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Do not fill this in! == Economy == {{Main|Economy of the United Kingdom}} [[File:London Skyline (125508655).jpeg|thumb|[[London]] is the largest [[urban economy]] in Europe<ref>{{Cite web |last=Florida |first=Richard |date=16 March 2017 |title=The Economic Power of Cities Compared to Nations |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-16/top-metros-have-more-economic-power-than-most-nations |access-date=22 February 2024 |website=Bloomberg |archive-date=8 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308074221/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-16/top-metros-have-more-economic-power-than-most-nations |url-status=live }}</ref> and, alongside [[New York City|New York]], the city in the world most integrated with the [[World economy|global economy]].<ref>{{Cite web |website=GaWC |title=The World According to GaWC 2020 |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/microsites/geography/gawc/world2020t.html |date=21 August 2020 |access-date=3 June 2023 |publisher=Loughborough University |archive-date=12 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220612112616/https://www.lboro.ac.uk/microsites/geography/gawc/world2020t.html |url-status=live }}</ref>]] The UK has a partially regulated [[market economy]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 2011 |title=Principles for Economic Regulation |url=http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/better-regulation/docs/p/11-795-principles-for-economic-regulation |access-date=1 May 2011 |publisher=Department for Business, Innovation & Skills |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517134052/http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/better-regulation/docs/p/11-795-principles-for-economic-regulation |archive-date= 17 May 2011 }}</ref> Based on market [[exchange rate]]s, the UK is the [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|sixth-largest economy]] in the world and the [[List of sovereign states in Europe by GDP (nominal)|second-largest]] in Europe by nominal GDP. [[File:Bank-of-England.jpg|thumb|The [[Bank of England]] is the [[central bank]] of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based.]] The United Kingdom uses the [[pound sterling]], the fourth most-traded currency in the [[foreign exchange market]] and the world's fourth-largest [[reserve currency]] (after the [[United States dollar]], [[euro]], and [[yen]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Currency Composition of Official Foreign Exchange Reserves |url=https://data.imf.org/regular.aspx?key=41175 |access-date=10 October 2021 |website=IMF Data |language=en |archive-date=12 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512202858/https://data.imf.org/regular.aspx?key=41175 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sterling was the 2nd best-performing G10 currency against the dollar in 2023 with a gain of about 5%, with only the [[Swiss franc]] performing better.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sterling steady but set for 5% rally in 2023 |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/sterling-steady-set-5-rally-2023-2023-12-27/|publisher=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nikkei Asia - Currency |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Markets/Currencies/Yen-is-worst-performing-G10-currency-for-3rd-straight-year |access-date=23 January 2024 |archive-date=23 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123142941/https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Markets/Currencies/Yen-is-worst-performing-G10-currency-for-3rd-straight-year |url-status=live }}</ref> [[London]] is the world capital for foreign exchange trading, with a global market share of 38.1% in 2022<ref>{{Cite web |title=BIS Triennial Survey of Foreign Exchange and Over-The-Counter Interest Rate Derivatives Markets in April 2022 – UK Data |url=https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/news/2022/october/bis-triennial-survey-of-foreign-exchange-and-over-the-counter-interest-rate-derivatives-markets |date=27 October 2022 |access-date=21 February 2023 |publisher=Bank of England |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221135740/https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/news/2022/october/bis-triennial-survey-of-foreign-exchange-and-over-the-counter-interest-rate-derivatives-markets |url-status=live }}</ref> of the daily $7.5 trillion global turnover.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Global FX trading hits record $7.5 trln a day – BIS survey |date=27 October 2022 |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/global-fx-trading-hits-record-75-trln-day-bis-survey-2022-10-27/ |access-date=21 February 2023 |work=Reuters |last1=Jones |first1=Marc |last2=John |first2=Alun |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221135739/https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/global-fx-trading-hits-record-75-trln-day-bis-survey-2022-10-27/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[HM Treasury]], led by the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]], is responsible for developing and executing the government's [[public finance]] policy and [[economic policy]]. The [[Bank of England]] is the UK's [[central bank]] and is responsible for issuing notes and coins in the pound sterling. