e+12 (2006)
Gross domestic product - Real growth rate: 2.8% (2006)
Gross domestic product - Per capita: 31800 (2006)
Unemployment rate: 2.9
Population below poverty line: 17
Others
Internet - Country code: uk
Internet - Hosts: 6.065 million (2006)
Internet - Users: 33534000.0 (2006)