Moving to United Kingdom: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

68,459,055

Population Growth Rate

0.45%

Population Distribution

the core of the population lies in and around London, with significant clusters found in central Britain around Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, southern Wales in and around Cardiff, and far eastern Northern Ireland centered on Belfast

Urban Population

• population: 84.6% of total population rate of
• urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change

Population in Major Urban Areas

9.648 million LONDON (capital), 2.791 million Manchester, 2.665 million Birmingham, 1.929 million West Yorkshire, 1.698 million Glasgow, 952,000 Southampton/Portsmouth

Population: Male/Female

• male: 34,005,445
• female: 34,453,610

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Age Structure

• years: 16.7% (male 5,872,937/female 5,592,665) 15-64
• years: 63.9% (male 22,062,643/female 21,702,401) 65 years and
• over: 19.3% (male 6,069,865/female 7,158,544)

Median Age

• total: 40.8 years
• male: 40.1 years
• female: 41.5 years

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

11

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

9.2

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

1.63

Gross reproduction rate

1

Child Marriage

50.7

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

76.1%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

76.1%

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

50.7%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

29

Mother's mean age at first birth

29

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

• birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14
• years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64
• years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and
• over: 0.85 male(s)/female total
• population: 0.99 male(s)/female

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

2.9

Ethnic Groups

• British: Indian 2.3%, Asian/Asian
• British: Pakistani 1.9%, mixed 2%, other 3.7%

Language Note

English

Nationality Noun

• noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural)
• adjective: British

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

5.5%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

• total: 17 years
• male: 17 years
• female: 18 years

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Life Expectancy at Birth

• population: 82.2 years
• male: 80.1 years
• female: 84.4 years

Infant Mortality Rate

• total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births
• male: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

• total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births
• male: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

10

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

2.77

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

2.5

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

12%

Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

• note: on 31 August 2023, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an updated Travel Alert for polio in Europe
• the United Kingdom is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV)
• vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus
• this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine
• the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series
• before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

27.8%

Tobacco Use

• total: 15.4%
• male: 17.3%
• female: 13.5%

Alcohol consumption per capita

• total: 9.8 liters of pure alcohol
• beer: 3.53 liters of pure alcohol
• wine: 3.3 liters of pure alcohol
• spirits: 2.35 liters of pure alcohol other
• alcohols: 0.61 liters of pure alcohol

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

• improved: urban: 100% of population
• rural: 100% of population
• total: 100% of population
• unimproved: urban: 0% of population
• rural: 0% of population
• total: 0% of population

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

• improved: urban: 99.8% of population
• rural: 99.8% of population
• total: 99.8% of population
• unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population
• rural: 0.2% of population
• total: 0.2% of population

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Economic Overview

The UK, a leading trading power and financial center, is the third largest economy in Europe after Germany and France.

Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with less than 2% of the labor force.

The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil resources, but its oil and natural gas reserves are declining; the UK has been a net importer of energy since 2005.

Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, are key drivers of British GDP growth.

Manufacturing, meanwhile, has declined in importance but still accounts for about 10% of economic output.

In 2008, the global financial crisis hit the economy particularly hard, due to the importance of its financial sector.

Falling home prices, high consumer debt, and the global economic slowdown compounded the UK’s economic problems, pushing the economy into recession in the latter half of 2008 and prompting the then BROWN (Labour) government to implement a number of measures to stimulate the economy and stabilize the financial markets.

Facing burgeoning public deficits and debt levels, in 2010 the then CAMERON-led coalition government (between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats) initiated an austerity program, which has continued under the Conservative government.

However, the deficit still remains one of the highest in the G7, standing at 3.6% of GDP as of 2017, and the UK has pledged to lower its corporation tax from 20% to 17% by 2020.

The UK had a debt burden of 90.4% of GDP at the end of 2017.

The UK economy has begun to slow since the referendum vote to leave the EU in June 2016.

