United Kingdom Location:
Physical. Located in Western Europe, just northwest of France, the United Kingdom consists of England, Wales, Scotland, and the northern one-sixth of Ireland. It covers an area slightly smaller than the state of Oregon. The terrain consists mostly of rugged hills and low mountains, with rolling plains found in the eastern and southeastern regions. Winds from the North Atlantic Ocean give the UK a temperate climate with more than half the days overcast. Natural resources include coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica and arable land.
United Kingdom Geography:
Geography
Area: 244,820 sq km
Capital: London (7,500,000)
Environmental concerns: moving toward a better than Kyoto Protocol target of a 20% reduction in emissions by 2010, 85% reduction of industrial landfill by 2005; compost or recycle 33% of home wastes by 2015
Geographical features: mostly rugged hills and low mountains with level to rolling plains in east and southeast
Climate: temperate due to the North Atlantic Current with more than one-half of the days overcast
United Kingdom People:
People. Over 60 million people live in the United Kingdom. The predominant language is English, with small numbers speaking Welsh and Scottish Gaelic. The population of the United Kingdom is made up of four constituent countries: England, which contains 84% of the population, Scotland (9%), Wales (5%), Northern Ireland (3%). The ethnic make-up of the UK is increasingly diverse: White (92%), Black (2%), Indian (2%), and Pakistani (1%). Religions practiced include: Christian (72% - Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist), Muslim (3%), and Hindu (1%).
60,609,000 (July 2006 est.) white (92% - of which English 84%, Scottish 9%, Welsh 5%, Northern Irish 3%); black (2%), Indian (2%), Pakistani (1%) (2001 census)
Annual growth rate: 0.28% (2006 est.)
Major languages are English, Welsh (26% of the population of Wales), Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)
Religions: Christian (72% - Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist), Muslim (3%), Hindu (1%) unspecified or none (23%)
United Kingdom Government:
Government. The country is officially known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The national capital, London, is located in the southern part. The country is divided into a number of counties, districts, boroughs, council areas, and cities. It is a constitutional monarchy. While the hereditary monarch is the chief of state, the prime minister is the head of government and the leader of the majority party. The major political parties in the United Kingdom are: the Conservative and Unionist Party, the Labor Party, and the Liberal Democrats.
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy.
The chief of state is Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952). The head of government is Prime Minister Tony Blair (since 2 May 1997).
Universal suffrage 18 years of age
United Kingdom Communication:
Communication and transportation
32.943 million (2005) main telephone lines in use
37.8 million (2005) Internet users
387,674 km of roadways
17,274 km railroads
471 (2005) airports
29,000,000 motor vehicles (2004)
United Kingdom Economy:
Economy. In the 19th century the British Empire covered a quarter of the earth’s surface. After two world wars and the dismantling of the empire, it has struggled back to a modern, prosperous European country. The UK is one of the world's great trading powers and financial centers. Its economy ranks among the four largest in Western Europe. Government efforts to reduce public ownership and contain the growth of social welfare have been successful. While comprising only 1.7% of the gross domestic product (GDP), agriculture accounts for nearly 60% of food needs and employs less than 1% of the labor force. Industry comprises 26% of GDP, and services 73% of the GDP. The economy is doing well. Meantime, the government has been speeding up the improvement of education, transport, and health services, at a cost in higher taxes and a widening public deficit.
Currency: English pound
Per capita GDP: $30,300 (2005 est.)
GDP: $1.83 trillion (2005 est.)
GDP growth rate: 1.8% (2005 est.)
Inflation rate: 2.2% (2005 est.)
Labor force: agriculture (1.5%), industry (19%) services (79.5%) (2004)
United Kingdom More Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom
http://www.direct.gov.uk | 
