GBR · Western Europe
United Kingdom
Nuclear power, financial hub of the City, permanent UNSC member. Searching for a new post-Brexit balance among the EU, AUKUS, and the Commonwealth.
Data refreshed on 2026.10.08 · source: Wikidata
Points to watch 2026.10.09
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Watch
New head of government since 2026.07.20: Andy Burnham, replacing Keir Starmer. Wikidata
- Context
- Context
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Context
Nuclear power: 225 estimated warheads. FAS
Drawn automatically from the file's layers, sources shown; no hand-written text. JSON
The Institute's composite reading
Stable
1.7 /10 risk
- Security 0.0
- Legitimacy 8.0
- Economy 6.0
- Diplomacy 7.8
- Influence 9.5
Security: 0 stable → 10 unstable · others: 0 weak → 10 strong. Computed from V-Dem, FH, CPI, RSF, World Bank, SIPRI, sanctions.
UN list of 2026.10.07: 11 people and 2 entities linked to the country by nationality or a known address. Regimes: ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida (11), Iraq (2).
Listings linked to the country by nationality or address: United States 215 (list of 2026.10.02), United Kingdom 64 (list of 2026.10.07), EU 29 (list of 2026.09.22).
- Capital
- London
- Population
- 68,000,000 inh.
- Area
- 243,610 km²
- Currency
- GBP
- Regime
- Parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Executive in office
Head of State
Charles III
Head of Government
Andy Burnham
Government in office 24 members
secrétaire d'État aux Affaires étrangères
Ed Miliband
secrétaire d'État à la Défense
Wes Streeting
secrétaire d'État à l'Intérieur
Shabana Mahmood
chancelier de l'Échiquier
John Healey
secrétaire en chef du Trésor
Emma Reynolds
secrétaire parlementaire du Trésor
Jonathan Reynolds
lord chancelier
Alex Norris
secrétaire d'État à l'Éducation
Lucy Powell
secrétaire d'État à la Santé
Yvette Cooper
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Miatta Fahnbulleh
Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
Hamish Falconer
Secrétaire d'État à la Science, à l'Innovation et à la Technologie
Liz Kendall
leader de la Chambre des communes
Alan Campbell
leader de la Chambre des lords
Angela Smith
ministre d'État
Stephen Morgan
ministre des Femmes et des Égalités
Bridget Phillipson
ministre pour le Bureau du Cabinet
Louise Haigh
secrétaire d'État au Travail et aux Retraites
Pat McFadden
secrétaire d'État aux Communautés et au Gouvernement local
Steve Reed
secrétaire d'État aux Transports
Heidi Alexander
secrétaire d'État pour l'Irlande du Nord
Hilary Benn
secrétaire d'État pour l'Écosse
Douglas Alexander
secrétaire d'État pour le Pays de Galles
Stephen Kinnock
secrétaire d'État à la Culture, aux Médias et au Sport
Lisa Nandy
Parliament
chambre des lords
808 seats
Chair John McFall
Inception 1801
chambre des communes
650 seats
Chair Lindsay Hoyle
Inception 1801
Economic indicators World Bank · 2025
GDP
4.00 T$
GDP / capita
57,602 $
Growth
1.4 %
Inflation
3.9 %
Unemployment
4.7 %
Debt / GDP
130.7 %
Defense / GDP
2.3 %
Life expectancy
81.4 yrs
Military bases Institute · Wikipedia
active rotational or scaled down uncertain closed or handed over foreign base on national soil
Register kept by the Institute, updated 2026.10.08; coordinates and links read from Wikipedia.
Abroad 13
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1
UK Naval Support Facility Bahrain
Bahrain · Mina Salman, Manama
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2
British Army Training Support Unit Belize
Belize · Ladyville
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3
Diego Garcia (with the United States)
British Indian Ocean Territory · Archipel des Chagos
2025 treaty: sovereignty transferred to Mauritius, base leased for 99 years.
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4
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5
RAF Akrotiri
Cyprus · Zone de souveraineté d'Akrotiri
Akrotiri and Dhekelia have remained British since Cyprus's independence (1960).
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6
Dhekelia Garrison
Cyprus · Zone de souveraineté de Dhekelia
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7
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8
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9
British Forces Gibraltar
Gibraltar · Gibraltar
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10
British Army Training Unit Kenya
Kenya · Nanyuki
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11
UK Joint Logistics Support Base Duqm
Oman · Duqm
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12
British Defence Singapore Support Unit
Singapore · Sembawang
Naval support point of the Five Power Defence Arrangements.
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13
Rotational
Foreign bases on national soil 2
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14
RAF Lakenheath
United States of America · Suffolk
Largest US Air Force base in the UK, F-35A and F-15E fighters.
