The UK today
A Snapshot of Modern Britain
The United Kingdom is home to about 67 million people from all over the world. It is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Europe, and it is proud of being a welcoming place.
Population Growth
The UK population has grown steadily. In 1901 it was about 38 million. By 2021 it had nearly doubled. People are also living longer — the number of people aged 85+ has grown dramatically.
The Four Nations
England
London (capital), Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Bristol, Newcastle, Southampton, Norwich, Bradford, Plymouth
Scotland
Edinburgh (capital), Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen
Wales
Cardiff (capital), Swansea, Newport
Northern Ireland
Belfast (capital)
Languages
English is the main language everywhere. But you will also hear:
- Welsh — spoken in Wales, has equal legal status with English
- Scottish Gaelic — spoken in the Highlands and islands of Scotland
- Irish and Ulster Scots — spoken in Northern Ireland
- Plus hundreds of other languages spoken by communities from around the world
A Fair Society
The UK has strong laws against discrimination. The Equality Act 2010 protects people from unfair treatment based on age, disability, gender, marriage, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.
Currency
The UK uses the pound sterling (£). One pound = 100 pence. Notes come in £5, £10, £20, and £50. Coins come in 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, and £2. Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own banknotes — they are legal everywhere in the UK but some shops outside those countries might not accept them.