United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
UK · Europe · England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
- Capital
- London (51°30′N 0°7′W)
- Largest city
- London
- Language
- English
- Demonym
- British, Briton
- Government
- Unitary parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, with devolved legislatures
- Monarch
- King Charles III (since 8 September 2022)
- Prime Minister
- Andy Burnham (since 20 July 2026)
- Currency
- Pound sterling (GBP · £)
- Area
- 243,610 km² (94,060 sq mi)
- Population
- 69.3 million (mid-2024, ONS)
- GDP (nominal)
- about US$4 trillion (2025, IMF World Economic Outlook)
- WTO member
- Yes — since 1995
- EU status
- Left the EU on 31 January 2020; trades with the EU under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement
- Customs & tariff
- HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC); UK Global Tariff
UK Geography & People
The United Kingdom is an island nation off the north-western coast of continental Europe, made up of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland. Its only land border is with the Republic of Ireland.
The population reached an estimated 69.3 million in mid-2024 (ONS), growing 1.1% in a year, mainly through net international migration.
UK Economy
The UK is one of the world's largest economies, with nominal GDP of about US$4 trillion in 2025 (IMF). It is services-led: services made up 58.6% of all UK exports in 2025, up from 47.2% in 2015.
Its main services exports are business services, financial services, travel, telecoms and computer services, and intellectual property.
UK Trade Policy
Since leaving the EU, the UK runs an independent trade policy through the Department for Business and Trade, applies its own UK Global Tariff, and trades with the EU under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
The UK is a member of the CPTPP. The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) entered into force on 15 July 2026.
UK Trade Position
In 2025 the UK ranked 4th in the world for total exports of goods and services and 2nd for services exports. For goods alone it ranked 4th for imports and 16th for exports, down from 14th in 2024 (UNCTAD).
The UK has run a goods trade deficit every year since 1983 and a services surplus every year since 1966.
UK Top Trading Partners
Goods & services · 12 months to Mar 2026 · ONS| # | Partner | Total Trade | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇺🇸 United States | £333.9B | 17.4% |
| 2 | 🇩🇪 Germany | £155.4B | 8.1% |
| 3 | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | £118.3B | 6.2% |
| 4 | 🇨🇳 China | £107.2B | 5.6% |
| 5 | 🇫🇷 France | £104.9B | 5.5% |
| 6 | 🇮🇪 Ireland | £90.9B | 4.7% |
| 7 | 🇪🇸 Spain | £68.5B | 3.6% |
| 8 | 🇧🇪 Belgium | £60.5B | 3.2% |
| 9 | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | £56.4B | 2.9% |
| 10 | 🇮🇹 Italy | £53.7B | 2.8% |
Exports plus imports of goods and services. Source: ONS quarterly trade tables, January to March 2026, via DBT Trade and Investment Core Statistics Book (18 September 2026).
India–UK CETA is now in force
The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement took effect on 15 July 2026. Under it, 99% of Indian goods entering the UK are duty-free or face reduced tariffs. UK–India total trade was worth £48 billion in 2025 (UK Department for Business and Trade). Check trade obstacles for your product →
Other Country Profiles
Import Summary
UK Top Import Sources
Goods · 12 months to Jul 2026 · ONSLATEST| # | Country | Imports | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇩🇪 Germany | £76.3B | |
| 2 | 🇨🇳 China | £72.9B | |
| 3 | 🇺🇸 United States | £63.8B | |
| 4 | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | £53.2B | |
| 5 | 🇫🇷 France | £37.9B | |
| 6 | 🇧🇪 Belgium | £31.8B | |
| 7 | 🇳🇴 Norway | £25.2B | |
| 8 | 🇮🇹 Italy | £23.4B | |
| 9 | 🇪🇸 Spain | £22.6B | |
| 10 | 🇮🇪 Ireland | £21.5B |
UK imports are recorded by country of dispatch, so goods shipped via the Netherlands or Belgium are counted against them. Source: ONS UK trade: July 2026, via DBT Core Statistics Book.
UK Top Imported Products
12 months to Jul 2026 · ONS · SITCLATEST| # | Product | Imports | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cars | £48.7B | 7.4% | ▲ 7.8% |
| 2 | Mechanical power generators (intermediate) | £33.4B | 5.1% | ▲ 7.8% |
| 3 | Unspecified goods (mainly non-monetary gold) | £30.1B | 4.6% | ▲ 65.0% |
| 4 | Refined oil | £27.7B | 4.2% | ▲ 18.1% |
| 5 | Medicinal & pharmaceutical products | £27.2B | 4.2% | ▼ 1.9% |
| 6 | Telecoms & sound equipment (capital) | £23.3B | 3.6% | ▲ 6.0% |
| 7 | Crude oil | £21.7B | 3.3% | ▼ 2.8% |
| 8 | Miscellaneous electrical goods (intermediate) | £21.4B | 3.3% | ▲ 4.2% |
| 9 | Office machinery (capital) | £19.5B | 3.0% | ▲ 18.6% |
| 10 | Clothing | £17.3B | 2.6% | ▼ 0.6% |
Not seasonally adjusted; change versus the previous 12 months. Categories follow the UN SITC classification used by ONS, not HS chapters. Source: ONS UK trade: July 2026, via DBT Core Statistics Book.