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland retain the right to issue their own notes, subject to retaining enough Bank of England notes in reserve to cover their issue. The estimated nominal GDP of the UK for 2024 is £2.765 trillion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 July 2023 |title=United Kingdom: 2023 Article IV Consultation-Press Release |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2023/07/10/United-Kingdom-2023-Article-IV-Consultation-Press-Release-Staff-Report-and-Statement-by-the-535878 |access-date=9 March 2024 |website=IMF |archive-date=9 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309143322/https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2023/07/10/United-Kingdom-2023-Article-IV-Consultation-Press-Release-Staff-Report-and-Statement-by-the-535878 |url-status=live }}</ref> This value is 23% higher than the 2019 figure of £2.255 trillion<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2022 |title=2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release |url=https://www.imf.org/-/media/Files/Publications/CR/2022/English/1GBREA2022001.ashx |access-date=9 March 2024 |website=IMF |archive-date=9 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309143322/https://www.imf.org/-/media/Files/Publications/CR/2022/English/1GBREA2022001.ashx |url-status=live }}</ref> before leaving the EU (at similar US and EU exchange rates to 2019<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sterling Exchange Rates |url=https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/boeapps/database/Rates.asp |access-date=9 March 2024 |website=Bank of England |archive-date=9 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309143322/https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/boeapps/database/Rates.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>).{{Efn|Real GDP is an inflation adjusted GDP which is needed if you need to study changes in volume rather than value especially if the currency devalues due to the inflation but does not show current market values.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Real GDP growth |url=https://obr.uk/forecasts-in-depth/the-economy-forecast/real-gdp-growth/ |access-date=9 March 2024 |website=OBR |archive-date=9 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309143323/https://obr.uk/forecasts-in-depth/the-economy-forecast/real-gdp-growth/ |url-status=live }};{{Cite web |title=Real Gross Domestic Product (Real GDP): How to Calculate It, vs. Nominal |url=https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/realgdp.asp |access-date=9 March 2024 |website=Investopedia |archive-date=5 February 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205021005/https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/realgdp.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>}} The [[Tertiary sector of the economy|service sector]] made up around 80% of the UK's [[Gross value added|GVA]] in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hutton |first=Georgina |date=6 December 2022 |title=Industries in the UK |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8353/ |access-date=31 January 2023 |website=UK Parliament: House of Commons Library |archive-date=7 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007134640/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8353/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2022, the UK is the world's [[List of countries by service exports|second-largest exporter of services]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Service exports (BoP, current US$) |url=https://data.worldbank.org/ |access-date=25 August 2023 |website=World Bank Open Data |archive-date=26 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526025607/https://data.worldbank.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> London is one of the world's largest financial centres, ranking second in the world in the [[Global Financial Centres Index]] in 2022. London also has the [[List of cities by GDP|largest city GDP]] in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global city GDP rankings 2008–2025 |url=http://www.ukmediacentre.pwc.com/Media-Library/Global-city-GDP-rankings-2008-2025-61a.aspx |date=2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428032945/http://www.ukmediacentre.pwc.com/Media-Library/Global-city-GDP-rankings-2008-2025-61a.aspx |archive-date=28 April 2011 |access-date=16 November 2010 |publisher=PricewaterhouseCoopers}}</ref> Edinburgh ranks 17th in the world, and sixth in Western Europe in the Global Financial Centres Index in 2020.<ref name="GFCI 27 Rank – Long Finance">{{Cite web |title=GFCI 27 Rank |url=https://www.longfinance.net/programmes/financial-centre-futures/global-financial-centres-index/gfci-27-explore-data/gfci-27-rank |access-date=29 August 2020 |website=Long Finance |archive-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815191828/https://www.longfinance.net/programmes/financial-centre-futures/global-financial-centres-index/gfci-27-explore-data/gfci-27-rank/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Tourism in the United Kingdom|Tourism]] is very important to the British economy; London was named as Europe's most popular destination for 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/london-best-europe-city-tripadvisor-2022-b1996028.html |title=London named Europe's most popular destination for 2022 |website=[[Independent.co.uk]] |date=19 January 2022 |first1=Helen |last1=Coffey |access-date=11 March 2023 |archive-date=11 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311142939/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/london-best-europe-city-tripadvisor-2022-b1996028.html }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://fortune.com/2023/04/25/king-charles-coronation-tourists-money-london-british-economy/ |title=King Charles' coronation is bringing millions of tourists and a cash infusion to London but it probably won't save the British economy |website=[[fortune.com]] |date=25 April 2023 |first1=Kelvin |last1=Chan |agency=The Associated Press |access-date=9 May 2023 |archive-date=2 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502144950/https://fortune.com/2023/04/25/king-charles-coronation-tourists-money-london-british-economy/ }}</ref> The [[creative industries]] accounted for 5.9% of the UK's GVA in 2019, having grown by 43.6% in real terms from 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DCMS Economic Estimates 2019 (provisional): Gross Value Added |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dcms-economic-estimates-2019-gross-value-added/dcms-economic-estimates-2019-provisional-gross-value-added |access-date=31 January 2023 |website=gov.uk |archive-date=31 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131001226/https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dcms-economic-estimates-2019-gross-value-added/dcms-economic-estimates-2019-provisional-gross-value-added |url-status=live }}</ref> Creative industries contributed more than £111bn to the UK economy in 2018, growth in the sector is more than five times larger than growth across the UK economy as a whole as reported in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2020 |title=UK's Creative Industries contributes almost £13 million to the UK economy every hour |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uks-creative-industries-contributes-almost-13-million-to-the-uk-economy-every-hour |access-date=21 February 2023 |publisher=UK Government |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221131518/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uks-creative-industries-contributes-almost-13-million-to-the-uk-economy-every-hour |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Lloyd's of London]] is the world's largest [[insurance]] and [[reinsurance]] market and is located in London.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lloyd's of London – value proposition |url=https://www.lloyds.com/about-lloyds/value-proposition-coverholder |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227100951/https://www.lloyds.com/about-lloyds/value-proposition-coverholder |archive-date=27 February 2023|website=Lloyd's of London}}</ref> [[WPP plc]], the world's biggest advertising company, is also based in the UK. The UK is one of the leading retail markets in Europe and is home to Europe's largest e-commerce market.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.great.gov.uk/international/content/investment/sectors/retail/|access-date=18 January 2024|title=Retail|publisher=great.gov.uk|archive-date=18 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118084416/https://www.great.gov.uk/international/content/investment/sectors/retail/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[John Lewis Partnership|John Lewis]] is the UK's largest employee owned business.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://employeeownership.co.uk/resources/what-the-evidence-tells-us/|access-date=18 January 2024|title=Employee owned businesses - What the evidence tells us|archive-date=2 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202155249/https://employeeownership.co.uk/resources/what-the-evidence-tells-us/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante 5.2.jpg|thumb|[[Aston Martin]] manufacture vehicles in [[Gaydon]], England.]] The [[Automotive industry in the United Kingdom|automotive industry]] employs around 800,000 people, with a turnover in 2022 of £67 billion, generating £27 billion of exports (10% of the UK's total export of goods).<ref name="Auto Output 2022"/> In 2023, the UK produced around 905,100 passenger vehicles and 120,400 commercial vehicles, output was up 17.0% on the previous year.<ref>{{Cite web | date=24 January 2024 | title=December 2023 UK Car Manufacturing | url=https://media.smmt.co.uk/december-2023-uk-car-manufacturing/ | access-date=16 March 2024 | website=SMMT | archive-date=16 March 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316184018/https://media.smmt.co.uk/december-2023-uk-car-manufacturing/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Britain is known for iconic cars such as [[Mini Hatch|Mini]] and [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]],<ref>{{Cite web | date=19 November 2020 | title=Best British cars: Top 50 all-time greatest British-built cars revealed - page 2 | url=https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/best-cars-vans/351729/best-british-cars-top-50-all-time-greatest-british-built-cars-revealed/page-2 | access-date=9 March 2024 | website=Auto Express | archive-date=16 March 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316184015/https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/best-cars-vans/351729/best-british-cars-top-50-all-time-greatest-british-built-cars-revealed/page-2 | url-status=live }}</ref> also other luxury cars such as [[Rolls-Royce Motor Cars|Rolls-Royce]], [[Bentley]] and [[Range Rover]]. The UK is a major centre for engine manufacturing: in 2022 around 1.5 million engines were produced.<ref name="Auto Output 2022">{{cite web |url=https://www.smmt.co.uk/industry-topics/uk-automotive/ |title=UK Automotive |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= |publisher=The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders |access-date=14 November 2023 |quote= |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113163440/https://www.smmt.co.uk/industry-topics/uk-automotive/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is also the world's [[List of countries by engine exports|fourth-largest exporter of engines]], as of 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Combustion Engines |url=https://oec.world/en/profile/hs/combustion-engines |access-date=30 September 2023 |website=OEC - The Observatory of Economic Complexity |language=en |archive-date=3 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003014526/https://oec.world/en/profile/hs/combustion-engines |url-status=live }}</ref> The UK [[auto racing|motorsport]] industry employs more than 40,000 people, comprises around 4,300 companies and has an annual turnover of around £10 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2020 |title=UK motorsport industry in pole position for F1's 70th anniversary |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-motorsport-industry-in-pole-position-for-f1s-70th-anniversary |access-date=19 February 2023 |publisher=UK Government |archive-date=19 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219100712/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-motorsport-industry-in-pole-position-for-f1s-70th-anniversary |url-status=live }}</ref> 7 of the 10 Formula One teams are based in the UK, with their technology being used in supercars and hypercars from [[McLaren Automotive|McLaren]], [[Aston Martin]] and [[Lotus Cars|Lotus]]. The [[Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom|aerospace industry of the UK]] is the second-largest national aerospace industry in the world depending upon the method of measurement and has an annual turnover of