''This temporary page is being used to expand and convert the article [[United Kingdom]] over to the new format agreed to at [[WikiProject Countries]]. Please feel free to add or edit anything on this page to help in the conversion process.''
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Click here to listen to official [[Media:UKoffname.mp3|Name]] (english)
The '''United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland''' comprises [[Great Britain]] ([[England]], [[Scotland]] and [[Wales]]) and the six counties of [[Northern Ireland]]. The United Kingdom (UK) is situated off the north-western coast of mainland [[Europe]]. It is a member of the [[European Union]] and [[NATO]].
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<caption><font size="+1">'''Facts'''</font></caption>
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<tr><td align="center" width="165px">[[Image:uk_flag_medium.png]]</td>
<td align="center" width="165px"> coat of arms here</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" width="165px"><font size="-1">([[Flag of the United Kingdom|In Detail]]) </font></td>
<td align="center" width="165px"><font size="-1"> (link to full size) </font></td></tr>
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<tr><td align="center" colspan=2 style="border-bottom:3px solid gray;"><font size="-1">''National [[motto]]: ???''</font></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-top:2px solid gray;">Official name:</td><td style="border-top:2px solid gray;"><font color="gray">'''United Kingdom of Great Britain<br>and Northern Ireland'''</font></td></tr>
<tr><td>Official [[language]]:</td><td>[[English language|English]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Capital|Capital city]]:</td><td>[[London]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>Land area:</td><td>244,101 km²</td></tr>
<tr><td>Inhabitants:</td><td>59,648,000 ([[2001]])</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Density|Population density]]:</td><td>244/km²</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[List of British monarchs|Monarch]]</td><td>Queen [[Elizabeth II]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Prime Minister]]</td><td>[[Tony Blair]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Currency]]:</td><td>[[Pound]] Sterling (£) | (100 pence)</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Time zone]]:</td><td>[[UTC]]+0 ([[Greenwich Mean Time]])</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[National anthem]]:</td><td>[[God Save the Queen]]\King</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Top-level domain|Internet TLD]]</td><td>.UK / .GB</td></tr>
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=== History ===
''Main article: [[History of the United Kingdom]]''
[[Great Britain]], the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary [[democracy]] and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith, the [[British Empire]] stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. The UK currently is weighing the degree of its integration with continental [[Europe]]. A member of the [[EU]], it chose to remain outside of the [[Euro]] for the time being. Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK. Regional assemblies with varying degrees of power opened in [[Scotland]], [[Wales]], and [[Northern Ireland]] in [[1999]].
See also: [[British Monarchs|Monarchs]]; [[history of Britain]]; [[history of England]]; [[Ireland/History|history of Ireland]]; [[history of Scotland]]; [[history of Wales]].
=== Politics ===
''Main article: [[Politics of the United Kingdom]]''
The United Kingdom uses a form of [[democracy]] known as a [[constitutional monarchy]] and is governed from its [[capital]], [[London]]. The UK's head of state is Queen [[Elizabeth II]] who was crowned in [[1953]], although her role is mainly ceremonial. (See [[United_Kingdom/Government|/Government]]; ''see also:'' [Law of the United Kingdom].)
=== Counties, Regions & Districts ===
Each of the four countries of the United Kingdom is divided into several main administrative areas.
''Other articles:'' [[Cities of the United Kingdom]], [[Counties of England]], [[Counties of Northern Ireland]], [[Counties of Scotland]], [[Counties of Wales]]
''Woefully incomplete and wildly inaccurate. Info from around 1995, before devolution. See [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/beginners_guide.asp here] for what it should look like. Assistance of a Brit would be most welcome''.
