Human development index (HDI), an index based on life expectancy, education and GDP (max. 1)
0.907
World rank
14
Key economic sectors (% of GDP in 2003)
Services (78); industry (21); agriculture (1)
Leading companies
HSBC at £130,213m. (US$161,403m.), with British American Tobacco the second largest at £99,651m. (US$123,520m.)
Unemployment in February 2010
5·1% (Nov 2015 – Jan 2016)
Main religious denominations
Christian, 59·3% of the population; no religion, 25·1%; Muslim, 4·8%;
Political system
The party best represented in the lower chamber of Parliament (the House of Commons) after a general election normally forms a government, which is accountable to Parliament. General elections to the House of Commons must be held after at most 5 years. Certain powers were devolved to a Scottish Parliament and assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland in 1998.
Electoral system
Simple majority (first-past-the-post) system for Westminster elections; additional member system for Scotland and Wales; Single Transferable Vote for Northern Ireland
Current (March 2010) leaders
Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II (b. 1926), since 1952 Prime Minister: Theresa May (since 2016)
Previous leaders:
Prime Minister: David Cameron (2010 – 2016)
Joined the EU/EC
1973
Commissioner from country in Barroso II College of Commissioners, and portfolio
Catherine Ashton (High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission)
Number of MEPs
73
Turnout in 2014 EP elections (%)
35.6 (34.7 in 2009)
Member of eurozone
No
Except where a specific reference is inserted, the sources for this profile are either Neill Nugent’s book itself, or Barry Turner (ed.), The Statesman’s Yearbook Online, Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave Macmillan. If your library subscribes, you can gain access at http://www.statesmansyearbook.com