around £30 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tovey |first=Alan |date=29 June 2016 |title=Britain's aerospace sector soars amid fears Brexit could clip its wings |work=The Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/06/29/britains-aerospace-sector-soars-amid-fears-brexit-could-clip-its |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/06/29/britains-aerospace-sector-soars-amid-fears-brexit-could-clip-its |archive-date=10 January 2022}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> The [[British space programme|UK space industry]] was worth £17.5bn in 2020/21 and employed 48,800 people. Since 2012, the number of space organisations has grown on average nearly 21% per year, with 1,293 organisations reported in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2022 |title=Size & Health of the UK Space Industry 2022 Summary Report |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-size-and-health-of-the-uk-space-industry-2022/size-health-of-the-uk-space-industry-2022 |access-date=1 April 2023 |publisher=UK Government |archive-date=31 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331072353/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-size-and-health-of-the-uk-space-industry-2022/size-health-of-the-uk-space-industry-2022 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2021 |title=Size and Health of the UK Space Industry 2021 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-size-and-health-of-the-uk-space-industry-2021/size-and-health-of-the-uk-space-industry-2021 |access-date=21 February 2023 |publisher=UK Government |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221103315/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-size-and-health-of-the-uk-space-industry-2021/size-and-health-of-the-uk-space-industry-2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[UK Space Agency]] has stated in 2023 that it is investing £1.6 billion in space related projects.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-funding-to-support-space-exploration-using-moon-resources-and-nuclear-power |title=New funding to support space exploration using Moon resources and nuclear power |access-date=11 March 2023 |archive-date=11 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311195622/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-funding-to-support-space-exploration-using-moon-resources-and-nuclear-power }} <!-- (last checked 2023-03-11) --></ref> The [[Agriculture in the United Kingdom|agriculture industry]] is intensive, highly mechanised and efficient by European standards, producing about 60 per cent of food needs with less than 1.6 per cent of the labour force (535,000 workers).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agriculture in the United Kingdom |url=http://archive.defra.gov.uk/evidence/statistics/foodfarm/general/auk/documents/AUK-2009.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105174314/http://archive.defra.gov.uk/evidence/statistics/foodfarm/general/auk/documents/AUK-2009.pdf |archive-date=5 January 2012 |access-date=9 March 2015 |publisher=Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs}}</ref> Around two-thirds of production is devoted to livestock, one-third to arable crops. The UK retains a significant, though much reduced fishing industry. It is also rich in a variety of natural resources including coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica and an abundance of arable land.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/mines/coal/home.html |title=Coal |website=BGS Minerals UK |access-date=7 July 2015 |archive-date=26 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426141109/http://www.bgs.ac.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The United Kingdom has among the highest levels of [[Income inequality in the United Kingdom|income inequality]] in [[Europe]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=House of Commons Research Briefing on Income inequality in the UK. |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7484/ |website=UK Parliament |access-date=1 July 2023 |archive-date=10 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210104536/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7484/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[OECD]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inequality – Income inequality – OECD Data |url=http://data.oecd.org/inequality/income-inequality.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629183322/https://data.oecd.org/inequality/income-inequality.htm |archive-date=29 June 2023 |access-date=3 July 2023 |website=theOECD |language=en}}</ref> and is one of the most [[North–South divide in the United Kingdom|regionally unequal]] high-income countries in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 March 2023 |title=How to tackle the UK's regional economic inequality: Focus on STEM, transport, and innovation |url=https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/how-tackle-uks-regional-economic-inequality-focus-stem-transport-and-innovation |access-date=1 July 2023 |website=CEPR |language=en |archive-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701223150/https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/how-tackle-uks-regional-economic-inequality-focus-stem-transport-and-innovation |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Why Britain is more geographically unequal than any other rich country |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/britain/2020/07/30/why-britain-is-more-geographically-unequal-than-any-other-rich-country |access-date=1 July 2023 |archive-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701223149/https://www.economist.com/britain/2020/07/30/why-britain-is-more-geographically-unequal-than-any-other-rich-country |url-status=live }}</ref> === Science and technology === {{Main|Science and technology in the United Kingdom|Telecommunications in the United Kingdom}} [[File:Cambridge Science Park Napp.jpg|thumb|[[Silicon Fen|Cambridge]] is the most intensive research cluster for science and technology in the world.