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'''England''':
* [[Avon]]
* [[Bedfordshire]]
* [[Berkshire]]
* [[Buckinghamshire]]
* [[Cambridgeshire]]
* [[Cheshire]]
* [[Cleveland (county)|Cleveland]]
* [[Cornwall and Isles of Scilly]]
* [[Cumbria]]
* [[Derbyshire]]
* [[Devon]]
* [[Dorset]]
* [[Durham]]
* [[Essex]]
* [[Gloucestershire]]
* [[Greater London]]
* [[Greater Manchester]]
* [[Hampshire]]
* [[Hereford and Worcester]]
* [[Hertfordshire]]
* [[Humberside]]
* [[Isle of Wight]]
* [[Kent]]
* [[Lancashire]]
* [[Leicestershire]]
* [[Lincolnshire]]
* [[Merseyside]]
* [[Norfolk]]
* [[Northamptonshire]]
* [[Northumbria]]
* [[Nottinghamshire]]
* [[Oxfordshire]]
* [[Shropshire]]
* [[Somerset]]
* [[Staffordshire]]
* [[Suffolk]]
* [[East Sussex]]
* [[West Sussex]]
* [[Surrey]]
* [[Tyne and Wear]]
* [[Warwickshire]]
* [[West Midlands]]
* [[Wiltshire]]
* [[North Yorkshire]]
* [[South Yorkshire]]
* [[West Yorkshire]]
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'''Scotland (1975-1999)''':
* [[Borders]]
* [[Central]]
* [[Dumfries and Galloway]]
* [[Fife]]
* [[Grampian]]
* [[Highland]]
* [[Lothian]]
* [[Orkney]]
* [[Shetland]]
* [[Strathclyde]]
* [[Tayside]]
* [[Western Isles]]
'''Wales''':
* [[Clwyd]]
* [[Dyfed]]
* [[Mid Glamorgan]]
* [[South Glamorgan]]
* [[West Glamorgan]]
* [[Gwent]]
* [[Gwynedd]]
* [[Powys]]
'''Northern Ireland''':
*[[Antrim]]
*[[Armagh]]
*[[Down]]
*[[Fermanagh]]
*[[Londonderry]]
*[[Tyrone]]
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The [[Isle of Man]] and [[Channel Islands]] are not legally part of the United Kingdom; they are British crown dependencies, though the United Kingdom is responsible for their external affairs. The United Kingdom also has many [[United Kingdom/Dependent territories|dependent territories]] throughout the world, which are legally part of the UK.
=== Geography ===
''Main article: [[Geography of the United Kingdom]]''
=== Economy ===
''Main article: [[Economy of the United Kingdom]]''
The United Kingdom, a leading trading power and financial center, deploys an essentially capitalistic economy, one of the largest of Western Europe. Over the past two decades the government has greatly reduced public ownership and contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanised, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with only 1% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves; primary energy production accounts for 10% of GDP, one of the highest shares of any industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to decline in importance.
The Blair government has put off the question of participation in the [[euro]] system.
=== Demographics ===
''Main article: [[Demographics of the United Kingdom]]''
The primary language spoken is [[English language|English]]. Other languages include [[Welsh language|Welsh]], [[Scots Gaelic|Gaelic]] and various [[Scots|Scottish dialects]]. Recent immigrants from elsewhere in [[the Commonwealth]] speak other languages, including [[Urdu]].
=== Culture ===
''Main article: [[Culture of the United Kingdom]]''
*[[film history/United Kingdom|British film]]
*[[Sheepdog Trials]]
=== Miscellaneous topics ===
* [[United_Kingdom/History|History]]
* [[United_Kingdom/Geography|Geography]]
* [[United_Kingdom/People|People]]
* [[United_Kingdom/Government|Government]]
* [[United_Kingdom/Economy|Economy]]
* [[United_Kingdom/Communications|Communications]]
* [[United_Kingdom/Transportation|Transportation]]
* [[United_Kingdom/Military|Military]]
* [[United_Kingdom/Transnational issues|Transnational issues]]
* [[United_Kingdom/Dependent territories|Dependent Territories]]
=== External links ===
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'''[[European Union]]:'''<br>
''[[Austria]]'' | ''[[Belgium]]'' | ''[[Denmark]]'' | ''[[Finland]]'' | ''[[France]]'' | ''[[Germany]]'' | ''[[Greece]]'' | ''[[Ireland]]'' | ''[[Italy]]'' | ''[[Luxembourg]]'' | ''[[Netherlands]]'' | ''[[Portugal]]'' | ''[[Spain]]'' | ''[[Sweden]]''
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<center>[[Countries of the world]] | [[Europe]]</center>
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