United Kingdom and its 66 important Details for UPSC, PSC and Other Competitive Exams

United Kingdom and its Details Like , Capital, GDP, Currency, Geography, Economy, Defence, Culture, Natural resources, Habitat, Sports and all you want to know for UPSC, PSC and Other Competitive Exams.

United Kingdom and its Basic Details :

Category	Information
Name of the country	United Kingdom
Capital	London
Independence day	No specific Independence Day (Evolved over time)
Major religions	Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Others
Currency	Pound Sterling (GBP)
Continent	Europe
Top 5 Famous cities	London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds
Top 10 Famous persons	Queen Elizabeth II, Sir Winston Churchill, William Shakespeare, The Beatles, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Stephen Hawking, David Beckham, Queen Victoria, George Orwell
Type of government	Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy
Main wars fought	World War I, World War II, Falklands War, Crimean War, Boer War
GDP	$3.17 trillion (2021)
5 popular tourist places	1. The Tower of London, 2. Stonehenge, 3. Buckingham Palace, 4. Edinburgh Castle, 5. The Lake District

Geography of United Kingdom :

Attribute	Information
Geography	Diverse landscapes including plains, hills, and mountains
Area (Square Kilometers)	242,495 square kilometers
Population	Approximately 68 million (as of 2021)
5 Main Mountain Ranges	1. Pennines
	2. Scottish Highlands
	3. Cambrian Mountains
	4. Cheviot Hills
	5. Grampian Mountains
5 Main Mountain Peaks	1. Ben Nevis
	2. Snowdon
	3. Scafell Pike
	4. Helvellyn
	5. Cairn Gorm
5 Main Rivers	1. River Thames
	2. River Severn
	3. River Clyde
	4. River Tyne
	5. River Mersey
Main Lakes	Lake Windermere
Deserts	No significant deserts
Plateaus	Salisbury Plain
Volcanoes	No active volcanoes
5 Main Crops and Vegetation	1. Wheat, 2. Barley, 3. Oats, 4. Potatoes, 5. Sugar Beets
Main Beaches	Bournemouth Beach, Brighton Beach, Blackpool Beach
Neighboring Countries	Ireland (Republic of Ireland), France (via the Channel Tunnel)
Nearby Sea and Oceans	North Sea, English Channel, Irish Sea, Atlantic Ocean
Length of Coastline	Approximately 12,429 kilometers
Top 5 Natural Resources	1. Oil and Gas, 2. Coal, 3. Iron Ore, 4. Limestone, 5. Tin

Economy of United Kingdom :

Attribute	Information
Economy	Mixed-market economy
5 Major Industries	1. Finance and Banking
	2. Manufacturing
	3. Healthcare
	4. Retail
	5. Technology
5 Main Revenue Sources	1. Taxes
	2. Financial services
	3. Manufacturing
	4. Retail
	5. Energy
Top 10 Companies	1. BP
	2. HSBC Holdings
	3. GlaxoSmithKline
	4. Unilever
	5. Royal Dutch Shell
	6. AstraZeneca
	7. BAE Systems
	8. Vodafone Group
	9. Prudential
	10. Rio Tinto Group
Per Capita Income	$45,850 (2022)
Top 5 Imports	1. Machinery and Equipment
	2. Vehicles and Aircraft
	3. Electrical Machinery
	4. Mineral Fuels
	5. Pharmaceuticals
Top 5 Exports	1. Machinery and Equipment
	2. Vehicles and Aircraft
	3. Pharmaceuticals
	4. Mineral Fuels
	5. Gems and Precious Metals
Total Gold Reserves	Approximately 310.3 metric tons

Defence Power of United Kingdom :

Category	Details	Description
Defence Policy	Active defense policy	The United Kingdom maintains a strong military with a focus on ensuring national security and fulfilling NATO commitments.
Defence Budget	£68.5 billion ($87.7 billion)	This represents approximately 2.2% of the UK’s GDP.
Total Army Personnel	75,500 active personnel	This includes regular forces and reservists.
Total Air Force Personnel	38,000 active personnel	This includes pilots, ground crew, and other support personnel.
Total Navy Personnel	39,000 active personnel	This includes sailors, marines, and other support personnel.
Total Defence Imports	£8.0 billion (2021)	This includes weapons, vehicles, and other military hardware.
Total Defence Export	£12.7 billion (2021)	This includes arms sales to other countries.

Cultural of United Kingdom :

Category	Information
Culture	Rich and diverse cultural heritage
5 Main Festivals	1. Notting Hill Carnival
	2. Glastonbury Festival
	3. Edinburgh Festival Fringe
	4. Diwali
	5. Bonfire Night (Guy Fawkes Night)
5 Main Religious Places	1. Westminster Abbey
	2. Canterbury Cathedral
	3. St. Paul’s Cathedral
	4. York Minster
	5. Glasgow Cathedral
Main Arts and Dances	Shakespearean Theater, Morris Dancing, Contemporary Art
Main Languages	English, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh
Famous Food and Cuisines	Fish and Chips, Full English Breakfast, Roast Dinner, Afternoon Tea, Pies and Pastries
5 UNESCO Protected Buildings	1. Stonehenge
	2. Tower of London
	3. Bath’s Historic Pulteney Bridge
	4. Edinburgh Castle
	5. Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament)

Sports in United Kingdom :

Category	Information
Sports	Diverse sports culture and participation
National Sport	Cricket
Popular Sport	Football (Soccer)
Top Athletes	1. Sir Mo Farah
	2. Lewis Hamilton
	3. Andy Murray
	4. Jessica Ennis-Hill
	5. Chris Froome
Top Sports Achievements	Multiple Olympic gold medals, Formula 1 World Championships, Grand Slam Tennis Titles, Cricket World Cup Wins, Ryder Cup Victories

Natural Habitat and wild life of United Kingdom :

Category	Information
Natural Habitat and Wildlife	Diverse ecosystems, rich in flora and fauna
National Animal	Lion (Unofficial)
National Bird	Robin Redbreast
Main Forests	1. Sherwood Forest
	2. New Forest
	3. Glenmore Forest
	4. Thetford Forest
Main Recognized Natural Habitats for Wild Animals	1. RSPB Reserves
	2. Scottish Highlands
	3. Cairngorms National Park
	4. Lake District National Park
	5. The Broads National Park

Biggest in the United Kingdom :

Category	Name	Description
Biggest City	London	Largest city in the UK by population, with an estimated 9.4 million inhabitants.
Richest Man	Sir Jim Ratcliffe	British billionaire businessman, with a net worth of £20.0 billion (as of October 26, 2023).
Biggest Company	HSBC Holdings	Largest British company by revenue, operating in global banking and financial services.
Tallest Building	The Shard	Tallest building in the UK, with a height of 309.6 meters (1,016 feet).
Largest Statue	Angel of the North	Largest angel sculpture in the UK, with a wingspan of 54 meters (177 feet).
Largest Dam	Cruachan Dam	Largest hydroelectric power station in the UK, with a capacity of 440 megawatts.
Tallest Mountain	Ben Nevis	Highest mountain in the UK, with a peak elevation of 1,345 meters (4,411 feet).
Longest River	Severn River	Longest river in the UK, flowing for 354 kilometers (220 miles).
Biggest Forest	Cairngorms National Park	Largest UK national park, with diverse landscapes including forests, mountains, and valleys.
Biggest Lake	Loch Ness	Largest freshwater lake by volume in the UK, holding 7.4 cubic kilometers of water.

Brief History Of United Kingdom :

The history of the United Kingdom is rich and diverse, spanning thousands of years. Here is a brief overview of the key historical periods in the history of the United Kingdom:

1. Ancient United Kingdom:
   • The history of the United Kingdom dates back to ancient times when the region was inhabited by various Celtic tribes, including the Britons.
   • The Roman Empire invaded the British Isles in the 1st century AD, leading to the Roman occupation of Britain, which lasted for several centuries.
   • In the 5th and 6th centuries, Anglo-Saxon and Viking invasions significantly influenced the culture and demographics of the region.
2. Medieval Period:
   • The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 by William the Conqueror marked a pivotal moment in British history. The Normans introduced feudalism and the construction of impressive castles.
   • The Plantagenet and Tudor dynasties played crucial roles in shaping the monarchy and governance of England during this period.
   • The Wars of the Roses (15th century) saw a power struggle for the English throne between the houses of Lancaster and York, eventually leading to the establishment of the Tudor dynasty.
   • The Union of the Crowns occurred in 1603 when James VI of Scotland also became James I of England, creating a personal union between the two kingdoms.
3. Modern Era:
   • The English Civil War (1642-1651) led to the execution of King Charles I and the establishment of the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell.
   • The Glorious Revolution of 1688 saw the Protestant William of Orange ascend to the English throne, leading to the Bill of Rights and the constitutional monarchy.
   • The Act of Union in 1707 formally united England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain.
   • The 19th century marked the height of the British Empire, with the United Kingdom becoming a global superpower.
   • The Victorian era, under Queen Victoria, witnessed significant social, economic, and industrial changes.
4. Recent History:
   • World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945) had a profound impact on the United Kingdom, leading to significant losses and the decline of the British Empire.
   • The post-war period saw the decolonization of many British colonies, transforming the United Kingdom into a modern, multicultural society.
   • The formation of the European Union (EU) in the 1970s marked a new phase in the UK’s relationship with Europe.
   • In 2016, the UK held a referendum in which it voted to leave the EU, leading to the ongoing process of Brexit.
   • The United Kingdom continues to be a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government, led by the monarch (currently Queen Elizabeth II) and the Prime Minister.

This brief history provides an overview of the United Kingdom’s evolution from ancient times to the present day, highlighting key events and developments that have shaped its history and identity.

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