United Kingdom

The **United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland**, often shortened to the **United Kingdom** (**UK**), or just **Britain**, is a sovereign country in Northwestern Europe. It is a constitutional monarchy of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Although these are called "countries", none of them are in the UN and they all have to listen to the British King and the British Parliament. The UK borders the Republic of Ireland on the island of Ireland.

## Infobox (country)

- **common name**: United Kingdom
- **linking name**: the United Kingdom
- **conventional long name**: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- **image flag**: Flag of United Kingdom.svg
- **alt flag**: A flag featuring both cross and saltire in red, white and blue
- **image coat**: Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, variant 2).svg
- **symbol width**: 90px
- **alt coat**: Coat of arms containing shield and crown in centre, flanked by lion and unicorn
- **symbol type**: Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom, Royal coat of arms
- **national anthem**: "God Save the King"

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- **alt map**: 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.
- **capital**: London
- **largest city**: capital
- **languages type**: Official language
- **languages**: British English (_de facto_)
- **languages2 type**: Regional or minority languages
- **ethnic groups year**: United Kingdom Census 2026, 2026
- **religion year**: United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011
- **membership type**: Constituent countries
- **government type**: Unitary state, Unitary parliamentary
constitutional monarchy
- **leader title1**: Monarchy of the United Kingdom, Monarch
- **leader name1**: Charles III
- **leader title2**: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister
- **leader name2**: Keir Starmer
- **legislature**: Parliament of the United Kingdom
- **upper house**: House of Lords
- **lower house**: House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons
- **sovereignty type**: History of the formation of the United Kingdom, Formation
- **established event1**: Laws in Wales Acts
- **established date1**: 1535 and 1542
- **established event2**: Union of the Crowns under James VI and I
- **established date2**: March 24, 1603
- **established event3**: Acts of Union of England and Scotland
- **established date3**: May 1, 1707
- **established event4**: Acts of Union of Great Britain and Ireland
- **established date4**: January 1, 1801
- **established event5**: Irish Free State Constitution Act
- **established date5**: December 5, 1922
- **established event6**: Accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities, EC accession
- **established date6**: January 1, 1973
- **established event7**: Brexit, Withdrawal from the European Union
- **established date7**: January 31, 2020
- **area km2**: 242495
- **area rank**: 78th
- **area sq mi**: 93628
- **percent water**: 1.34
- **population estimate**: 67,545,757
- **population census**: 63,182,178
- **population estimate year**: 2023
- **population estimate rank**: 22nd
- **population census year**: 2011
- **population census rank**: 22nd
- **population density km2**: 270.7
- **population density sq mi**: 701.2
- **population density rank**: 50th
- **gini year**: 2017
- **hdi**: 0.922
- **hdi year**: 2017
- **hdi change**: increase
- **hdi rank**: 14th
- **currency**: Pound sterling
- **currency code**: GBP
- **time zone**: Greenwich Mean Time, Western European Time, WET
- **utc offset**: ⁠
- **utc offset dst**: +1
- **time zone dst**: British Summer Time, Western European Summer Time, WEST
- **date format**: //
-- (Anno Domini, AD)
- **electricity**: 230 V–50 Hz
- **drives on**: Left- and right-hand traffic, left
- **calling code**: Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom, +44
- **cctld**: .uk