In Europe, the United Kingdom is a country off the northwestern coast of the continent. A number of its former colonies have retained the language, culture, legal system, and political system of the British Empire. The United Kingdom comprises England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It includes Great Britain, Ireland’s north-eastern part, and numerous smaller islands. This article will introduce you to fun and awesome fun United Kingdom facts.
17 Fun and Excellent Facts About the United Kingdom
1) Aside from the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel, the Celtic Sea, and the Irish Sea, the United Kingdom is surrounded by the North Sea, the North Sea, the English Channel, and the Celtic Sea.
2) As of 2020, more than 67 million people are living in the United Kingdom, covering an area of 242,495 square kilometres (93,628 square miles).
3) Parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy characterise the United Kingdom.
4) As you can see in the image below, Canada and Australia are former British colonies, both with landmasses.
5) There have been several hundred years of annexations, unions, and separations between the constituent countries of the United Kingdom. For example, the Treaty of Union formed the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707 between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland (which included Wales, annexed in 1542).
6) The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was created in 1801 by its union with the Kingdom of Ireland.
7) The majority of Ireland seceded from the U.K. in 1922, leaving the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which adopted that name in 1927.
8) Although Guernsey, Jersey, and Isle of Man are Crown Dependencies, the British Government is responsible for their defence and international representation. It ranks 18th in the world on the Human Development Index, with a high-income economy. In addition, it ranks highly in global education, healthcare, and life expectancy rankings.
9) During the 1920s, the British Empire covered about 25% of the world’s landmass and a third of its population.
10) London is the capital and largest city of the country, a global financial centre with more than 14 million residents. There are also significant cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool, and Leeds. Each of the three devolved governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland has varying powers.
11) During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the U.K. dominated the world as the world’s leading power during a period known as “Pax Britannica”.
12) The U.K. remains a great power in the 21st century, with significant global economic, cultural, military, scientific, technological, and political influence.
13) By nominal GDP, the United Kingdom is the world’s sixth-largest economy, and by purchasing power parity, it is the eighth-largest economy.
14) The country ranks fourth in terms of military expenditure and is a recognised nuclear state.
15) Since 1946, it has been a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.
16) The United Kingdom is a member of several organisations, including the Commonwealth of Nations, Council of Europe, G7, G10, G20, Five Eyes, NATO, AUKUS, the World Trade Organization and World Economic Council (OECD).
17) From 1975 until 2020, when the U.K. withdrew from the European Communities (E.C.) and its successor, the European Union (E.U.), following a referendum held in 2016, it was a member state of the European Communities.