Geography

Economics

Demographics

Military

Politics

Surface

Surface (in square kilometers)

Surface (in square miles)

Surface (water)

Water Surface (in square kilometers)

Water Surface (in square miles)

Share of water (%)

Temperature

Average temperature (in Celcius)

Average temperature (in Farenheit)

Average high temperature (in Celcius)

Average high temperature (in Farenheit)

Average low temperature (in Celcius)

Average low temperature (in Farenheit)

Rainfall

Average rainfall (mm)

Average rainfall (inch)

Distance to other capitals (kilometers)

Distance to other capitals (miles)

Proximity

Economic organizations

Gross Domestic Product (US$)

Gross Domestic Product per capita

Amount of memberships (economic organizations)

Absolute earnings for every 1$

Relative earnings

GDP in PPP per capita (in US$)

 

GDP in PPP per capita

Gross Domestic product (in million US$)

GDP per capita (in US$)

Surface GDP

GDP per square kilometer (in US$)

GDP per square mile(in US$)

Relative GDP in PPP

Population

Population density

Emigration

Immigration

Literacy

Health

Population density (in km2)

Population density (in mi2)

Religion

Christianity (share of the total population)

Islam (share of the total population)

Buddhism (share of the total population)

Hinduism (share of the total population)

Judaism (share of the total population)

Other religions (share of the total population)

Non-religious (share of the total population)

Military spending (in % of GDP)

Military spending

In total, the United Kingdom spends US$48.650 million on its military, or 1.8 percent of its GDP. This makes the United Kingdom the 8th highest military spender in the world and represents 2.53 percent of total global military expenditure. 

The military of the United Kingdom, the British Armed Forces, consist of an army, a Navy and an air force. It also has a nuclear arsenal which are mainly stationed in its submarines. The British Armed Forces has been active in more than 150 conflicts over the last 300 years and has some of the best military equipment. It also provides military training to many states around the world.  

Military membership

  • United Kingdom is also a member of 13 international military organizations. This makes it the 13th most militarily connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations: 
  • States with nuclear weapons 
  • Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation 
  • Member state of NATO 
  • Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) 
  • Conference on Disarmament 
  • Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons 
  • Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 
  • Wassenaar Arrangement 
  • Nuclear Suppliers Group 
  • Australia Group 
  • Missile Technology Control Regime 
  • International Atomic Energy Agency 
  • NATO 

Military membership

International wars

The United Kingdom has partaken in 121 international wars. These are: 

  • Thirty Years' War 1618-1648 
  • War of the Spanish Succession 1701-1714 
  • War of the Quadruple Alliance 1718-1710 
  • Polish succession war 1733-1739 
  • Seven Years' War 1756-1763 
  • War of the First Coalition 1791-1797 
  • War of the League of Cambrai 1508-1516 
  • Italian War of 1511–16 
  • War of the League of Cognac 1516-1530 
  • Italian War of 1541–46 
  • Italian War of 1551–59 
  • Eighty Years' War 1568-1648 
  • Second Desmond Rebellion 1579-1583 
  • War of the Portuguese Succession 1580-1583 
  • Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) 
  • Nine Years' War 1594-1603 
  • Dutch–Portuguese War 1601-1663 
  • Uskok War 1615-1618 
  • First Anglo-Dutch War 1651-1654 
  • Second Anglo-Dutch War 1665-1667 
  • War of Devolution 1667-1668 
  • Franco-Dutch War 1671-1678 
  • Third Anglo-Dutch War 1671-1674 
  • Nine Years' War 1688-1697 
  • King William's War 1689-1697 
  • Williamite War in Ireland 1689-1691 
  • Great Northern War 1700-1711 
  • Queen Anne's War 1701-1713 
  • Chickasaw Wars 1711-1763 
  • Anglo-Spanish War (1717–1719) 
  • War of Jenkins' Ear 1739-1748 
  • King George's War 1744-1748 
  • Jacobite rising of 1745 1745-1746 
  • First Carnatic War 1746-1748 
  • Second Carnatic War 1749-1754 
  • French and Indian War 
  • Fantastic War 1761-1763 
  • American Revolutionary War 1775-1783 
  • Anglo-Spanish War 1779-1783 
  • Fourth Anglo-Dutch War 1780-1784 
  • Haitian Revolution 1791-1804 
  • War in the Vendée 1793-1796 
  • Anglo-Spanish War (1796–1808) 
  • War of the Second Coalition 1798-1801 
  • Irish Rebellion of 1798 1798-1798 
  • Third Xhosa War 1799-1803 
  • Napoleonic Wars 1803-1815 
  • Battle of Suriname 1804-1804 
  • British invasions of the Río de la Plata 
  • Ashanti–Fante War 1806-1807 
  • Peruvian War of Independence 1811-1816 
  • War of 1811 1811-1815 
  • " Hundred Days war 1815-1815" 
  • First Anglo-Ashanti War 1813-1831 
  • Egyptian–Ottoman War 1839–41 
  • First Anglo-Afghan War 1839-1841 
  • Second Anglo-Burmese War 1851-1851 
  • Crimean War 1853-1856 
  • Campaign of 1856–1857 
  • Second Opium War 1856-1860 
  • Pig War 1859-1871 
  • Franco-Mexican War 1861-1867 
  • Second Anglo-Ashanti War 1863-1864 
  • Bhutan War 1864-1865 
  • Boshin War 1868-1869 
  • British Expedition to Abyssinia 1868-1868 
  • Third Anglo-Ashanti War 1873-1874 
  • Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-1880 
  • First Boer War 1880-1881 
  • Third Anglo-Burmese War 1885-1885 
  • Hawaiian rebellions 1887-1895 
  • Fourth Anglo-Ashanti War 1895-1896 
  • Boxer Rebellion 1899-1901 
  • Second Boer War 1899-1901 
  • War of the Golden Stool 1900-1900 
  • Somaliland Campaign 1900-1910 
  • Venezuelan crisis of 1901–1903 
  • British expedition to Tibet 1903-1904 
  • World War I 1914-1918 
  • Noemvriana 1916-1916 
  • Russian Civil War 1917-1911 
  • Turkish War of Independence 1919-1913 
  • Third Anglo-Afghan War 1919-1919 
  • Irish War of Independence 1919-1911 
  • Greco-Turkish War 1919-1911 
  • 1911 bombardment of Yemen 1911-1911 
  • Zaraniq rebellion 1915-1919 
  • Arab revolt in Palestine 1936-1939 
  • Second Sino-Japanese War 1937-1945 
  • World War II 1939-1945 
  • Jewish insurgency in Palestine 1944-1947 
  • Korean conflict 1945-present 
  • Indonesian National Revolution 1945-1949 
  • Iran crisis 1945-1946 
  • Greek Civil War 1946-1949 
  • Malayan Emergency 1948-1960 
  • Korean War 1950-1953 
  • Anglo-Egyptian War 1951-1951 
  • Egyptian revolution 1951-1951 
  • Invasion of Hamasa 1951-1955 
  • Rebellion against British Ruling by Greek Cypriots  1955-1959 
  • Vietnam War 1955-1975 
  • Suez Crisis 1956-1956 
  • North Yemen Civil War 1961-1970 
  • Brunei revolt 1961-1961 
  • Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation 1963-1966 
  • Iran–Iraq War 1980-1988 
  • Falklands War 1981-1981 
  • Gulf War 1990-1991 
  • Sierra Leone Civil War 1991-2001 
  • Civil war in Afghanistan 1996-2001 
  • Second Liberian Civil War 1999-2003 

Military spending (in US$ million)

Membership (international political organizations)

In total, the United Kingdom is a member of 17 international political organizations. This makes it the 18th most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations: 

  • Member state of the United Nations 
  • United Nations Security Council 
  • International Labour Organization 
  • the Council of Europe 
  • European Cooperation in Science and Technology 
  • Group of Eight (G8) 
  • Pacific Regional Environment Programme 
  • Commonwealth of Nations 
  • International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property 
  • UNIDROIT 

Political Membership

Democracy/dictatorship rating

It is the 14th most democratic state in the world due to its free and fair elections which see peaceful transitions of power for more than 100 years. Some democratic drawbacks are discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities as well as increasing limitations on freedom of speech. 

Democracy/Dictatorship

The politics of the United Kingdom take place in the form of a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy where the British monarch is head of state and the Prime Minister is head of government. This democratic model has been replicated all around the world and consists of an upper house and a lower house where legislation is being passed. 

  • International Criminal Court 

  • Interpol 

  • Permanent Court of Arbitration 

  • Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels 

  • Global Green Growth Institute 

  • Western European and Others Group 

  • World Organization for Animal Health 

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If you want to know more about other states, click on the flag on the right to discover Uruguay.

United Kingdom 

Known for its industrial revolution, its monarchy as well as having the largest Empire in all of human history, the United Kingdom, or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and northern island, has left a large footprint in world history. During its ancient times, the area was inhabited by the Celts. At the start of the first century, the area was invaded by the Roman Empire which conquered half of the United kingdom’s largest island. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the area was split into smaller kingdoms from the fifth century until the 10th century when four large kingdoms merged into England. From the 10th century until the 18th century, England fought for full control over the territory with Ireland and Scotland where it defeated Ireland at the start of the 17th century and Scotland at the start of the 18th century. After this union, the United Kingdom defeated the French Empire of Napoleon and became a global hegemon from the 19th century until the start of the 20th century. During this time, the United Kingdom rapidly expanded its empire until the start of the first world war. Following the first world war, the United Kingdom started to gain economic problems as well as a separatist movement of Ireland which successfully seceded in 1921. Following the second world war, the United Kingdom lost its hegemonic position and started a process of decolonization. Today, the United kingdom still holds 17 overseas territories, but faces losing part of its own territory as the call for Scottish independence grows. .

 Located as an island state in Western Europe, the United Kingdom consists of a long and low-lying mountain range along its western border which descends into a flat plane to its east. Most of its terrain is covered by grasslands with the exception of swaths of forests throughout its mountain range. In total, the United Kingdom borders one state, which is Ireland. 

It is the 78th largest state with a total surface area of 243.707 square kilometers or 94.096 square miles. This makes United Kingdom slightly smaller than Uganda and slightly larger than Guinea. 

It has a total water surface area of 1.688 square kilometers or 653 square miles. This makes United Kingdom the 93rd largest state in the world. 

 

Below, a graph is shown which displays the absolute amount of water of each state in square kilometers and square miles.

Most of its drinking water is derived from groundwater with underground aquifers being the largest supplier. Its tap water is safe to drink.  

The United Kingdom has a subtropical oceanic climate with cool and wet winters and warm and wet summers which are largely influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. The average temperature is 8.9 degrees Celsius or 48 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes United Kingdom the 165th warmest state in the world. 

The average high temperature is 12.8 degrees Celsius or 55 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The average low temperature is 5.9 degrees Celsius or 42.6 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Its rain mainly occurs during the summer when warm oceanic winds blow over its territory. Its rainfall is unevenly spread out with its mountain range receiving 1.5 times as much as its flat plane. On average, United Kingdom receives 75.4 centimetres or 29.7 inches of rainfall per year which ranks it as the 125th highest in the world. 

The capital of the United Kingdom, London, is home to roughly 9 million people. The closest capital is Brussels, Belgium, with a distance of 309 kilometers or 192 miles. The capital that is the furthest removed is Wellington, New Zealand, with a distance of 18.816 kilometers or 11.692 miles.  

The economy of the United Kingdom is a developed economy which is based on a free market and global economy. As an industrialized state, the United Kingdom has a developed chemical, vehicle as well as a strong banking sector. Most of its products are exported to the United States and Germany which combined represent 25 percent of all exports. Most of its imports comes from the United States and China which combined represent 20 percent of all imports. 

The United Kingdom is a member of 20 international economic organizations. This makes it the 17th most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations: 

  • African development Bank 

  • Asian Development Bank 

  • Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 

  • Bank for International Settlements 

  • Caribbean Development Bank 

  • Financial Action Task Force 

  • Inter-American Development Bank 

  • International Monetary Fund 

  • World Bank Group 

  • World Customs Organization 

  • World Trade Organization 

  • OECD - Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development   

  • Group of Ten (economics) 

  • International Energy Agency 

  • Energy Charter Treaty 

  • Nuclear Energy Agency 

  • International Renewable Energy Agency 

  • International Solar Alliance 

  • G20 

  • Advisory Centre on World Trade Organization Law 

It has a GDP of US$2.732.928 million, which makes it the 6th highest in the world and represents 3.26 percent of total global GDP.  