A sustained depreciation of the British pound has increased consumer and producer prices, weighing on consumer spending without spurring a meaningful increase in exports.

The UK has an extensive trade relationship with other EU members through its single market membership, and economic observers have warned the exit will jeopardize its position as the central location for European financial services.

The UK is slated to leave the EU at the end of January 2020.

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$41,200.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

2.5%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$2,797,980,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$41,200.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

2.5%

GDP - official exchange rate

$2,865,000,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 64.7% government
• consumption: 19.1% investment in fixed
• capital: 17.2% investment in
• inventories: 0.2% exports of goods and
• services: 27.6% imports of goods and
• services: -28.8%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

0.6%

GDP by Sector- Industry

19.7%

GDP by Sector- services

79.6%

Industrial Growth Rate

-1.2%

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Inflation Rate

2.8%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

British pound (GBP)

Currency Name and Code

Pound Sterling (GBP)

Fiscal Year

6 April - 5 April

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

4.4%

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Labor Force

31,900,000

Unemployment Rate

7.8%

Major 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

Agriculture Products

• cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables
• cattle, sheep, poultry
• fish

Population Below Poverty Line

14%

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

1.4%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

18.2%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

80.4%

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Annual Budget

$995,900,000,000 (USD)

Public Debt (% of GDP)

88.7%

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-3.6%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

41.1%

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Full Country Name

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; note - the island of Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales

Country Name

United Kingdom

Abbreviation

UK

Etymology- history of name

• self-descriptive country name
• the designation "Great Britain," in the sense of "Larger Britain," dates back to medieval times and was used to distinguish the island from "Little Britain," or Brittany in modern France
• the name Ireland derives from the Gaelic "Eriu," the matron goddess of Ireland (goddess of the land)

Independence

• no official date of independence: 927 (minor English kingdoms unite)
• 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales)
• 1536 (Act of Union formally incorporates England and Wales)
• 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union formally unite England, Scotland, and Wales as Great Britain)
• 1 January 1801 (Acts of Union formally unite Great Britain and Ireland as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland)
• 6 December 1921 (Anglo-Irish Treaty formalizes partition of Ireland
• six counties remain part of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland)
• 12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act establishes current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

National Holiday

the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday

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Government Type

parliamentary constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Constitution

• history: uncoded; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
• amendments: proposed as a bill for an Act of Parliament by the government, by the House of Commons, or by the House of Lords; passage requires agreement by both houses and by the monarch (Royal Assent); many previous, last in 2020 - The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020

Legal System:

common law system; has nonbinding judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022)
• head of government: Prime Minister Keir STARMER (since 5 July 2024)
• cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister election/appointment
• process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister note 1: in addition to serving as the UK head of state, the British sovereign is the constitutional monarch for 14 additional Commonwealth countries (each referred to as a "Commonwealth realm") note 2: King CHARLES III succeeded his mother, Queen ELIZABETH II, after serving as Prince of Wales (heir apparent) for over 64 years -- the longest such tenure in British history

Legislative Branch:

• Description: bicameral Parliament consists of: House of Lords (membership not fixed; as of December 2023, 784 lords were eligible to participate in the work of the House of Lords - 667 life peers, 91 hereditary peers, and 26 clergy; members are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister and non-party political members recommended by the House of Lords Appointments Commission);
• Note: House of Lords total does not include ineligible members or members on leave of absence House of Commons (650 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve 5-year terms unless the House is dissolved earlier)
• Elections: House of Lords - no elections;
• Note: in 1999, as provided by the House of Lords Act, elections were held in the House of Lords to determine the 92 hereditary peers who would remain; elections held only as vacancies in the hereditary peerage arise) House of Commons - last held on 12 December 2019 (next to be held no later than 28 January 2025)
• Election Results: House of Lords -
• Composition: men 556, women 228, percentage women 29% House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Conservative 54.9%, Labor 30.8%, SNP 6.8%, Lib Dems 2.2%, DUP 1.2%, Sinn Fein 1.1%, Plaid Cymru .6%, other 2.5%; seats by party - Conservative 365, Labor 202, SNP 48, Lib Dems 11, DUP 8, Sinn Fein 7, Plaid Cymru 4, other 5;
• Composition: men 424, women 226, percentage women 34.8%, total