<ref name="auto">{{Cite book |last=WIPO |url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2022/index.html |title=Global Innovation Index 2022, 15th Edition |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization |year=2022 |isbn=978-92-805-3432-0 |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.46596 |access-date=16 November 2022 |archive-date=3 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203061259/https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2022/index.html |url-status=live }}; {{Cite web |title=Global Innovation Index 2021 |url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2021 |access-date=5 March 2022 |website=[[World Intellectual Property Organization]] |publisher=[[United Nations]] |language=en |archive-date=5 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305010458/https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2021/ |url-status=live }}; {{Cite web |title=Release of the Global Innovation Index 2020: Who Will Finance Innovation? |url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2020/index.html |access-date=2 September 2021 |website=World Intellectual Property Organization |language=en |archive-date=3 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603121259/https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2020/index.html |url-status=live }}; {{Cite web |title=Global Innovation Index 2019 |url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2019/index.html |access-date=2 September 2021 |website=World Intellectual Property Organization |language=en |archive-date=2 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902101818/https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2019/index.html |url-status=live }}; {{Cite web |title=RTD – Item |url=https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/rtd/items/691898 |access-date=2 September 2021 |website=ec.europa.eu |archive-date=2 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902140715/https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/rtd/items/691898 |url-status=live }}</ref>]] England and Scotland were leading centres of the [[Scientific Revolution]] from the 17th century.<ref>Gascoin, J. "A reappraisal of the role of the universities in the Scientific Revolution", in Lindberg, David C. and Westman, Robert S., eds (1990), ''Reappraisals of the Scientific Revolution''. Cambridge University Press. p. 248. {{ISBN|978-0-521-34804-1}}.</ref> The United Kingdom led the [[Industrial Revolution]] from the 18th century, and has continued to produce scientists and engineers credited with important advances.<ref>Reynolds, E.E.; Brasher, N.H. (1966). ''Britain in the Twentieth Century, 1900–1964''. Cambridge University Press. p. 336. {{OCLC|474197910}}</ref> Major theorists from the 17th and 18th centuries include [[Isaac Newton]], whose [[Newton's laws of motion|laws of motion]] and illumination of [[gravitation|gravity]] have been seen as a keystone of modern science;<ref>Burtt, E.A. (2003) 1924.[https://books.google.com/books?id=G9WBMa1Rz_kC&pg=PA207 ''The Metaphysical Foundations of Modern Science''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326164803/https://books.google.com/books?id=G9WBMa1Rz_kC&pg=PA207 |date=26 March 2023 }}. Mineola, NY: Courier Dover. p. 207. {{ISBN|978-0-486-42551-1}}.</ref> from the 19th century [[Charles Darwin]], whose theory of [[evolution]] by [[natural selection]] was fundamental to the development of modern biology, and [[James Clerk Maxwell]], who formulated classical [[electromagnetic theory]]; and more recently [[Stephen Hawking]], who advanced major theories in the fields of [[cosmology]], [[quantum gravity]] and the investigation of [[black holes]].<ref>Hatt, C. (2006). [https://books.google.com/books?id=BVBvehqrAPQC ''Scientists and Their Discoveries''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326164803/https://books.google.com/books?id=BVBvehqrAPQC |date=26 March 2023 }}. London: Evans Brothers. pp. 16, 30 and 46. {{ISBN|978-0-237-53195-9}}.</ref> The [[Department for Science, Innovation and Technology]] (DSIT) is responsible for helping to encourage, develop and manage the UK's scientific, research, and technological outputs. Scientific research and development remains important in [[Universities in the United Kingdom|British universities]], with many establishing [[science park]]s to facilitate production and co-operation with industry.<ref>Castells, M.; Hall, P.; Hall, P.G. (2004). ''Technopoles of the World: the Making of Twenty-First-Century Industrial Complexes''. London: Routledge. pp. 98–100. {{ISBN|978-0-415-10015-1}}.</ref> In 2022 the UK retained its number one spot for technology in Europe reaching a combined market value of $1 trillion. Cambridge was named the number one university in the world for producing successful technology founders.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 July 2021 |title=London Has Officially Become the Technology Capital of Europe |url=https://brainstation.io/magazine/london-technology-capital-of-europe-100-unicorns |access-date=10 July 2023 |website=BrainStation |language=en-US |archive-date=7 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007093133/https://brainstation.io/magazine/london-technology-capital-of-europe-100-unicorns |url-status=live }}</ref> For four consecutive years, from 2020 to 2023, the UK maintained its fourth-place ranking in the [[Global Innovation Index]], a position determined by approximately 80 indicators encompassing the political environment, education, infrastructure, and knowledge creation, among others.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=WIPO |title=Global Innovation Index 2023, 15th Edition |url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2023/index.html |access-date=17 October 2023 |website=www.wipo.int |doi=10.34667/tind.46596 |language=en |archive-date=22 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022042128/https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2023/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto"/> During 2022, the UK produced 6.3 per cent of the world's scientific research papers and had a 10.5 per cent share of scientific citations, the third highest in the world (for both). The UK ranked 1st in the world for Field-Weighted Citation Impact.