UK Import Trend
Current prices · £| Period | Goods Imports | Change vs a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| 12 mo. to Jul 2026 | £654.1B | ▲ 6.7% |
| 2025 | £626.9B | ▲ 5.1% |
| 2024 | £596.6B | ▼ 2.1% |
| 2023 | £609.5B | ▼ 5.5% |
Changes for 2023 and 2024 are calculated from ONS annual totals. Source: ONS UK trade: July 2026, via DBT Core Statistics Book.
UK Top Services Imported
4 quarters to Jun 2026 · ONS| Service | Imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Other business services | £126.0B | ▲ 2.1% |
| Travel services | £85.5B | ▲ 2.7% |
| Transport services | £34.9B | ▲ 5.0% |
| Intellectual property | £24.4B | ▲ 14.8% |
| Financial services | £22.2B | ▲ 11.2% |
Services are about a third of UK imports, so they are shown for the UK in addition to the standard goods tables. Source: ONS UK trade: July 2026.
India is the UK's 4th-largest source of imported services
The UK imported £17.3 billion of services from India in the 12 months to March 2026, behind only the United States, Spain and France (ONS). India is not in the UK's top 10 goods sources; since CETA took effect, most Indian goods enter the UK duty-free or at reduced tariffs. Check import duty for your product →
Export Summary
UK Top Export Markets
Goods · 12 months to Jul 2026 · ONSLATEST| # | Country | Exports | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇺🇸 United States | £58.2B | |
| 2 | 🇩🇪 Germany | £36.2B | |
| 3 | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | £29.2B | |
| 4 | 🇮🇪 Ireland | £25.9B | |
| 5 | 🇫🇷 France | £25.2B | |
| 6 | 🇨🇳 China | £18.6B | |
| 7 | 🇧🇪 Belgium | £18.3B | |
| 8 | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | £13.6B | |
| 9 | 🇪🇸 Spain | £10.6B | |
| 10 | 🇮🇹 Italy | £9.6B |
UK goods exports to the United States have stayed lower since US tariffs were introduced in April 2025 (ONS). Source: ONS UK trade: July 2026, via DBT Core Statistics Book.
UK Top Exported Products
12 months to Jul 2026 · ONS · SITCLATEST| # | Product | Exports | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanical power generators (intermediate) | £46.7B | 11.9% | ▲ 8.7% |
| 2 | Medicinal & pharmaceutical products | £37.7B | 9.6% | ▼ 9.1% |
| 3 | Cars | £27.2B | 6.9% | ▼ 17.6% |
| 4 | Crude oil | £17.7B | 4.5% | ▲ 2.5% |
| 5 | Aircraft | £14.7B | 3.7% | ▲ 15.4% |
| 6 | Non-ferrous metals | £12.8B | 3.3% | ▲ 21.0% |
| 7 | Scientific instruments (capital) | £12.2B | 3.1% | ▲ 1.3% |
| 8 | Beverages & tobacco | £11.6B | 2.9% | ▼ 3.6% |
| 9 | Miscellaneous electrical goods (intermediate) | £10.9B | 2.8% | ▲ 9.0% |
| 10 | Refined oil | £10.7B | 2.7% | ▼ 7.9% |
Not seasonally adjusted; change versus the previous 12 months. Categories follow the UN SITC classification used by ONS. Source: ONS UK trade: July 2026, via DBT Core Statistics Book.
UK Export Trend
Current prices · £| Period | Goods Exports | Change vs a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| 12 mo. to Jul 2026 | £392.2B | ▲ 0.6% |
| 2025 | £384.6B | ▼ 1.8% |
| 2024 | £391.5B | ▼ 6.2% |
| 2023 | £417.3B | ▼ 7.2% |
Changes for 2023 and 2024 are calculated from ONS annual totals. Source: ONS UK trade: July 2026, via DBT Core Statistics Book.
UK Top Services Exported
4 quarters to Jun 2026 · ONS| Service | Exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Other business services | £187.4B | ▼ 1.1% |
| Financial services | £110.1B | ▲ 8.0% |
| Travel services | £70.1B | ▲ 5.6% |
| Telecoms, computer & information | £54.5B | ▲ 15.9% |
| Intellectual property | £43.3B | ▲ 7.2% |
Services are the majority of UK exports, so they are shown for the UK in addition to the standard goods tables. Source: ONS UK trade: July 2026.
India is a fast-growing market for UK services
UK services exports to India reached £13.8 billion in the 12 months to March 2026, up 21.8%, making India the UK's 8th-largest services export market (ONS). Under CETA, India is phasing in tariff cuts on UK goods such as Scotch whisky, gin and premium vehicles. Check trade obstacles →