The four nations of the UK
The United Kingdom is made up of four nations:
| Nation | Capital | Symbol | Patron saint (day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | London | Rose | St George (23 April) |
| Scotland | Edinburgh | Thistle | St Andrew (30 November) |
| Wales | Cardiff | Daffodil / Leek | St David (1 March) |
| Northern Ireland | Belfast | Shamrock | St Patrick (17 March) |
UK vs Great Britain vs British Isles
- Great Britain = England + Scotland + Wales (the biggest island).
- United Kingdom (UK) = Great Britain + Northern Ireland.
- British Isles is a geographic term for the UK plus the Republic of Ireland and surrounding islands. The Republic of Ireland is an independent country and not part of the UK.
The Union Flag (Union Jack)
The Union Flag is made up of three flags combined:
- The cross of St George (red on white) — England
- The cross of St Andrew (white diagonal on blue) — Scotland
- The cross of St Patrick (red diagonal on white) — Ireland
Wales is not represented on the flag — it was part of the Kingdom of England when the flag first appeared.
Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories
Crown Dependencies
- The Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey)
- The Isle of Man
These are not part of the UK but are self-governingdependencies of the Crown. They have their own administrations, laws and tax systems.
British Overseas Territories
These are linked to the UK but are not part of it — they include places such as St Helena, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, the British Antarctic Territory and Bermuda. They have their own governments but the UK is responsible for defence and foreign policy.
Population and demographics
- UK population: around 67 million
- England: ~84% of the UK population (by far the largest)
- Scotland: ~8%
- Wales: ~5%
- Northern Ireland: ~3%
The UK has an ageing population. People are living longer thanks to better health care and standards of living. This puts pressure on health services and pensions.
Languages
English is the dominant language but several others are still spoken:
- Welsh in Wales — officially equal status with English. Welsh is taught in schools and you'll see it on road signs.
- Gaelic in parts of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic) and in Northern Ireland (Irish Gaelic).
- Scots in Scotland and Ulster Scots in Northern Ireland.
Currency
The currency of the UK is the pound sterling (£), also written as GBP. One pound is divided into 100 pence (p).
Coins come in denominations of 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2. Notes come in £5, £10, £20 and £50.
Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own banknotes which are valid in the UK but shops elsewhere are sometimes reluctant to accept them.