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International comparison of the UK research base, 2022 |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1078073/international-comparison-uk-research-base-2022-accompanying-note.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305235208/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1078073/international-comparison-uk-research-base-2022-accompanying-note.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2023 |access-date=11 March 2023}} (last checked 11 March 2023)</ref> Scientific journals produced in the UK include publications by the ''[[Royal Society]]'', ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'', the ''[[BMJ|British Medical Journal]]'' and ''[[The Lancet]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=McCook, Alison |year=2006 |title=Is peer review broken? |url=http://gaia.pge.utexas.edu/Good/Materials/scientist_02_28_2006.htm |journal=The Scientist |volume=20 |issue=2 |page=26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816230933/http://gaia.pge.utexas.edu/Good/Materials/scientist_02_28_2006.htm |archive-date=16 August 2011 |access-date=22 June 2011}}</ref> === Transport === {{Main|Transport in the United Kingdom}} [[File:An LNER Azuma train on the East Coast Railway Line, geograph 6275180 by Walter Baxter.jpg|thumb|A high-speed [[East Coast Main Line]] train in [[Northumberland]]]] A radial road network totals {{Convert|29145|mi|km}} of main roads, {{Convert|2173|mi|km}} of motorways and {{Convert|213750|mi|km}} of paved roads.<ref name="factbook" /> The [[M25 motorway|M25]], encircling London, is the largest and busiest bypass in the world.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Moran |first=Joe |url=https://archive.org/details/readingeveryday00mora |title=Reading the Everyday |date=16 November 2005 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-37216-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/readingeveryday00mora/page/n107 95] |url-access=limited}}</ref> In 2022, there were a total of 40.8 million licensed vehicles in Great Britain.<ref name="Transport stats 2022">{{cite web |last1=Wilkinson |first1=Freddie |title=RAC foundation traffic stats |url=https://www.racfoundation.org/motoring-faqs/mobility#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20Kingdom%2C%20there,the%20end%20of%20September%202022. |access-date=24 February 2023 |archive-date=24 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224202503/https://www.racfoundation.org/motoring-faqs/mobility#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20Kingdom%2C%20there,the%20end%20of%20September%202022. |url-status=live }}</ref> The UK has an extensive railway network of {{Convert|10072|mi|0|abbr=out}}. In Great Britain, the [[British Rail]] network was [[privatisation of British Rail|privatised]] between 1994 and 1997, followed by a rapid rise in passenger numbers. The UK was ranked eighth among national European rail systems in the 2017 European Railway Performance Index assessing intensity of use, quality of service and safety.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sylvain Duranton |last2=Agnès Audier |last3=Joël Hazan |last4=Mads Peter Langhorn |last5=Vincent Gauche |date=18 April 2017 |title=The 2017 European Railway Performance Index |url=https://www.bcg.com/en-ch/publications/2017/transportation-travel-tourism-2017-european-railway-performance-index.aspx |publisher=Boston Consulting Group |access-date=4 February 2019 |archive-date=31 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531104458/https://www.bcg.com/en-ch/publications/2017/transportation-travel-tourism-2017-european-railway-performance-index.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> [[High Speed 2]] (HS2) is a new high speed railway under construction linking up London, the Midlands, the North and Scotland, serving over 25 stations, including eight of Britain's 10 largest cities and connecting around 30 million people, capable of speeds of up to 225 mph.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is HS2 |url=https://www.hs2.org.uk/what-is-hs2 |website=HS2 |access-date=22 June 2022 |archive-date=21 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621190841/https://www.hs2.org.uk/what-is-hs2/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HS2 Trains |url=https://www.hs2.org.uk/building-hs2/trains/ |website=HS2 |access-date=24 February 2023 |archive-date=24 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224183953/https://www.hs2.org.uk/building-hs2/trains/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Crossrail]], which was renamed the [[Elizabeth line]] in 2016, in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, opened in 2022. It was Europe's largest construction project at the time and is estimated to bring in £42 billion to the UK economy.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 January 2012 |title=Crossrail's giant tunnelling machines unveiled |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16289051 |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-date=10 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410034914/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16289051 |url-status=live }}; {{Cite news |last=Leftly |first=Mark |date=29 August 2010 |title=Crossrail delayed to save £1bn |work=Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/crossrail-delayed-to-save-1631bn-2064629.html |access-date=22 August 2017 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116062835/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/crossrail-delayed-to-save-1631bn-2064629.