List of Countries in the United Kingdom

List of Countries in the United Kingdom: The list of countries in the United Kingdom includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These are four different geographical areas that comprise the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. England, Scotland, and Wales together form what we call Great Britain. England is the largest country among the 4 countries making the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland the smallest.

In this article, we will explore the list of Countries in the United Kingdom – England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

List of Countries in the United Kingdom

Here is the list of Countries in the United Kingdom:

Country	Capital
United Kingdom	London
England	London
Scotland	Edinburgh
Wales	Cardiff
Northern Ireland	Belfast

England

England is the largest country by area as well as population in the list of countries of the United Kingdom. The capital of England is London. England consists of some popular cities like Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester etc. The Industrial Revolution, which is one of the greatest revolutions of the 18th century, was started in England. The worldwide popular universities namely the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge are in England. The Acts of Union 1707 included the countries of England and Scotland together to form Great Britain along with Wales. The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland governs England. The legal system consists of the English Law.

• National symbol: The national symbol of England is “three lions”. It symbolizes the fierceness of the English throne during constant religious and political wars.
• Popular architecture: Some of the most famous architecture in England are Stonehenge and Monoliths.

Scotland

Scotland was formed in the 9th century. The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh. Scotland is mainly divided into Highlands, Lowlands and Southern Uplands. Some of the most famous cities of Scotland are Glasgow, Dundee and Perth. The current head of the Constitutional monarch of Scotland is King Charles III. The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Scottish Parliament are responsible for governing Scotland.

• National symbol: The national symbol of Scotland is “unicorn”. It symbolizes fierceness as well as resilience.
• Popular architecture: The famous architecture of Scotland includes Edinburgh Castle, The Parliament of Scotland, and Glasgow Cathedral.

Wales

Wales was formed in 1056 and the capital of Wales is Cardiff. This country is famous for Welsh Culture. Wales comes within the purview of English Laws under the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. The current First Minister of Wales is Mark Drakeford. Wales has a Unicameral form of Legislature.

• National symbol: The national symbol of Wales is the “Red Dragon”. It has been used from the time of the king of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. It symbolizes bravery.
• Popular architecture: Cardiff Castle, Conwy Castle and, St. David’s Cathedral are among the most popular architecture in Wales.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is also known as the Republic of Ireland. It was formed in 1921 by the Government of Ireland Act of 1920. The capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast. The Belfast Agreement is a tie between the Government of Ireland and the Government of Northern Ireland. The most famous cities in Northern Ireland are Derry, Armagh, Newry and Lisburn. The Ireland Act 1949 made sure that Ireland would not stop being a part of the UK without the permission from the Parliament of Northern Ireland. In the political arena, it is divided into two groups namely the unionists and the nationalists.

• National symbol: Irish elk also known as giant deer is the national symbol of Northern Ireland. It symbolizes the rich history of Northern Ireland.
• Popular architecture: Titanic Belfast Museum, and Carrickfergus Castle are some of the most famous architecture in Northern Ireland.

The list of countries of the United Kingdom consisting of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland portrays the diversity of the country. These countries are diverse in many forms like geographically, culturally, religion-wise etc. Each country has their own languages, festivals, traditions and even the rule of law. Every country has a rich historical background which has helped in forming the country of the United Kingdom.

Difference Between United Kingdom, Great Britain and England

Here is the tabular difference between United Kingdom, Great Britain and England:

Aspect	United Kingdom	Great Britain	England
Polity Coverage	Entire British Isles (excluding Ireland)	Often includes England, Scotland, Wales, and adjoining islands	Southernmost part of the British Isles
Historical Context	Term ‘Britain’ from Roman word ‘Britannia,’ used extensively after Roman conquest (87 AD)	Added ‘Great Britain’ in 1603 under King James I’s rule to assert control over Wales and Scotland	Derived from Old English ‘Englaland,’ settled by Angles after Roman withdrawal (410 AD)
Membership in Organizations	Member of Commonwealth of Nations, United Nations, NATO	–	–
Capital and Size	Largest country in the British Isles, London is its capital	Large island consisting of England, Scotland, and Wales	Southernmost part, London is the capital
Term Usage	Used before Irish independence: ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’	–	–
Political Status	Sovereign state with membership in international organizations	Large island, part of the political entity ‘United Kingdom’	Refers to a country but not a sovereign state, shares Parliament with other British Isles countries for certain matters

Summary – List of Countries in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. England is the largest, with London as its capital. Scotland’s capital is Edinburgh, Wales’s capital is Cardiff, and Northern Ireland’s capital is Belfast. Each country has its own unique culture, history, and symbols. For example, England is known for the three lions, Scotland’s symbol is the unicorn, Wales is represented by the Red Dragon, and Northern Ireland’s symbol is the Irish elk or giant deer. Together, these diverse countries form the United Kingdom, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the nation.

FAQs on the List of Countries in the United Kingdom

1. What 5 countries make up the United Kingdom?

There are four countries in the United Kingdom. The countries are namely England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom is the 5th country that makes up the whole of the UK.

2. Are there 48 or 27 counties in England?

There are 48 counties in England. These counties are known as geographic counties. Many of the counties are based on the 39 historic counties.

3. How many countries are in the United Kingdom?

There are 4 countries in the United Kingdom. The countries are England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

4. What is the capital of the United Kingdom?

The capital of the United Kingdom is London. It is also the capital of one of the countries of the UK namely England. London is the largest city in the United Kingdom.

5. Is Great Britain and the UK the same?

Great Britain and the UK are not the same. Great Britain consists of the countries of England, Scotland and Wales while UK refers to these 3 countries in addition to Northern Ireland.