United Kingdom: Flag and Facts
The United Kingdom's flag, the Union Jack, layers the red cross of Saint George, edged in white, over the red diagonal cross of Saint Patrick and the white diagonal cross of Saint Andrew on blue.
- Official name
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Capital
- London
- Region
- Northern Europe
- Population
- 69 million (2025)
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- British pound
- Area
- 242,900 km² (93,784 sq mi)
- People
- British
- Calling code
- +44
- Highest point
- Ben Nevis 1,345 m
- Independence
- No single official date
- National symbols
- lion (all of Britain)
- Borders
- Ireland
About United Kingdom
England and Scotland, already sharing one monarch, were merged by the Acts of Union in 1707. Ireland was added in 1801, while Wales had already been English territory since the 16th century. During the 18th and 19th centuries the British Empire grew fast, and in the early 20th century it covered about a quarter of the earth's surface. Two World Wars drained the country, and much of the empire was taken apart afterward.
Separate Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish assemblies were set up in 1998. Rugged hills and low mountains cover much of the land, with flatter plains in the east and southeast. More than half of all days are overcast. About 68.8 million people live here, and the London area alone has around 9.6 million.
Did you know?
- Ben Nevis, the highest point, stands 1,345 meters tall.
- The Fens drop to 4 meters below sea level.
- Wales has the dragon, the daffodil and the leek as national symbols.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about United Kingdom
What is the official name of the UK flag?
Its official name is the Union Flag, though most people call it the Union Jack.
Does the UK have a national day?
No. The UK does not celebrate one single national holiday.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.