Population of England and Scotland. Great Britain. Traditions and customs of the peoples of Great Britain

The official name of the country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Territory: 244,820 sq. km.
Population: 59.1 million people. National composition: English - 81.5%, Scots - 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh 1.9%, people from the West Indies, India, Pakistan, etc. - 2.8%.
Languages: English, Welsh (about a quarter of the population of Wales speaks it), Scottish dialect of the Gaelic language (about 60 thousand people in Scotland).
Religion: Anglicans - 27 million, Catholics - 9 million, Muslims - 1 million, Presbyterians - 800 thousand, Methodists - 760 thousand, Sikhs - 400 thousand, Hindus - 350 thousand, Judaists - 300 thousand.
Capital: London.
Largest cities: London (7 million 640 thousand), Birmingham (2 million 270 thousand), Manchester (2 million 250 thousand), Glasgow (680 thousand).
Administrative division: 47 counties, 7 metropolitan counties, 26 districts, 9 regions, 3 island regions.
Form of government: a constitutional monarchy.
Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II.
Head of the government: Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Currency: British pound sterling.

The British are polite, calm, more or less friendly, depending on the region, invariably modest and respectful of their neighbors. English humor is difficult for foreigners to understand. If you tell a joke, you should smile - at least only with your eyes, as Stirlitz did.

As for Scotland, it has not yet overcome its historical antagonism towards the British and perceives them as “old enemies”.

The main taboos in conversation are: for the English - the Welsh, for the Welsh - the English.

A very important concept is family. Britons spend most weekends at home. The traditional beginning of a British family's life is a wedding. Clan spirit is very strong in the Scottish Highlands. Posters everywhere remind parents that they must keep an eye on their precious children: when visiting archaeological ruins - to avoid accidents, in restaurants - because of neighbors, etc.

The most common games of chance are pool, something like billiards, and bingo, although it cannot be said that the British are all avid gamblers.

Sailing remains a highly privileged sport. The Highland region is one of the best in the world for sailing of all kinds, with fabulous scenery and relentless winds.

On Sundays, the British enjoy going outdoors, usually for one day. If the weather is not suitable for such walks and outdoor picnics, they spend an hour or two in traditional English pubs, where they usually have lunch. Lunch in a pub is pleasing with its low price. Women prefer shopping and relaxing with a cup of coffee in one of the many cafes.

In rural areas, a walk can mean anything but idleness. Taking a breath of fresh air is tantamount to physical exercise that is good for your health. In Galloway, people sit in bars, parks or stroll along the pedestrian streets, where musicians and street performers often perform.

In the UK, every area has its own pride: Stoke-on-Trent is famous for its woollens and pottery; Cornwall - crystal; Scotland is famous for its woodcarvers and glassblowers; Numerous jewelers specialize in silverware, especially in the "Celtic" areas.

The art of creating English gardens arose due to climatic conditions. The UK has a mild and humid climate, which encourages the growth of a wide variety of plants. Landscapes where palm trees and azaleas grow under gray and foggy skies are not uncommon. In addition, Great Britain once owned colonies at all latitudes, and therefore has a long tradition of acclimatization and zoning of plants. The wealth of species in her gardens is endless, all of them are carefully preserved and protected by the owners. By the end of the 20th century. English gardening reached the pinnacle of technical excellence while remaining true to tradition.

Great Britain is a multinational country, with different peoples living on its territory. This country is located in the northwestern part of Europe, it has a rich, centuries-old history, and includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In ancient times, the island was inhabited by Celts, and later its territory was under the rule of the Romans. In the middle of the fifth century, tribes of Angles, Saxons and Jutes moved here and assimilated with the local population. They become the founders of a new state. In 1066, the Normans came to England and gradually mixed with the Saxons.

Peoples inhabiting Great Britain

The main people of Great Britain are the English, they are considered the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons and inhabit England itself, most of Wales and the south of Scotland. The second largest ethnic group is the Welsh. It is also home to Scots, