Language
English is the official language. Welsh, Gaelic and the languages of various immigrant groups are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	61.6 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	60.9 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	60.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	60.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	60.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	59.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	59.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	59.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	58.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
72.4 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
English, Scots, Welsh and Irish. Minorities include Pakistanis, Indians and Afro-Caribbean people.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Anglican 44 percent, Catholic ten percent. There are also Presybterian, Methodist, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Jewish minorities.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	89.9 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	89.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	89.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	89.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	89.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	89.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	89.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	89.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1918 1928
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
98 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	18.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	18.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	18.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	18.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	18.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	19.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Time zone
GMT

Climate description
Temperate. Moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current. More than one-half of days are overcast.

Currency
British pound

Telephone dialling code
(+) 44

Driving (left/right)
Left

Average life expectancy

2005	79.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	78.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	78.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	78.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	77.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	77.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	76.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	76.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	76.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	75.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	75.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	75.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	81.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	80.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	80.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	80.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	80.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	80.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	5 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	5 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	6 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	6 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	6 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	6 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	7 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	7 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	99 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	99 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	99 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	99 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	99 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	99 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	8 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	13 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	16	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	18	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	15	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	12	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	13	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	13	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	<5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	<2.5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	<2.5 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	100 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	100 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	No data available percent
2000	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	No data available percent
2004	No data available percent
2002	No data available percent
2000	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	542 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	555 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	559 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	565 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	577 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	579 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	585 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	585 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	598 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	1234 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	1202 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	1152 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	1087 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	996 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	909 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	829 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	783 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	738 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	799 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	720 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	660 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	660 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	630 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	610 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	560 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	336 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	269 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	16 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	12 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	11 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	11 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	11	Transparency International
2003	11 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	10	Transparency International
2001	13	Transparency International
2000	10	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	No data available current US$
2006	40660 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	38320 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	34300 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	28720 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	25870 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	25430 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	24970 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	2772.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	2402.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	2246.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	2168.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	1825.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	1582.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	1444.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1450.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	2.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	1.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	3.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	2.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	2.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	2.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	3.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	3.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	2.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	2.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	2.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	3.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	2.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.1 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
28.5 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians

2000-2004	230 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	230 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	164 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	164 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	0.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	0.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	0.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	0.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	0.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
No risk
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	15 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	15 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	14 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	13 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	13 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	12 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	12 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	12 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

Number of refugees originating here

2008	184	UNHCR
2007	200	UNHCR
2006	174	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	135	UNHCR
2004	144	UNHCR
2003	149	UNHCR
2002	164	UNHCR
2001	109	UNHCR
2000	113	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	292097	UNHCR
2007	299718	UNHCR
2006	301556	UNHCR
2005	293459	UNHCR
2004	289054	UNHCR
2003	276522	UNHCR
2002	260687	UNHCR
2001	233389	UNHCR
2000	186248	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	2.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	2.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	2.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	2.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	5.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	5.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	5.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	4.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	4.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	7.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	6.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	6.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	6.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	5.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003