Chapter 4
The UK today
The four nations and their capitals, the currency, the languages spoken, how the population has grown and changed, and equality between men and women.
By the end you should know
- Name the capital city of each nation of the UK
- Know the UK's currency, coins and notes
- Know which languages other than English are spoken and where
- Describe how the population has changed and how it is spread across the UK
- Explain what makes the UK an equal and ethnically diverse society
The UK of today is much more varied, in both ethnic and religious terms, than it was a hundred years ago. Because of immigration after the Second World War, nearly one person in ten has a parent or grandparent who was born outside the UK. The country is multinational and multiracial, with a rich mix of cultures.
The nations and their capital cities
The UK lies in north-west Europe. The longest distance on the mainland runs from John O'Groats at the northern tip of Scotland to Land's End at the south-western tip of England. Most people live in towns and cities, yet much of Britain is still countryside, which many people visit for walking, camping and fishing.
What are the capital cities of the four nations of the UK?
Key factEngland — London · Scotland — Edinburgh · Wales — Cardiff · Northern Ireland — Belfast
What is the longest distance on the UK mainland, and between which two places?
About 870 miles (roughly 1,400 km), from John O'Groats on the north coast of Scotland to Land's End in the south-west corner of England.
Each nation has other well-known cities besides its capital. Some examples:
- England: Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle upon Tyne, Bristol
- Scotland: Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness
- Wales: Swansea, Newport, Bangor, St Davids
- Northern Ireland: Londonderry, Armagh, Newry, Lisburn
Exam tip: learn the capitals as a set — London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast. Distractors often use another big city from the same nation, such as Glasgow for Scotland or Swansea for Wales.
Currency
The UK uses the pound sterling, written with the symbol £. One pound is worth 100 pence (p).
What is the UK's currency and which coins and notes are there?
The pound sterling (£), divided into 100 pence. Coins: 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2. Notes: £5, £10, £20 and £50.
Can Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes be used in England?
Yes — Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own banknotes, which are valid everywhere in the UK, but shops and businesses are not obliged to accept them.
Languages and dialects
English is spoken with many regional accents and dialects across the UK. Some parts of the country also have their own languages, which are completely separate from English.
Which languages other than English are spoken in parts of the UK?
Welsh in Wales (taught in schools and universities) · Gaelic in parts of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland · Irish Gaelic by some people in Northern Ireland
Welsh and Gaelic are separate languages, not dialects of English. English itself has many accents and dialects.
Population
The handbook includes a table showing how the population has grown. Growth has sped up in recent years; migration and people living longer have both contributed. The figures below are the handbook's own (from National Statistics).
- 1600: just over 4 million
- 1700: 5 million
- 1801: 8 million
- 1851: 20 million
- 1901: 40 million
- 1951: 50 million
- 1998: 57 million
- 2005: just under 60 million
- 2010: just over 62 million
What was the UK population in 2010, according to the handbook?
Just over 62 million (the handbook's figure). Growth has been faster in recent years, helped by migration and longer life expectancy.
The handbook's table also gives just over 4 million (1600), 8 million (1801), 40 million (1901) and 50 million (1951).
Roughly what share of the UK population lives in each nation, according to the handbook?
England about 84% · Scotland just over 8% · Wales around 5% · Northern Ireland less than 3%
Why is the UK population ageing, and what is the effect?
People live longer thanks to better living standards and health care. There is a record number of people aged 85 and over, which affects the cost of pensions and health care.
These are the handbook's figures. The real population is higher today, but the test is set from the handbook, so learn its numbers — especially 'just over 62 million' in 2010 and England's share of about 84%.
Ethnic diversity
People in the UK have ethnic origins from all over the world, and the picture changes quickly, especially in big cities like London. It is hard to get an exact picture of everyone's origins, but surveys show some clear patterns.
What does the handbook say about ethnic diversity in the UK?
The population is ethnically diverse and changing fast, especially in big cities such as London. Nearly 10% of people have a parent or grandparent born outside the UK. 'White' is the most common ethnic description in surveys; Asian, black and mixed are other significant groups.
An equal society
The law protects men and women equally. Opportunities for women are far wider than in the past: women work in every part of the economy and more hold senior posts than ever, including in jobs that used to be done mainly by men. Men, too, now do a wider range of jobs.
What equal rights do men and women have in the UK?
By law nobody may be discriminated against because of their gender or because they are (or are not) married. Men and women have equal rights to work, own property, marry and divorce, and married parents are equally responsible for their children.
What does the handbook say about women in Britain today?
Women make up about half of the workforce; on average girls leave school with better qualifications than boys; more women than men study at university.
Women are no longer expected to stay at home rather than work, and many carry on working after having children. In many families both partners have jobs and share childcare and housework.