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15
RAF Mildenhall
United States of America · Suffolk
Military capabilities Wikipedia · IISS Military Balance résumés
Active
138 000
Reserve
78 000
Land
- 213 Challenger 2/3 Char (148 modernisés en CR3)
- — Ajax (programme) Reconnaissance (en livraison)
- 388 Warrior VCI
- 89 AS90 155 mm Artillerie auto.
- 100 Boxer VBM
Air
- 137 Typhoon (Eurofighter) Chasseur multirôle
- 38 F-35B Lightning II Chasseur 5e gén. (objectif 138)
- 14 Voyager KC2/3 Ravitailleur
- 22 A400M Atlas Transport
Naval
- 2 HMS Queen Elizabeth + Prince of Wales Porte-avions STOVL
- 4 SNLE classe Vanguard SNLE Trident
- 6 SNA classe Astute SNA
- 6 Type 45 (Daring) Destroyer Aegis-équiv.
- 11 Type 23 (Duke) Frégate
- — Type 26 (City) / Type 31 (Inspiration) Frégates (en construction)
Armed forces 447 units listed · Wikidata
Show the 447 units · raw Wikidata list, which does not always flag a disbanded unit
Armée
216e escadron de transmissions parachutiste (armée britannique)
Armée
2nd Mountain Company
Flotte
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Commandement
Allied Maritime Command
Commandement
British Forces British Indian Ocean Territories
Commandement
Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches
Commandement
Cyber and Electromagnetic Command
Commandement
East Indies and China Station
Commandement
Joint Forces Command
Commandement
MetCC
Commandement
Palestine Command
Commandement
Quartier général permanent interarmées
Commandement
RAF Maintenance Command
Commandement
Regional Command
Commandement
Western District
Division
81e division d'infanterie (West Africa)
Division
82nd
Division
Hampshire County Division
Division
West Sussex County Division
Brigade
177th (2/1st Lincoln and Leicester) Brigade
Brigade
1st Artillery Brigade and Headquarters South West
Brigade
36th Tank Brigade
Brigade
6th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
Brigade
Brigade de Gurkhas
Brigade
Groupe d'infanterie spécialisée
Régiment
100th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
Régiment
101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment
Régiment
101st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
Régiment
102nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
Régiment
10e régiment de logistique des Gurkhas de la Reine RLC
Régiment
10th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
Régiment
116th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
Régiment
117th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
Régiment
132nd (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
Régiment
137th (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
Régiment
17 Port and Maritime Regiment
Régiment
18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment
Régiment
1st Regiment, Royal Military Police
Régiment
22 Engineer Regiment
Régiment
23e régiment du génie parachutiste
Régiment
24 Commando Regiment Royal Engineers
Régiment
2nd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
Régiment
3rd Signal Regiment (United Kingdom)
Régiment
4th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment
Régiment
4th Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment
Régiment
5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
Régiment
5th Regiment Royal Artillery
Régiment
71st (East Lancashire) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery
Régiment
7e régiment d'artillerie parachutiste à cheval (armée britannique)
Régiment
Band of The Parachute Regiment
Régiment
Bermuda Regiment
Régiment
British West Indies Regiment
Régiment
Duke of Lancaster's Regiment
Régiment
Honourable Artillery Company
Régiment
Irish Guards
Régiment
Kensington Regiment
Régiment
Nigeria Regiment
Régiment
Raiding Support Regiment
Régiment
Royal Dragoon Guards
Régiment
Royal Gibraltar Regiment
+ 387 more units · Wikidata data
Nuclear posture
Puissance nucléaire P5 (TNP)
225 estimated warheads · FAS 2026 since 1952
Continuous at-sea deterrence (CASD) · 4 SNLE Trident
Triad
- SLBM / SNLE
- Strategic aviation
Strategic chokepoints 2 control point(s)
- borde Manche Avec France
- contrôle (Gibraltar BOT) Détroit de Gibraltar Avec Espagne et Maroc
Governance indices V-Dem 2025 · Freedom House 2026 · CPI 2025 · RSF 2026
Democracy (V-Dem)
0.77/1
Freedoms (Freedom House)
92/100
Corruption (CPI)
70/100
Press freedom (RSF)
80/100
Military posture SIPRI · 2025
Global spending rank
#6
Annual budget
88.0 Md$
Defense effort
2.4 %PIB
Trade dependencies OEC · UN Comtrade · 2023
Exports
537 Md$
Imports
793 Md$
Balance
-256 Md$
Top exports
- 8.5% Voitures + pièces 46 Md$
- 5.2% Pétrole raffiné 28 Md$
- 4.7% Or 25 Md$
- 4.2% Médicaments 23 Md$
- 3.9% Turbines + machines 21 Md$
Top imports
- 8.5% Voitures + pièces 67 Md$
- 5.6% Or 44 Md$
- 6.7% Pétrole brut + raffiné 53 Md$
- 4.3% Médicaments 34 Md$
Export partners
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États-Unis
21.7%
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Allemagne
8.6%
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Pays-Bas
7.6%
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Irlande
6.2%
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France
5.9%
Import partners
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Chine
11.5%
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Allemagne
11.3%
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États-Unis
9.7%
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Pays-Bas
6.1%
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France
5.4%
Diplomatic alignment UNGA 2020-2024 · Bailey-Strezhnev-Voeten
Vote concordance with each power at UN General Assembly.
