Introduction
Chapter 2 covers the different nations that make up the United Kingdom and the terms that are used to describe the islands and its people, providing a map showing the location of the different nations that comprise the UK. Additionally, this Chapter gives an explanation of what 'Crown Dependencies' and 'British overseas territories' are.
Key Fact:
The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The rest of Ireland is an independent country.
Official Names and Terminology
The official name of the country is:
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Important Terminology:
'Great Britain'
Refers only to England, Scotland and Wales, not to Northern Ireland.
'Britain', 'British Isles' or 'British'
Used to refer to everyone in the UK (including Northern Ireland).
Map of the United Kingdom
UK Constituent Countries:
The Four Nations of the UK
Scotland
Capital: Edinburgh
Population: ~5.5 million
Language: English, Scottish Gaelic
Parliament: Scottish Parliament (Holyrood)
England
Capital: London
Population: ~56 million
Language: English
Parliament: UK Parliament (Westminster)
Wales
Capital: Cardiff
Population: ~3.1 million
Language: English, Welsh
Parliament: Welsh Parliament (Senedd)
Northern Ireland
Capital: Belfast
Population: ~1.9 million
Language: English, Irish, Ulster Scots
Parliament: Northern Ireland Assembly
Government Structure:
The UK is governed by the parliament sitting in Westminster. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also have parliaments or assemblies of their own, with devolved powers in defined areas.
Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories
There are also several islands which are closely linked with the UK but are not part of it.
🏝️ Crown Dependencies
These have their own governments and are called 'Crown dependencies':
Channel Islands
- Jersey
- Guernsey
- Alderney
- Sark
Isle of Man
Located in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland
🌍 British Overseas Territories
There are also several British overseas territories in other parts of the world:
St Helena
Located in the South Atlantic Ocean
Falkland Islands
Located in the South Atlantic Ocean
Other Territories include:
- Bermuda
- Gibraltar
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Montserrat
- Turks and Caicos Islands
Important: These territories are also linked to the UK but are not part of it. They have varying degrees of self-government.