The United Kingdom, also called the U.K., consists of a group of islands off the northwest coast of Europe. It is a unique country made up of four nations.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland but more commonly known as the UK or Britain is a sovereign country lying off the north-western coast of the European mainland. The United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that shares a land border with another sovereign state—the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the United Kingdom is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the North Sea to the east, the English Channel to the south and the Celtic Sea to the south-west.

Country Background:

• The capital city of England is London. Other major cities include Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Newcastle and Leeds.

• The United Kingdom runs under a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy, while the head of state being Queen Elizabeth II.

• The U.K. does not have a written constitution. It has a constitutional monarchy, meaning a monarch has the ultimate authority over the government, although the monarch generally follows the laws of parliament or abides by British tradition. The monarch also appoints the prime minister, the leader of the government.

• The UK has a total nominal GDP of $2.434 trillion, with a per capita GDP of $38,591. Their total nominal GDP is the 6th highest in the world and the 3rd largest economy in Europe.

• The United Kingdom is also the 8th largest economy concerning purchasing power parity, and they contribute significantly to the world’s economy.

• The United Kingdom is the world’s 6th most prominent tourist destination according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

• The United Kingdom is home to 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Cities, including Bath, Canterbury, and Chester.

• Nearly one-third of the population of the U.K. lives in the urban and suburban areas of southeast England.

• English is the official language of the United Kingdom. However, several regional languages are recognised, including Welsh, Irish, Cornish, and Scottish Gaelic.

• The UK has a temperate climate. In general, this means cool, wet winters and warm, humid summers.