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crossrail to become the Elizabeth line in honour of Her Majesty the Queen |url=https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2016/february/crossrail-to-become-the-elizabeth-line-in-honour-of-her-majesty-the-queen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225110413/https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2016/february/crossrail-to-become-the-elizabeth-line-in-honour-of-her-majesty-the-queen|archive-date=25 February 2023|website=Transport for London}}</ref> [[File:Heathrow Terminal 5C Iwelumo-1.jpg|thumb|[[Airports of London|London]] has the [[List of busiest city airport systems by passenger traffic|busiest city airport system]] in the world.]] [[Great British Railways]] is a planned state-owned public body that will oversee [[rail transport in Great Britain]]. In 2014, there were 5.2 billion bus journeys in the UK, 2.4 billion of which were in London.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bus statistics |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bus-statistics |website=GOV.UK|date=26 April 2023 }}</ref> The red [[Double-decker bus|double-decker]] bus has entered popular culture as an internationally recognised icon of England.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Collection |url=http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/index.html |access-date=16 August 2014 |publisher=icons.org.uk}}</ref> The [[London Buses|London bus network]] is extensive, with over 6,800 scheduled services every weekday carrying about six million passengers on over 700 different routes making it one of the most extensive bus systems in the world and the largest in Europe.<ref>[http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/modesoftransport/1548.aspx London Buses], Transport for London. Accessed 10 May 2007.</ref> In the year from October 2009 to September 2010, [[List of airports in the United Kingdom and the British Crown Dependencies|UK airports]] handled a total of 211.4 million passengers.<ref name="caastats">{{Cite web |title=Size of Reporting Airports October 2009 – September 2010 |url=http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/80/airport_data/201009/Table_01_Size_of_UK_Airports.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504014257/http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/80/airport_data/201009/Table_01_Size_of_UK_Airports.pdf |archive-date=4 May 2012 |access-date=5 December 2010 |publisher=Civil Aviation Authority}}</ref> In that period the three largest airports were [[London Heathrow Airport]] (65.6 million passengers), [[Gatwick Airport]] (31.5 million passengers) and [[London Stansted Airport]] (18.9 million passengers).<ref name="caastats" /> London Heathrow Airport, located {{Convert|15|mi|km|}} west of the capital, is the world's second busiest airport by [[World's busiest airports by international passenger traffic|international passenger traffic]] and has the most international passenger traffic of any airport in the world;<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 June 2008 |title=Heathrow 'needs a third runway' |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7472432.stm |access-date=17 October 2008}}; {{Cite press release |title=Statistics: Top 30 World airports |date=July 2008 |publisher=Airports Council International |url=http://www.aci.aero/aci/aci/file/Press%20Releases/2008/TOP30_International%20Passengers_2007.pdf |access-date=15 October 2008}}</ref> it is the hub for the UK flag carrier [[British Airways]], as well as [[Virgin Atlantic]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 October 2008 |title=BMI being taken over by Lufthansa |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7697261.stm |access-date=23 December 2009}}</ref> === Energy === {{Main|Energy in the United Kingdom}} [[File:Ardrossan's fan club. - panoramio.jpg|thumb|right|Wind turbines overlooking [[Ardrossan]] in Scotland. The UK is [[Wind power in the United Kingdom|one of the best sites in Europe for wind energy]], and wind power production is its fastest-growing supply.]] In 2021, the UK was the world's 14th-largest consumer of energy and the 22nd-largest producer.<ref name="United Kingdom Energy Profile">{{Cite web |title=United Kingdom Energy Profile |url=https://www.eia.gov/international/overview/country/GBR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228165225/https://www.eia.gov/international/overview/country/GBR |archive-date=28 February 2023 |access-date=28 February 2023 |publisher=U.S. Energy Information Administration}}</ref> The UK is home to many large energy companies, including two of the six major oil and gas companies – [[BP]] and [[Shell plc|Shell]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mason |first=Rowena |date=24 October 2009 |title=Let the battle begin over black gold |work=The Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/6424030/Let-the-battle-begin-over-black-gold.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 November 2010 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/6424030/Let-the-battle-begin-over-black-gold.html |archive-date=10 January 2022}}{{Cbignore}}; {{Cite news |last=Heath |first=Michael |date=26 November 2010 |title=RBA Says Currency Containing Prices, Rate Level 'Appropriate' in Near Term |work=Bloomberg |location=New York |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-25/rba-s-stevens-says-inflation-unlikely-to-fall-much-further.html |url-status=live |access-date=26 November 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722062837/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-25/rba-s-stevens-says-inflation-unlikely-to-fall-much-further.html |archive-date=22 July 2012}}</ref> The total of all renewable electricity sources provided 43% of the electricity generated in the UK in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 June 2021 |title=How much of our energy currently comes from renewable sources? |work=National Grid |url=https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/how-much-uks-energy-renewable |access-date=8 May 2023}}</ref> The UK is [[Wind power in the United Kingdom|one of the best sites in Europe for wind energy]], and wind power production is the country's fastest-growing supply; in 2022, 26.8% of the UK's total electricity was generated by wind power.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 January 2023 |title=Britain produced record amount of wind power in 2022, National Grid says |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/britain-produced-record-amount-wind-power-2022-national-grid-2023-01-06/ |access-date=8 May 2023}}</ref> The UK has the largest offshore wind farm in the world, which is located off the coast of Yorkshire.