Judicial Branch:

• office: judge candidates selected by an independent committee of several judicial commissions, followed by their recommendations to the prime minister, and appointed by the monarch; justices serve for life
• subordinate courts: England and
• Wales: Court of Appeal (civil and criminal divisions); High Court; Crown Court; County Courts; Magistrates' Courts;
• Scotland: Court of Sessions; Sheriff Courts; High Court of Justiciary; tribunals; Northern
• Ireland: Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland; High Court; county courts; magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals

Regions or States:

• Summary: England: 24 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City
• of London or Greater London
• 36 metropolitan districts
• 59 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*); two-tier counties: Cambridgeshire
• Cumbria
• Derbyshire
• Devon
• East Sussex
• Essex
• Gloucestershire
• Hampshire
• Hertfordshire
• Kent
• Lancashire
• Leicestershire
• Lincolnshire
• Norfolk
• North Yorkshire
• Nottinghamshire
• Oxfordshire
• Somerset
• Staffordshire
• Suffolk
• Surrey
• Warwickshire
• West Sussex
• Worcestershire London boroughs and City of London or Greater London: Barking and Dagenham
• Barnet
• Bexley
• Brent
• Bromley
• Camden
• Croydon
• Ealing
• Enfield
• Greenwich
• Hackney
• Hammersmith and Fulham
• Haringey
• Harrow
• Havering
• Hillingdon
• Hounslow
• Islington
• Kensington and Chelsea
• Kingston upon Thames
• Lambeth
• Lewisham
• City of London
• Merton
• Newham
• Redbridge
• Richmond upon Thames
• Southwark
• Sutton
• Tower Hamlets
• Waltham Forest
• Wandsworth
• Westminster metropolitan districts: Barnsley
• Birmingham
• Bolton
• Bradford
• Bury
• Calderdale
• Coventry
• Doncaster
• Dudley
• Gateshead
• Kirklees
• Knowlsey
• Leeds
• Liverpool
• Manchester
• Newcastle upon Tyne
• North Tyneside
• Oldham
• Rochdale
• Rotherham
• Salford
• Sandwell
• Sefton
• Sheffield
• Solihull
• South Tyneside
• St. Helens
• Stockport
• Sunderland
• Tameside
• Trafford
• Wakefield
• Walsall
• Wigan
• Wirral
• Wolverhampton unitary authorities: Bath and North East Somerset; Bedford; Blackburn with Darwen; Blackpool; Bournemouth
• Christchurch and Poole; Bracknell Forest; Brighton and Hove; City of Bristol; Buckinghamshire; Central Bedfordshire; Cheshire East; Cheshire West and Chester; Cornwall; Darlington; Derby; Dorset; Durham County*; East Riding of Yorkshire; Halton; Hartlepool; Herefordshire*; Isle of Wight*; Isles of Scilly; City of Kingston upon Hull; Leicester; Luton; Medway; Middlesbrough; Milton Keynes; North East Lincolnshire; North Lincolnshire; North Northamptonshire; North Somerset; Northumberland*; Nottingham; Peterborough; Plymouth; Portsmouth; Reading; Redcar and Cleveland; Rutland; Shropshire; Slough; South Gloucestershire; Southampton; Southend-on-Sea; Stockton-on-Tees; Stoke-on-Trent; Swindon; Telford and Wrekin; Thurrock; Torbay; Warrington; West Berkshire; West Northamptonshire; Wiltshire; Windsor and Maidenhead; Wokingham; York Northern Ireland: 5 borough councils
• 4 district councils
• 2 city councils; borough councils: Antrim and Newtownabbey; Ards and North Down; Armagh City
• Banbridge
• and Craigavon; Causeway Coast and Glens; Mid and East Antrim district councils: Derry City and Strabane; Fermanagh and Omagh; Mid Ulster; Newry
• Murne
• and Down city councils: Belfast; Lisburn and Castlereagh Scotland: 32 council areas; council areas: Aberdeen City
• Aberdeenshire
• Angus
• Argyll and Bute
• Clackmannanshire
• Dumfries and Galloway
• Dundee City
• East Ayrshire
• East Dunbartonshire
• East Lothian
• East Renfrewshire
• City of Edinburgh
• Eilean Siar (Western Isles)
• Falkirk
• Fife
• Glasgow City
• Highland
• Inverclyde
• Midlothian
• Moray
• North Ayrshire
• North Lanarkshire
• Orkney Islands
• Perth and Kinross
• Renfrewshire
• Shetland Islands
• South Ayrshire
• South Lanarkshire
• Stirling
• The Scottish Borders
• West Dunbartonshire
• West Lothian Wales: 22 unitary authorities; unitary authorities: Blaenau Gwent
• Bridgend
• Caerphilly
• Cardiff
• Carmarthenshire
• Ceredigion
• Conwy
• Denbighshire
• Flintshire
• Gwynedd
• Isle of Anglesey
• Merthyr Tydfil
• Monmouthshire
• Neath Port Talbot
• Newport
• Pembrokeshire
• Powys
• Rhondda Cynon Taff
• Swansea
• The Vale of Glamorgan
• Torfaen
• Wrexham

