Facts About the UK

Type of Government : Constitutional monarchy.

Capital City: London.

Climate: Temperate.

Annual mean temperature: London 9.7C.

Annual mean rainfall: London 753mm.

 People & Geography

Major languages: English, Welsh, Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic.

Main Religion: Christianity.

Major ethnic groups: British, Irish, West Indian, South Asian.

Total population 59,054,800 (2002).

Annual population growth rate: 0.29%. (2004 est.).

Population density per sq.km 245.

Population by region: Scotland 5,119,000 England

      49,753,000, Wales 2,937,000, N. Ireland 1,692,000.

Top 5 populous cities: London 7,285,000 Birmingham

        1,018,000, Leeds 775,000, Sheffield 529,000.

Total land area (sq.km) 244,110 sq km (94,251 sq mi).

Natural Resources: Coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone,

        iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica, and arable land.

Daily Life

Percentage of homes owned: 68%.

Life expectancy: Men 75 years, Women 80 years.

Passenger cars (millions) 24.

Education system

Education in the United Kingdom (UK) is unique and has a  world-wide  reputation. The range of courses offered is enormous. International students are welcome in all four parts  of the UK: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  Each of the four have broadly the same structure of education, and broadly the same sort of educational institutions. There are at present over 300,000 international students sharing their experiences and cultures.