United Kingdom (UK) Information Guide & Facts

 United Kingdom

Country name: conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; conventional short form: United Kingdom; abbreviation: UK
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
Geographic coordinates: 54 00 N, 2 00 W  
Area: total: 244,820 sq km; water: 3,230 sq km; note: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands; land: 241,590 sq km 
Climate: temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
Terrain: mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Fenland -4 m; highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m
Population: 59,778,002 (July 2002 est.)
Ethnic groups: English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh 1.9%, Ulster 1.8%, West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%
Religions: Anglican and Roman Catholic 40 million, Muslim 1.5 million, Presbyterian 800,000, Methodist 760,000, Sikh 500,000, Hindu 500,000, Jewish 350,000 
Languages: English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)

History & Heritage

The history and heritage of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would take a lifetime to explore. Thousands of historic sites attract millions of visitors: the Royal palaces, abbeys, museums and cathedrals of London and the regions; the Tower of London; Warwickshire, Carmarthen, Fyvie and Beaumaris castles, among many wonderful castles; many fine country houses; Hadrian’s Wall and Offa’s Dyke; the Georgian crescents and Roman bathing facilities of Bath; the original Cutty Sark and earlier 16th century Mary Rose sailing ships; prehistoric Stonehenge and countless cromlechs, standing stones and other ancient sites; whisky distilleries in Scotland; tin and lead mines in Cornwall.
People are constantly opening their eyes to the heritage that lies at their own doorsteps. It may be the discovery of famous writers, poets and inventors who found their inspiration here or the realisation that most of the Victorian bridges, railways, banks and municipal buildings are still in use today. The buildings and spaces of the UK’s towns and cities reveal generation upon generation of event and change: war, strife, prosperity, invention and cultural influence. A rebuilt High Street in Exeter, badly bombed in the Second World War, abuts against the ancient Guildhall and runs close to a fine medieval cathedral and city walls. A great many parts of the UK are like this, with ancient, old and modern blending seamlessly together.
As inter-city trains speed across the countryside, passengers may notice the occasional grassy mounds which are ancient Anglo-Saxon and Viking burial places. They may also see ancient castles, megalithic standing stones, evidence of medieval strip-farmed fields, hills surmounted by Iron Age forts. Most of these are well documented and properly protected. But new discoveries are made every year.

Arts & Culture

The UK has an extraordinarily rich and diverse artistic heritage. British poets, playwrights, musicians, painters and filmmakers have left works that continue to be enjoyed and admired all over the world. Today, the massive scope of artistic expression in the UK, from biting political satire to sublime music that mixes genres from different continents, reflects the personal freedom, prosperity and cultural diversity of British people. In all its forms, art is a common language that is understood internationally.
Government recognises and encourages the substantial contribution to the economy made by the 'creative industries.' These industries include advertising, architecture, the art and antiques market, crafts, design, designer fashion, film and video, interactive leisure software, music, the performing arts, publishing, software and computer services, television and radio. In 2000, they contributed more than £112 billion to the UK economy and are estimated to be growing at about twice the rate of the UK economy as a whole. In addition to support received through the various arts councils in the UK, and the regional arts boards, arts organisations and individuals have benefited enormously from National Lottery funds.

Science, Technology & Environment

The UK is a powerhouse of knowledge and innovation, and is internationally renowned for its excellence in scientific research and development (R&D). British scientists have won more Nobel Prizes (over 70) than any other country except the USA.
The UK is an R&D world leader in life sciences, materials and physical sciences, chemicals, electronics and aerospace. One third of the mapping of the human genome was carried out in the UK and thousands of scientists access this data every day. The UK is also home to the world’s brightest pulsed source of neutron and muon particles which allow scientists to explore the structure and dynamics of materials. Protecting global biodiversity, the UK’s Millennium Seed Bank is one of the largest international conservation projects ever undertaken.
More than £16 billion each year is spent on R&D, a third of this by the Government. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is ultimately responsible for science and technology issues, supported by the Office of Science and Technology (OST). OST controls seven government-financed Research Councils which support a wide range of pure or basic research.

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