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Alliance Party (Northern Ireland) [Naomi LONG]
• Conservative and Unionist Party [Rishi SUNAK]
• Democratic Unionist Party or DUP (Northern Ireland) [interim leader Gavin ROBINSON]
• Green Party of England and Wales or Greens [Carla DENYER and Adrian RAMSAY]
• Labor (Labour)
• Party [Sir Keir STARMER]
• Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) [Sir Ed DAVEY]
• Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru) [Rhu ap LORWERTH]
• Scottish National Party or SNP [John SWINNEY]
• Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) [Mary Lou MCDONALD]
• Social Democratic and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland) [Colum EASTWOOD]
• UK Independence Party or UKIP [Neil HAMILTON]
• Ulster Unionist Party or UUP (Northern Ireland) [Doug BEATTIE]

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: no citizenship by descent
• only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the United Kingdom dual citizenship
• recognized: yes residency requirement for
• naturalization: 5 years

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Capital Name

London

Capital - geographic coordinate

51 30 N, 0 05 W

Capital Time Difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: the time statements apply to the United Kingdom proper, not to its crown dependencies or overseas territories

Daylight Savings Time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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International Organization Participation:

• ADB (nonregional member)
• AfDB (nonregional member)
• Arctic Council (observer)
• Australia Group
• BIS
• CBSS (observer)
• CD
• CDB
• CE
• CERN
• EAPC
• EBRD
• ECB
• EIB
• EITI (implementing country)
• ESA
• EU
• FAO
• FATF
• G-5
• G-7
• G-8
• G-10
• G-20
• IADB
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICC (national committees)
• ICCt
• ICRM
• IDA
• IEA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• IGAD (partners)
• IHO
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• IMSO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• IPU
• ISO
• ITSO
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• MIGA
• MONUSCO
• NATO
• NEA
• NSG
• OAS (observer)
• OECD
• OPCW
• OSCE
• Pacific Alliance (observer)
• Paris Club
• PCA
• PIF (partner)
• SELEC (observer)
• SICA (observer)
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNFICYP
• UNHCR
• UNMISS
• UNOOSA
• UNRWA
• UN Security Council (permanent)
• UNSOM
• UPU
• Wassenaar Arrangement
• WCO
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO
• ZC

International Law Organization Participation:

