Chapter 4: A Modern, Thriving Society

The UK Today: Population, Diversity, Currency, Languages

Ostatnia weryfikacja: 15 July 2026

These are the testable facts for this section, written in our own words (the handbook text itself is Crown copyright — and reading facts twice beats re-reading prose anyway). Work top to bottom, then drill the section below.

What you need to know

The UK today is more ethnically diverse and equal than ever before, with people of many different nationalities and faiths.
Handbook population figures for the UK over time: 1600 — just over 4 million; 1700 — 5 million; 1801 — 8 million; 1851 — 20 million; 1901 — 40 million; 1951 — 50 million; 1998 — 57 million; 2005 — just under 60 million; 2010 — just over 62 million.
Population growth has been faster in recent years, driven mainly by migration and longer life spans.
The population is unevenly distributed: England holds roughly 84% of the UK population, Scotland about 8%, Wales about 5%, Northern Ireland about 3%.
The UK population is ageing — people are living longer; there is a record number of people aged 85 and over.
Post-war migration means there are people in the UK whose origins include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, the Caribbean and Africa, as well as Europe; diversity is greatest in big cities such as London.
Capital cities: London (UK and England), Edinburgh (Scotland), Cardiff (Wales), Belfast (Northern Ireland).
Other major cities in England include Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle upon Tyne, Bradford, Norwich, Plymouth and Southampton; in Scotland — Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee; in Wales — Swansea and Newport.
The UK currency is the pound sterling (£); 1 pound = 100 pence.
Coin denominations: 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2.
Banknote denominations: £5, £10, £20 and £50.
Northern Ireland and Scotland have their own banknotes; they are valid everywhere in the UK, but shops and businesses do not have to accept them.
English is the main language; the UK also has other national languages.
In Wales, Welsh is spoken by many people and is taught in schools and universities.
In Scotland, Gaelic is spoken in some parts, mainly the Highlands and Islands; Scots dialects are also spoken.
In Northern Ireland, some people speak Irish Gaelic; Ulster Scots is also spoken.
People in the UK are English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish — and also British; "British" covers everyone in the UK.

Make it stick

2 minutes of questions on this chapter beats 20 minutes of re-reading.

Practise this chapter