MAJOR DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS
The UK has a total population of 62 348 447 and a population density of 255 people per km2. It has the third largest population in the European Union (behind Germany and France) and is 21st overall in the world. Its population density is among the largest in the world. The UK has an extremely high literacy rate of 99%. The Church of England and the Church of Scotland serve as the official churches of their respective countries. The population is mainly white, with 92.1%, followed by 4% South Asian, 2% black, 1.2% mixed, 0.4% Chinese and 0.4% other. (Gapminder, Wikipedia)
Population
The United Kingdom has a total estimated population of 62 348 447 people, but the last census (2001) was 58 789 194. England had 83.8% of the population in mid-2006. Scotland had 8.4%, Wales had 4.9%, and Northern Ireland had 2.9%. The UK's high population density is thanks to the extremely high population density in England, as it has a very large population, yet is only an island, with not much land area. The birth rate is 12 births per 1000 people. The death rate is 9.9 deaths per 1000 people. The average life expectancy is 79.9 years. (Gapminder, Wikipedia)
Ethnicity
The UK is a very multicultural place. Main ethnic groups include British, Asians, and Africans/African Americans. The 2001 census showed that 85.67% of the population was White British, 5.27% white (others), 1.8% Indian, 1.6% Pakistani, 1.2% White Irish, 1.2% mixed, 1% Caribbean, 0.8% African, 0.5% Bangladeshi, 0.4% Chinese, 0.4% other Asian, and 0.4% other. (Wikipedia)
Religion
The main and traditional religion in the UK is Christianity. The Church of England (Anglican) is the established church in England. Similarly, the Church of Scotland (a Presbyterian Church) is regarded as the 'national church' but it is not official. Wales and Northern Ireland do not have an established church. Most people (71.6%) are Christian, but other main religions include Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Judaism. (Wikipedia)
