Location
Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France

Geographic coordinates
54 00 N, 2 00 W

Area
Total: 244,820 sq km
Comparative: slightly smaller
than Oregon

Land boundaries
Total: 360 km
Border countries: Ireland 360 km

Coastline
12,429 km

Climate
Temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast

Terrain
Mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast

Elevation extremes
Lowest point: Fenland -4 m
Highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m

Natural resources
Coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica, arable land

Population
59,778,002
(July 2002 est.)

Ethnic groups
English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh 1.9%, Ulster 1.8%, West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%

Religions
Anglican and Roman Catholic 40 million, Muslim 1.5 million, Presbyterian 800,000, Methodist 760,000, Sikh 500,000, Hindu 500,000, Jewish 350,000

Languages
English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)

Government type
Constitutional monarchy

Capital
London

Military branches
Army, Royal Navy (including Royal Marines), Royal Air Force

Military manpower
Availability: males age 15-49:
14,632,418 (2002 est.)
Fit for military service: males age 15-49: 12,151,734 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $31.7 billion (2002)
Percent of GDP: 2.32% (2002)