Its GDP per surface area is the 20th highest in the world with US$11.213.968 per square kilometer or US$29.043.995 per square mile.  

Its GDP per capita is the 24th highest in the world with US$40.260. 

The absolute earnings (GDP per capita) reflect the average yearly income. The figure below shows how much, on average, an inhabitant of another state earns for every $1 earned by a citizen of this state.

Its purchasing power parity per capita is the 28th highest in the world with US$45.529. 

The relative Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity compares the purchasing power of this state with that of the rest of the world. The graph on the left shows how much purchasing power of 1$ compared to the purchasing power of other states

It is the 21st most populous state in the world with a total population of 67.9 million people. Despite being home to ethnic British people, a growing portion of its population consists of migrants that arrived from its former colonial empire. These migrants mainly came as refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. 

It has the 36th highest population density in the world with 278 people per square kilometer or 719 people per square mile.  

4.3 million people, or 6.3 percent of its population have migrated to other states. This makes the United Kingdom the 13th state with the highest number of emigrants and represents 1.7 percent of total global emigration. The main destinations for migration have been other European states as well as North America and Australia. 

Immigration to the United Kingdom is represented by 9.2 million people, or 13.6 percent of its population. This makes the United Kingdom the fifth state with the highest number of immigrants and represents 3.69 percent of global emigration. This migration mainly occurred during its membership of the European union which saw a large number of migrants coming from eastern Europe. The largest suppliers of migrants have been Poland and India which combined represent roughly 25 percent of all migrants. The main reason has been asylum or due to economic incentives. 

The literacy rate in the United Kingdom is 98.6 percent which is the 38th highest in the world. Its education is free and compulsory between the ages of five and 16. 

The health care in the United Kingdom is centrally managed through its national health service which is mostly funded through taxation. Despite complaints, it is still a highly developed healthcare system and ranks among the best in the world. Most health risks are related to noncommunicable diseases and lifestyle choices such as alcohol and tobacco consumption. The average life expectancy is 81.8 years which is the 23rd highest in the world. Women have an average life expectancy of 83.3 years, while men have an average life expectancy of 80.2 years. 

The government of the United Kingdom provides freedom of religion towards all religions.  

Christianity is the largest religion in the United Kingdom and is represented by 57.1 percent of the population. This makes the United Kingdom the 111th most Christian state in the world. The largest denomination is the Anglican church followed by the Catholic church which has been present in the United Kingdom since the fifth century.  

Islam is the second largest religion in the United Kingdom and is represented by 5.2 percent of the population. The Sunni denomination is the largest denomination and mainly comes from migrants from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh but it also houses large Turkish minorities as well as some Mali minorities. 

Buddhism is represented by 0.67 percent of the population and are mainly migrants that originated from Southeast Asia and have the Theravada denomination as the largest denomination. 

Hinduism is represented by 1.47 percent of the population and is the third largest religion in the United Kingdom. Most Hindus arrived from the Indian subcontinent as migrants following the partition of India and Pakistan. 

The United Kingdom houses the fifth largest Jewish population in the world and most Jews adhere to the Orthodox Judaism. Judaism is represented by 0.48 percent of the population. 

Other religions are represented by 0.64 percent of the population and are mainly a revival of pre-Christian religions such as paganism, druidism hedonism and wicca.  

Irreligion is represented by 16.45 percent of the population and consists of atheist as well as agnostics. 

It is the fourth largest state in the world with a total surface area of just under 9.6 million square kilometers or 3.7 million square miles. This makes it slightly smaller than China and slightly larger than Brazil. 

Buddhism is represented by 0.83 percent of the population and are mainly migrants that came from China. Most Buddhists have migrated to the West Coast of the United States or to Hawaii. 

Hinduism is represented by 0.63 percent of the population and also consists of migrants coming from South East Asia.