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USA
92%
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GBR
100%
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FRA
95%
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DEU
95%
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RUS
14%
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CHN
21%
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IRN
12%
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ISR
76%
Abstention: 6%
Key treaties UN Treaty Collection · IAEA · ICRC · OPCW
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✓
NPT
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✓
CTBT
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✗
TPNW
-
✓
Rome Statute
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✓
Genocide
-
✓
Geneva
-
✓
Ottawa Mine Ban
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✓
Oslo Cluster Munitions
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✓
Arms Trade Treaty
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✓
Paris Agreement
Bilateral visits, last 24 months Wikipedia · communiqués officiels
Outgoing visits
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2025-09-25
États-Unis · AGNU + visite d'État retour
Starmer-Trump
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2025-04-17
États-Unis · Visite officielle
Tarifs + accord commercial
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2024-12-08
Émirats arabes unis · Bilatéral
Investissements + AUKUS
Incoming visits
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2025-09-17
Trump · 2e visite d'État (rare)
Political calendar Institute · Wikipedia · 2026-10-08
Upcoming
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2029-05
Législatives (au plus tard)
Bilan Starmer
Last election
-
2024-07-04
Législatives
Travaillistes (Starmer) — 411/650 · turnout 59.7%
Plus mauvais score conservateur depuis 1834
Society · human UNDP HDI 2023 · World Bank · WID · UNHCR 2025
HDI
0.946/1
Top 10% (wealth)
56.7 %
Gini
32.4
Refugees hosted
581,072
Refugees originating
517
Disputed recognitions curé éditorial · UN Member States
Recognizes
- Kosovo
- Palestine
- Sahara marocain
Does not recognize
- Crimée russe
Defense industry SIPRI Top 100 · sites officiels
Arms export rank
#6
4% du marché mondial
Doctrine
Defence Command Paper 2023 — Indo-Pacific tilt + AUKUS
Prime contractors
- BAE Systems
- Rolls-Royce
- Babcock
- QinetiQ
Key platforms
- Typhoon
- Astute
- Storm Shadow
- GCAP/Tempest
National anthem
God Save the King
Alliances and organisations Institut · Wikidata
- OTAN
- G7
- G20
- AUKUS
- Five Eyes
- Commonwealth
- Conseil de sécurité ONU
- UN
- OECD
- WTO
- Council of Europe
- OSCE
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Global attention Wikipedia · 90 days
The country's Wikipedia article is usually read 17,703 times a day (French and English). On 2026.10.07: 17,132, or ×1.0.
French + English French usual level 2026.07.10 · 2026.10.07 Wikimedia statistics (CC0), human users
Sources and freshness
- Executive, government, parliament, anthem · Wikidata (CC0) · 2026-10-08
- Economy · World Bank (CC BY 4.0) · 2025
- Indices and figures · V-Dem 2026 (OWID) · Freedom House 2026 (OWID) · Transparency International CPI 2025 · RSF 2026 · PNUD IDH 2025 (OWID) · Banque mondiale Gini 2021 · UNHCR 2025 · SIPRI 2026 (OWID) · FAS 2026 (OWID) · read on 2026-10-08
- Memberships · Wikidata (CC0) · 2026-10-08
- Political calendar · Institute and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) · 2026-10-08
- UN sanctions · Security Council consolidated list · list of 2026-10-07 · read on 2026-10-08
- Sanctions · US Treasury (OFAC), SDN and non-SDN lists · list of 2026-10-02 · read on 2026-10-08
- Sanctions · United Kingdom, UK Sanctions List (FCDO) · list of 2026-10-07 · read on 2026-10-08
- Sanctions · European Union, consolidated financial sanctions list · list of 2026-09-22 · read on 2026-10-08
- Institute dossier (sanctions, treaties, visits, capabilities) · as of 2026-05-01