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United kingdom

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
Theresa May
Legislature Parliament
House of Lords
House of Commons
Formation
1535 and 1542
24 March 1603
1 May 1707
1 January 1801
5 December 1922
• EEC accession
1 January 1973
Since 1999
Area
• Total
242,495 km2 (93,628 sq mi) (78th)
• Water (%)
1.34
Population
• 2016 estimate
65,110,000 (22nd)
• 2011 census
63,181,775 (22nd)
• Density
255.6/km2 (662.0/sq mi) (51st)
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
Scots: Unitit Kinrick o Great Breetain an Northren Ireland
Ulster Scots: Claught Kängrick o Docht Brätain an Norlin Airlann
Welsh: Teyrnas Unedig Prydain Fawr a Gogledd Iwerddon
Cornish: Rywvaneth Unys Breten Veur ha Kledhbarth Iwerdhon
Scottish Gaelic: Rìoghachd Aonaichte Bhreatainn is Èireann a Tuath
Irish: Ríocht Aontaithe na Breataine Móire agus Thuaisceart Éireann

– 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-south-west, 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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