This fact sheet gathers the essential data on the United Kingdom, updated to the latest official statistics available in autumn 2026, together with the most useful practical information for travellers. For individual topics see the pages on population, the economy and climate.
General data
- Official name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
- Form of state: parliamentary constitutional monarchy, without a constitution written in a single document.
- Head of state: King Charles III, since 8 September 2022.
- Prime Minister: Andy Burnham (Labour Party), since 20 July 2026.
- Capital: London, over 9 million inhabitants in Greater London.
- Constituent nations: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have devolved parliaments and governments.
- Area: about 244,000 km², of which England 130,000, Scotland 78,000, Wales 21,000, Northern Ireland 14,000.
- Population: 69.48 million in mid-2025 (ONS estimate published in October 2026).
- Languages: English; Welsh (official in Wales), Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Irish and Ulster Scots as recognised regional languages.
- Currency: pound sterling (GBP), divided into 100 pence.
- Time zone: GMT in winter, BST (GMT+1) in summer; one hour behind central Europe all year.
- Dialling code: +44. Emergency numbers: 999 or 112.
Geography
The UK comprises the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and some six thousand smaller islands, including the Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland, the Isle of Wight and the Scillies. No point in the country is more than 120 kilometres from the sea. The highest peak is Ben Nevis in Scotland, 1,345 metres; the longest river is the Severn, about 354 kilometres, followed by the Thames; the largest lake by area is Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland, while Loch Ness holds the most water. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey), although dependencies of the British Crown, are not part of the UK, nor are the fourteen overseas territories such as Gibraltar, the Falklands and Bermuda.
Population
In the year to mid-2025 the population grew by about 228,000 (+0.33%), the slowest growth since 1998 outside the pandemic years. Births (652,400, the lowest in at least 43 years) only just exceeded deaths (647,500), so almost all growth came from migration: net migration fell to about 223,000, from more than 650,000 the year before. The population of Wales actually fell slightly. Life expectancy at birth is about 79 years for men and 83 for women. In England and Wales, at the 2021 census, 81.7% of residents described themselves as White, 9.3% Asian, 4% Black and 2.9% Mixed; 46.2% described themselves as Christian, 37.2% as having no religion and 6.5% as Muslim.
The economy in brief
- GDP: about £3 trillion, among the ten largest economies in the world.
- Inflation (CPI): 3.5% in September 2026.
- Bank of England base rate: 4%, after the rise of 4 November 2026.
- Unemployment: 4.7%.
- Median gross pay for a full-time employee: about £39,000 a year (2025).
- Minimum wage (National Living Wage, 21 and over): £12.71 an hour.
For details see wages, cost of living and the economy.
Practical information for travellers
- Documents: since 2021 EU citizens can enter only with a passport; national identity cards are no longer accepted (except for those with settled status). An electronic travel authorisation, the ETA, is also required, costing £20 since 8 April 2026. See documents and the ETA.
- Driving: traffic drives on the left. Speed limits are 30 mph (48 km/h) in built-up areas, 20 mph in many urban areas and across Wales, 60 mph (96 km/h) on single carriageways and 70 mph (112 km/h) on motorways and dual carriageways. The drink-drive limit is 80 mg per 100 ml of blood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 50 mg in Scotland. EU driving licences are valid for visits.
- Electricity: 230 volts, type G sockets with three rectangular pins; an adapter is needed.
- Health care: European Health Insurance Cards no longer work as they did before Brexit, apart from specific arrangements; travel insurance is strongly recommended.
- Payments: contactless cards are accepted almost everywhere, including on buses and the Tube; many venues no longer take cash.
- Tipping: in restaurants 10-12.5% is usual, often already included as a service charge; in pubs tipping at the bar is not customary.
See also introduction to the UK, travel tips and when to go.