England

England is one of four countries comprising the United Kingdom, the others being Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It occupies the southern and central portions of the island of Great Britain, and shares borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west. Its capital and largest city is London, which is also the capital of the United Kingdom as a whole.

In terms of population and economy, England is the largest component of the United Kingdom. The census of 21 March 2021 recorded the usual resident population of England at 56,490,048, compared with 3,107,494 for Wales; the combined total of both countries (59,597,542) was the largest figure ever recorded in a census. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated the total population of the United Kingdom at 67.6 million by mid-2022, with an overall population density of 279 people per square kilometre.

Geography and internal division

England comprises lowlands in the east and southeast, uplands and valleys in the north and west, and extensive coastlines along the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, and the English Channel. According to ONS regional classification, England is divided into nine regions; the southern regions alone contain more than 31 million people.

Political history

The Kingdom of England was long an independent state with its own parliament. In 1707, the Acts of Union, which were ratified by both the English and Scottish parliaments, created a single kingdom known as Great Britain, which came into effect on 1 May 1707; the new Parliament of the United Kingdom held its first session in October 1707. Since then, England has had no separate government or parliament; legislation concerning England is passed through Westminster Parliament.

Internal administration rests with local authorities, counties, and combined authorities, some of which have directly elected mayors. This arrangement represents incomplete devolution, whereby specific powers such as transport, housing, and economic development are delegated rather than creating a single English parliament.

Economy

England's economy is oriented toward services—particularly finance, insurance, information technology, and tourism—with manufacturing and agriculture accounting for a small share of output. London has the highest gross domestic product (GDP) of any region in the United Kingdom; in 2023 it exceeded £569 billion, followed by the South East. ONS analysis for 2023 showed that the West of England combined authority had the highest GDP growth rate (2.9%), while Tees Valley and Greater Lincolnshire declined (-1.3%).

Regional disparities constitute a significant issue in political debate. In 2023, GDP per capita in London was approximately £63,618, compared with £37,135 for the United Kingdom average and lower figures for the North East of England. Government "levelling up" programmes aimed to reduce this gap, though their outcomes remain contested.