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Jane HARTLEY (since 19 July 2022)
• Embassy: 33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US
• Mailing Address: 8400 London Place, Washington DC 20521-8400
• Telephone: [44] (0) 20-7499-9000
• FAX: [44] (0) 20-7891-3845
• Email: SCSLondon@state.gov
• Website: https://uk.usembassy.gov/
• Consulate(s) General: Belfast, Edinburgh

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Karen Elizabeth PIERCE (since 8 April 2020)
• Chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
• Telephone: [1] (202) 588-6500
• FAX: [1] (202) 588-7870
• Email: britishembassyenquiries@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-washington
• Consulate(s) General: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco consulate(s): Orlando (FL), San Juan (Puerto Rico)

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Geographic Location

Europe

Geographic Coordinates

54 00 N, 2 00 W

Total Area

94,058 Square Miles 243,610 Square Kilometers

Land Area

93,409 Square Miles 241,930 Square Kilometers

Water Area

649 Square Miles 1,680 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

224 Miles 360 Kilometers

Border Countries

Ireland 360 km

Coastline

7,723 Miles 12,429 Kilometers

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Terrain

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

Highest Point

1,343 Meters

Highest Point Location

Ben Nevis 1,343 m

Lowest Point

-4 Meters

Lowest Point Location

The Fens -4 m

Natural Resources

coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land

Irrigated Land

880 Square Miles 2,280 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: the time statements apply to the United Kingdom proper, not to its crown dependencies or overseas territories

Daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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Climate

Prevailing southwesterly winds, influenced by the Gulf Stream, make Britain's climate temperate and equable year round.

Weather patterns frequently change, but few temperature extremes occur.

Temperatures range from a mean of 40°F in winter to about 60°F in summer.

A low of 20°F sometimes occurs in winter, and a high of 90°F may rarely occur in summer.

Average annual rainfall is 30-50 inches, usually distributed evenly throughout the year.

Cloud cover is persistent, however, limiting sunshine to an average of about 6-7 hours a day in summer and 1-2 hours a day in winter.

Terrain

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

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

Total Area

94,058 Square Miles 243,610 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Ireland 360 km

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Environment - Current Issues

continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and intends to meet the legally binding target and move toward a domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010)

by 2005 the government reduced the amount of industrial and commercial waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and recycled or composted at least 25% of household waste, increasing to 33% by 2015

Environment - International Agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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Exports

$481,000,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$646,000,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, tobacco

Major Imports

manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs

Top Export Partners

Germany 10.9%, US 9.9%, Netherlands 7.9%, France 7.4%, Switzerland 7.1%, Ireland 6%, Belgium 5.3%

Top Import Partners

Germany 12.5%, China 8.2%, Netherlands 7.1%, US 7%, France 5.7%, Belgium 4.8%, Norway 4.7%

Export Partners

Germany 10.9%, US 9.9%, Netherlands 7.9%, France 7.4%, Switzerland 7.1%, Ireland 6%, Belgium 5.3%

Import Partners

Germany 12.5%, China 8.2%, Netherlands 7.1%, US 7%, France 5.7%, Belgium 4.8%, Norway 4.7%

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Country Description

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a highly developed constitutional monarchy composed of Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) and Northern Ireland.

Read the Department of State Fact Sheet on the United Kingdom (UK) for additional information on U.S.-UK relations.

Gibraltar is a UK Overseas Territory bordering Spain, located at the southernmost tip of Europe at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea; it is one of 13 former British colonies that have elected to retain political ties with London.

Tourist facilities are widely available throughout the United Kingdom and Gibraltar.

Safety & Security

The United Kingdom is politically stable and has a modern infrastructure, but shares with the rest of the world an increased threat of terrorist incidents of international origin, as well as the potential for isolated violence related to the political situation in Northern Ireland.

Like the United States, the United Kingdom shares its national threat levels with the general public to keep everyone informed and explain the context for the various increased security measures that may be encountered.