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 June 2021 |title=Wind energy in the UK: June 2021 |work=UK Government |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/articles/windenergyintheuk/june2021 |access-date=8 May 2023}}</ref> In 2023, the UK had 9 nuclear reactors normally generating about 15 per cent of the UK's electricity.<ref name="coal-ref" /> Unlike Germany and Japan, there are two reactors under construction and more planned.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 2013 |title=Nuclear Power in the United Kingdom |url=http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf84.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214061431/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf84.html |archive-date=14 February 2013 |access-date=9 April 2013 |publisher=World Nuclear Association}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nuclear energy: What you need to know |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nuclear-energy-what-you-need-to-know |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228181113/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nuclear-energy-what-you-need-to-know |archive-date=28 February 2023 |access-date=28 February 2023 |publisher=UK Government}}</ref> In the late 1990s, nuclear power plants contributed around 25 per cent of the total annual electricity generation in the UK, but this has gradually declined as old plants have been shut down. The UK government is investing in [[Small Modular Reactors]] and [[Nuclear reactor#Future and developing technologies|Advanced Modular Reactors]] research and development. In 2021, the UK produced 935 thousand [[Oil barrel|barrels]] per day (bbl/d) of oil (and other liquids) and consumed 1,258 thousand bbl/d.<ref name="United Kingdom Energy Profile" /> Production is now in decline and the UK has been a net importer of oil since 2005.<ref name="eiaoil">{{Cite web |title=United Kingdom – Oil |url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/United_Kingdom/Oil.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812175554/http://www.eia.gov/countries/country-data.cfm?fips=UK |archive-date=12 August 2011 |access-date=9 March 2015 |publisher=U.S. Energy Information Administration}}</ref> {{As of|2020|alt=In 2020}}, the UK had around 2 billion barrels of proven [[North Sea oil|crude oil reserves]].<ref name="eiaoil" /> In 2021, the UK was the 21st-largest producer of [[natural gas]] in the world.<ref name="eiagas">{{Cite web |title=United Kingdom – Natural Gas |url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/United_Kingdom/NaturalGas.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416085105/http://www.eia.gov/countries/country-data.cfm?fips=UK |archive-date=16 April 2011 |access-date=9 March 2011 |publisher=U.S. Energy Information Administration}}</ref> Production is now in decline and the UK has been a net importer of natural gas since 2004.<ref name="eiagas" /> In 2020, the UK produced 1.8 million tonnes of coal falling 91% in 10 years.<ref name="coal-ref">{{Cite web |title=Nuclear Power in the United Kingdom |url=https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-t-z/united-kingdom.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228175735/https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-t-z/united-kingdom.aspx |archive-date=28 February 2023 |access-date=28 February 2023 |publisher=World Nuclear Association}}</ref> In 2020 it had proven recoverable coal reserves of 26 million tonnes.<ref name="coal-ref" /> The UK [[Coal Authority]] has stated that there is a potential to produce between 7 billion tonnes and 16 billion tonnes of coal through [[underground coal gasification]] (UCG) or '[[Hydraulic fracturing|fracking]]',<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 April 2006 |title=Coal Reserves in the United Kingdom |url=http://www.coal.gov.uk/media//860AD/Response%20to%20Energy%20Review%20-%20Appendix%202.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104054403/http://www.coal.gov.uk/media//860AD/Response%20to%20Energy%20Review%20-%20Appendix%202.pdf |archive-date=4 January 2009 |access-date=5 July 2011 |publisher=The Coal Authority}}</ref> and based on current UK coal consumption, such reserves could last between 200 and 400 years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 October 2007 |title=Expert predicts 'coal revolution' |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7046981.stm |access-date=23 September 2008}}</ref> === Water supply and sanitation === {{Main|Water supply and sanitation in the United Kingdom}} Access to improved water supply and sanitation in the UK is universal. It is estimated that 96 per cent of households are connected to the sewer network.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69582/pb6655-uk-sewage-treatment-020424.pdf |title=Sewage Treatment in the UK |publisher=DEFRA |website=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk |date=March 2022 |page=3 |id=PB 6655 |access-date=8 April 2023}}</ref> According to the Environment Agency, total water abstraction for public water supply in the UK was 16,406 [[megalitre]]s per day in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Environment Agency |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/data/112185.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125040346/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/data/112185.aspx |archive-date=25 November 2009}}</ref> In England and Wales water and sewerage services are provided by 10 private regional water and sewerage companies and 13 mostly smaller private "water only" companies. In Scotland, water and sewerage services are provided by a single public company, [[Scottish Water]]. In Northern Ireland water and sewerage services are also provided by a single public entity, [[Northern Ireland Water]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.niwater.com/about |access-date=29 August 2020 |publisher=niwater.com}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page