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Great Britain and Northern Ireland

A flag featuring both cross and saltire in red, white and blue Coat of arms containing shield and crown in centre, flanked by lion and unicorn
Flag Royal coat of arms
Anthem: "God Save the Queen"
Two islands to the north-west of continental Europe. Highlighted are the larger island and the north-eastern fifth of the smaller island to the west.
Location of the  United Kingdom  (dark green)

– in Europe  (green & dark grey)
– in the European Union  (green)

Capital
and largest city
London
51°30′N 0°7′W / 51.500°N 0.117°W / 51.500; -0.117
Official language
and national language
English
Recognised regional
languages
Ethnic groups (2011)
Demonym
Government Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
 •  Monarch Elizabeth II
 •  Prime Minister Theresa May
Legislature Parliament
 •  Upper house House of Lords
 •  Lower house House of Commons
Formation
 •  Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 
 •  Union of the Crowns under James, King of Scots 24 March 1603 
 •  Acts of Union of England and Scotland 1 May 1707 
 •  Acts of Union of Great Britain and Ireland 1 January 1801 
 •  Irish Free State Constitution Act 5 December 1922 
Area
 •  Total 242,495 km2 (78th)
93,628 sq mi
 •  Water (%) 1.34
Population
 •  2016 estimate 65,110,000 (22nd)
 •  2011 census 63,181,775 (22nd)
 •  Density 255.6/km2 (51st)
661.9/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2016 estimate
 •  Total $2.79 trillion (9th)
 •  Per capita $42,514 (25th)
GDP (nominal) 2016 estimate
 •  Total $2.65 trillion (5th)
 •  Per capita $43,902 (13th)
Gini (2014)  31.6
medium · 33rd
HDI (2014) Increase 0.907
very high · 14th
Currency Pound sterling (GBP; £)
Time zone GMT(UTC​)
 •  Summer (DST) BST (UTC+1)
Date format dd/mm/yyyy (AD)
Drives on the left
Calling code +44
ISO 3166 code GB
Internet TLD .uk
Cornish: Rywvaneth Unys Breten Veur ha Kledhbarth Iwerdhon
Irish: Ríocht Aontaithe na Breataine Móire agus Thuaisceart Éireann
Scots: Unitit Kinrick o Great Breetain an Northren Ireland
Ulster Scots: Claught Kängrick o Docht Brätain an Norlin Airlann
Scottish Gaelic: Rìoghachd Aonaichte Bhreatainn is Èireann a Tuath
Welsh: Teyrnas Unedig Prydain Fawr a Gogledd Iwerddon

– in Europe  (green & dark grey)
– in the European Union  (green)

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a sovereign country in western Europe. Lying off the north-western coast of the European mainland, it includes the island of Great Britain (the name of which is also loosely applied to the whole country), the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and many smaller islands.Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that shares a land border with another sovereign state—the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the North Sea to its east, the English Channel to its south and the Celtic Sea to its south-southwest, giving it the 12th-longest coastline in the world. The Irish Sea lies between Great Britain and Ireland. With an area of 242,500 square kilometres (93,600 sq mi), the UK is the 78th-largest sovereign state in the world and the 11th-largest in Europe. It is also the 21st-most populous country, with an estimated 65.1 million inhabitants. Together, this makes it the fourth most densely populated country in the European Union.


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