The UK Home Office posts UK threat levels on its website.

The UK Security Service, commonly known as MI5, publishes through its website specific reasons for any changes in the threat level and recommended actions for the public.

U.S. citizens should check with the UK Department for Transport for the latest security updates and carry-on luggage restrictions.

In the past several years, extremists have targeted and attacked public transportation infrastructure in European cities such as London, Madrid, Glasgow, and Moscow, demonstrating that terrorists continue to take an active interest in targeting this sector.

The British Home Secretary has urged UK citizens to be alert and vigilant.

For example, travelers are encouraged to keep an eye out for suspect packages or people acting suspiciously on buses, on the subway (called the Tube or Underground), at train stations, and at airports, and to report anything suspicious to the appropriate authorities.

U.S. citizens should remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and to exercise caution.

As has been widely reported in the press, UK law enforcement authorities have taken action to guard against a terrorist attack, underscoring in their public statements that the police are using a range of tactics to mitigate the threat.

For more information about UK public safety initiatives, consult the UK Civil Contingencies Secretariat website.

The political situation in Northern Ireland has improved substantially since the days of the “Troubles,” with the successful completion of a four-year term by the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2011 and the devolution of policing and justice authorities to the Assembly in 2010.

Overall, rates of violent crime are very low in Northern Ireland.

Nevertheless, the Police Service of Northern Ireland assesses the dissident republican threat in Northern Ireland to be severe.

Dissident republican groups have been the main sources of a modest rise in the number of security incidents in recent years.

Attacks by these groups have focused primarily on police and military targets, and involved the use of firearms and explosives.

Attacks have targeted the private vehicles and homes of security personnel, police stations, and other justice sector buildings, increasing the potential for travelers to be caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Separately, demonstrations from December 2012 to February 2013 resulted in sporadic street violence, mainly directed at police.

Tensions may be heightened during the summer marching season (April to August), particularly during the month of July (around the July 12th public holiday).

Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.

You should avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and be careful within the vicinity of any demonstrations.

You should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

The phone number for police/fire/ambulance emergency services – the equivalent of 911 in the United States – is 999 in the United Kingdom and 112 in Gibraltar.

You should also use this number to report warnings about possible bombs or other immediate threats.

The UK Anti-Terrorist Hotline, at 0800-789-321, is available for tips and confidential information about possible terrorist activity.

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Crime

• number: 087-1871-8710. This taxi booking service combines all six of London’s radio taxi circuits, allowing you to telephone 24 hours a day if you need a cab. Alternatively, to find a licensed minicab, text HOME to 60835 on your mobile phone to get the telephone number to two licensed minicab companies in the area. If you know in advance when you will be leaving for home, you can pre-book your return journey. The Safe Travel at Night partnership among the Metropolitan Police, Transport for London, and the Mayor of London maintains a website with additional information on cabs and car services. Don’t leave your drink unattended in bars and nightclubs. There have been some instances of drinks being spiked with illegal substances, leading to incidents of robbery and rape. U.S. citizens should take steps to ensure the safety of their U.S. passports. Visitors in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar are not expected to produce identity documents for police authorities and thus may secure their passports in hotel safes or residences. ATM
• Fraud: You don’t need to carry a passport to cash a traveler’s check. There are many ATMs that link to U.S. banking networks. When using ATMs in the United Kingdom, you should use the same common-sense personal security measures you would use in the United States. ATM fraud in the United Kingdom is very sophisticated and incorporates technologies that surreptitiously record customer ATM card and PIN information. Avoid using ATMs that look in any way temporary in structure or location, or are located in isolated areas. Be aware that in busy public areas, thieves use distraction techniques, such as waiting until the PIN has been entered and then pointing to money on the ground or attempting to hand out a free newspaper. When the ATM user is distracted, a colleague will quickly withdraw cash and leave. If you ar

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in the United Kingdom, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own.

