United Kingdom

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.

Languages & Population

Approximate Population: 60,776,238 (July 2007 est.)

Nationality (Noun): Briton(s), British (collective plural)

Nationality (Adjective): British

Official Language(s): English

Major Languages Spoken: English, Pushtu, Scots, Sindhi, Tagalog, Urdu, Welsh, Yiddish, Filipino

Country Facts

Country Name (long form): United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland

Country Name (short form): United Kingdom

Country Name (local long form): none

Country Name (local short form): none

Name of Capital: London

UTC Time Difference (from capital): UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Countries Near by, and Bordering United Kingdom: Ireland, Faroe Islands

Land Area: 241590 sq km

Water Area: 3230 sq km

Comparative Area: slightly smaller than Oregon

Total Land Boundry: 360 km

Coastline: 12,429 km

National Holiday: the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday

International Phone Code: 44

Currency Code: British pound (GBP)

Internet Country Code: .uk

US Embassy Location: 24 Grosvenor Square, London, W1A

US Embassy Mailing Address: PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040