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 The United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (commonly known as the
United Kingdom, the UK, or Britain) is a country to the northwest of
mainland Europe. It comprises the island of Great Britain, the
northeast part of the island of Ireland and many small islands.
London is the capital of the UK as a whole. The
capitals of the United Kingdom's constituent countries are Belfast
(Northern Ireland), Cardiff (Wales), Edinburgh (Scotland) and London (England).
All parts of the United Kingdom have a temperate
climate, with plentiful rainfall all year round. The temperature
varies with the seasons but seldom drops below −10 °C or rises above
35 °C.
The United Kingdom's population is approximately
60 million. It has increased rapidly in recent years largely
from net people coming to live in the country from elsewhere in the
European Union and elsewhere, but also because of a rising birth rate
and increasing life expectancy. The UK's overall population density is one of
the highest in the world. About a quarter of the population lives in
England's prosperous south-east and is predominantly urban and
suburban, with an estimated 7½ million in
London.
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy
with Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, as head of state; the monarch of the UK also serves
as head of state of fifteen other Commonwealth countries, putting the
UK in a personal union with those other states.
Britain was the most important country in the
world during the 19th and early 20th century, but the economic cost of
two world wars and the decline of the British Empire in the second
half of the 20th century diminished its leading role in global
affairs. The UK nevertheless has kept significant economic, cultural,
military and political influence and is a nuclear power. It holds a
permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, and is a member
of the G8, NATO, the European Union and the Commonwealth of Nations.
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