If you break local laws in the United Kingdom, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in the United Kingdom are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

Many pocket knives and other blades, and mace or pepper spray canisters, although legal in the United States, are illegal in the United Kingdom and will result in arrest and confiscation if detected.

Please refer to “ A UK Customs Guide," detailing which items visitors are prohibited from bringing into the United Kingdom.

Air travelers to and from the United Kingdom should be aware that penalties against alcohol-related and other in-flight crimes (“air rage”) are stiff and are being enforced with prison sentences.

Please also see our information on customs regulations that pertain when returning to the United States.

Drivers of non-UK-registered vehicles may have to provide an on-the-spot deposit of up to 900 pounds (approximately $1400) if stopped for a motoring offense.

If the driver cannot pay due to lack of cash or credit, the vehicle may be impounded until payment is made, and a release fee will be charged in addition to the deposit.

Non-UK-resident drivers charged with motoring offenses are often unable to provide a verifiable address where a summons (subpoena) to appear in court can be delivered and/or enforced, or fail to return for court if released on bail.

U.S. citizens may be detained and arrested if they cannot provide a UK address to receive a subpoena or are about to depart the United Kingdom and have to be brought to court quickly for a motoring offense.

If alleged offenders attend court and are found not guilty, the deposit is returned.

UK authorities nearly always promptly notify the U.S.

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Medical Facilities

While medical services are widely available, free care under the National Health System (NHS) is allowed only for UK residents and certain EU nationals.

Tourists and short-term visitors will be charged for medical treatment in the United Kingdom.

Charges may be significantly higher than those assessed in the United States.

Travelers to the United Kingdom should ensure they have adequate medical insurance to cover the cost of any treatment received - please see additional insurance information below.

You can find detailed information on vaccinations and other health precautions on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website, which also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.

Hiking in higher elevations can be treacherous.

Several people die each year while hiking, particularly in Scotland, often due to sudden changes in weather.

We encourage visitors, including experienced hikers, to discuss their intended routes with local residents familiar with the area and to adhere closely to recommendations.

Traffic Safety

While in the United Kingdom, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

UK penalties for driving under the influence of even minimal amounts of alcohol or drugs are stiff and often result in prison sentences.

In contrast to U.S. and continental European traffic, which moves on the right side of the road, UK traffic moves on the left.

Visitors uncomfortable with or intimidated by the prospect of driving on the left side of the road may wish to use the United Kingdom’s extensive bus, rail, and air transport networks.

Roads in the United Kingdom are generally excellent but are narrow and often congested in urban areas.

If you plan to drive while in the United Kingdom, you may wish to obtain a copy of the Highway Code, available for purchase at most UK bookstores.

It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle in the UK while you are using a hand-held cell phone or similar device, including a Personal Data Assistant (PDA) that incorporates a cell phone.

Hands-free phones may be used.

Use of cell phones and hand-held communication devices while driving can lead to a substantial fine, and in the event of an accident, could result in a jail sentence.

The maximum speed limit on highways/motorways in the United Kingdom is 70 mph.

Motorways generally have a hard shoulder (breakdown lane) on the far left, defined by a solid white line.

It is illegal to stop or park on a hard shoulder unless it is an emergency.

In such cases, you should activate your hazard lights, get out of your vehicle, and go onto an embankment for safety.

Emergency call boxes (orange telephone booths with “SOS” printed on them) may be found at half-mile intervals along the motorway.

White and blue poles placed every 100 yards along the motorway point in the direction of the nearest call box.

Emergency call boxes dial directly to a motorway center.

It is best to use these phones rather than a personal cell phone, because motorway center personnel will immediately know the location of a call received from an emergency call box.

Roadside towing services may cost approximately £150 (approximately $240).

However, membership fees of automotive associations such as the RAC (Royal Automobile Club) or AA (Automobile Association) often include free roadside towing service.

Travelers intending to rent cars in the United Kingdom should make sure they are adequately insured.

