The United Kingdom is a country in Northern Europe, one of the 16 entries this site files under that subregion. The long form of the name is United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The capital is London.
Some 69.2 million people call it home, placing it 21st of 250 by population — between Thailand above it and Tanzania below. Within Northern Europe alone it is the 4th largest of 16 and the 1st most populous.
Its territory runs to 242,900 km², which ranks it 81st of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Guinea and just ahead of Uganda. Put next to a country most people can picture, it is almost exactly the same size as Romania.
Where the United Kingdom is and what surrounds it
Plotted on a globe it falls at 54.0° north, 2.0° west, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 6,011 km from the equator, in what geographers would call temperate latitudes.
The prime meridian also passes close to it, so it straddles the line that divides east from west.
Its land neighbours number 1: Ireland.
It has both a coastline and land borders, which is the most common arrangement of all.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
People, population and language
Population divided by land area gives roughly 285 people per square kilometre, which makes it densely populated. Half the entries in this dataset fall below roughly 90 per square kilometre.
Officially it is monolingual: English. English is one of the widely shared official languages here, listed by 90 other entries including American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda and Australia.
Someone from the United Kingdom is a British.
Inside Europe it places 3rd of 53 by population, and it accounts for 63% of everyone living in Northern Europe.
Currency, domain and dialling code
The currency is the British pound (£, GBP). No other entry in this dataset uses it, so the currency is specific to the United Kingdom.
London is the city to remember for this country.
Its internet country code is .uk. To phone it from abroad you dial +44. Standard country codes: gb and GBR.
It holds a seat at the United Nations, one of 193 entries here that do. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
United Kingdom shares borders with 1 country:
Fun facts about United Kingdom
- Ranked by land area, the United Kingdom is 81st out of the 250 countries and territories on this site.
- In land area it is almost exactly the same size as Romania.
- It shares land borders with 1 country: Ireland.
- It lies about 6,011 km from the equator, in temperate latitudes.
- English is official here and in 90 other entries worldwide.
- People from the United Kingdom are known as British.
United Kingdom — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of the United Kingdom?
- The capital of the United Kingdom is London.
- What is the population of the United Kingdom?
- The United Kingdom has a population of about 69.2 million, which makes it the 21st most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Thailand sits just above it and Tanzania just below.
- What language is spoken in the United Kingdom?
- The official language of the United Kingdom is English. It is also official in 90 other entries on this list.
- Which countries border the United Kingdom?
- The United Kingdom borders 1 country: Ireland.
- How big is the United Kingdom?
- The United Kingdom covers 242,900 km², ranking 81st of 250 by land area. That makes it almost exactly the same size as Romania.
- What currency does the United Kingdom use?
- The United Kingdom uses the British pound, written £ (currency code GBP). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
- Where is the United Kingdom located?
- The United Kingdom is in Northern Europe, part of Europe. Its reference coordinates are 54.0° north and 2.0° west, roughly 6,011 km from the equator in temperate latitudes.
- Is the United Kingdom a country?
- Yes. The United Kingdom is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
