Land area:93,278 sq mi (241,590 sq km); 94,526 sq mi (244,820 sq km);
Total area:394,526 sq mi (244,820 sq km);
Population (2008 est.):60,776,238 (growth rate: 0.3%); birth rate: 10.7/1000; infant mortality rate: 5.0/1000; life expectancy: 78.7; density per sq km: 652
Capital (2003 est.):London, 7,615,000 (metro. area), 7,429,200 (city proper)
Largest cities:Glasgow, 1,099,400; Birmingham, 971,800; Liverpool, 461,900; Edinburgh, 460,000; Leeds, 417,000; Bristol, 406,500; Manchester, 390,700; Bradford, 288,400
Monetary unit:Pound sterling (£)

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Current government officials
Languages:English, Welsh, Scots Gaelic
Ethnicity/race:English 83.6%, Scottish 8.6%, Welsh 4.9%; Northern Irish 2.9%, black 2%, Indian 1.8%, Pakistani 1.3%, mixed 1.2%, other 1.6% (2001)
Religions:Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified or none 23.1% (2001)
Literacy rate:99% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $2.137 trillion; per capita $35,100. Real growth rate: 3.1%. Inflation: 2.3%. Unemployment: 5.4%. Arable land: 23%. Agriculture: cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fish. Labor force: 30.07 million; agriculture 1.5%, industry 19.1%, services 79.5% (2004). Industries: machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, other consumer goods. Natural resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica, arable land. Exports: $468.8 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.): manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, tobacco. Imports: $603 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.): manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs. Major trading partners: U.S., Germany, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, China (2004).