U.S. auto insurance is not always valid outside the United States, and travelers may wish to purchase supplemental insurance, which is generally available from most major rental agents.

Authorities impose a congestion charge on all cars entering much of central London Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Information on the congestion charge can be found on the Transport for London website.

Public transport in the United Kingdom is excellent and extensive.

Information on disruptions to London transportation services can be found on the Transport for London website.

Information about the status of National Rail Services can be found on the National Rail Enquiries website.

Information on bus and train services in Northern Ireland can be found on the Translink website.

Information on bus and train services in Scotland can be found on the Traveline Scotland website.

Many U.S. citizen pedestrians are injured, some fatally, every year in the United Kingdom because they forget that oncoming traffic approaches from the opposite direction than in the United States.

You should exercise extra care when crossing streets; remember to remain alert and look both ways before stepping into the street.

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Airports - total

460

Airports with Paved Runways

271

Heliports

9

Railways

10,224 Miles 16,454 Kilometers

Roadways- total

245,086 Miles 394,428 Kilometers

Waterways

1,988 Miles 3,200 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

• Dover, Felixstowe, Immingham, Liverpool, London, Southampton, Teesport (England)
• Forth Ports (Scotland)
• Milford Haven (Wales) oil terminals: Fawley Marine terminal, Liverpool Bay terminal (England)
• Braefoot Bay terminal, Finnart oil terminal, Hound Point terminal (Scotland)

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Pipelines: Condensate

312 Miles 502 Kilometers

Pipelines: Gas

17,773 Miles 28,603 Kilometers

Pipelines: Liquid Petroleum Gas

37 Miles 59 Kilometers

Pipelines: Oil

3,266 Miles 5,256 Kilometers

Pipelines: Oil/Gas/Water

109 Miles 175 Kilometers

Pipelines: Refined Products

3,057 Miles 4,919 Kilometers

Pipelines: Water

158 Miles 255 Kilometers

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Telephones

33,230,000

Cell Phones

81,612,000

Internet Users

51,444,000

Internet Country Code

.uk

Internet Hosts

8,107,000

Broadcast Media

• public service broadcaster, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world
• BBC operates multiple TV networks with regional and local TV service
• a mixed system of public and commercial TV broadcasters along with satellite and cable systems provide access to hundreds of TV stations throughout the world
• BBC operates multiple national, regional, and local radio networks with multiple transmission sites
• a large number of commercial radio stations as well as satellite radio services are available

Telephone System

• assessment: technologically advanced domestic and international system
• domestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and fiber-optic systems
• international: country code - 44; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 large international switching centers

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Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

325,800,000,000

Electricity Exports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

4,481,000,000

Electricity Imports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

7,144,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

352,700,000,000

Natural Gas Consumption - Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

51,630,000,000

Natural Gas Exports- Cubic Meters (cu m)

8,949,000,000

Natural Gas Imports- Cubic Meters (cu m)

48,260,000,000

Natural Gas Production- Cubic Meters (cu m)

38,480,000,000

Natural Gas Reserves- Cubic Meters (cu m)

244,000,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

1,217,000

Oil Exports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

637,800

Oil Imports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

1,053,000

Oil Production- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

1,099,000

Oil Reserves- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

3,122,000,000

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Anthem Lyrics English

God Save the Queen God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen! Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the Queen!

O lord God arise, Scatter our enemies, And make them fall! Confound their knavish tricks, Confuse their politics, On you our hopes we fix, God save the Queen!

Not in this land alone, But be God's mercies known, From shore to shore! Lord make the nations see, That men should brothers be, And form one family, The wide world ov'er From every latent foe, From the assasins blow, God save the Queen!

O'er her thine arm extend, For Britain's sake defend, Our mother, prince, and friend, God save the Queen! Thy choicest gifts in store, On her be pleased to pour, Long may she reign!

May she defend our laws, And ever give us cause, To sing with heart and voice, God save the Queen! See also: Scotland Anthem Text put in wales here as well.