About The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a sovereign state in Europe. The country includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that shares a land border with another state (the Republic of Ireland).
The United Kingdom is the 22nd-most populous country, with an estimated 64.5 million inhabitants. It is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance. Its capital city is London, an important global city and financial centre. The current monarch —since 6 February 1952— is Queen Elizabeth II. The UK consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The UK remains a great power with considerable economic, cultural, military, scientific, and political influence internationally. It is a recognised nuclear weapons state and its military expenditure ranks fifth or sixth in the world. The UK has been a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council since its first session in 1946. It has been a member state of the European Union (EU) and its predecessor, the European Economic Community (EEC), since 1973.