Quick facts

Population: 60,094,648 (July 2003)

Languages: English (official)

Political system: Constitutional monarchy

Capital: London

Education: 99 % literacy rate (2000 est.)

Culture: English 81.5% ; Scottish 9.6% ; Irish 2.4% ; Welsh 1.9% ; Ulster 1.8% ; West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%

Religions: Anglican and Roman Catholic NA, Muslim NA, Presbyterian NA, Methodist NA, Sikh NA, Hindu NA, Jewish NA

Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.3% (male:5,621,590; female:5,350,319)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male:20,067,529; female:19,626,123)
65 years and over: 15.6% (male:3,987,457; female:5,441,630)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $29,600 (2004 est.)

Terrain: Mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast

Climate: Temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast

Major cities by population: London, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield, Bradford, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol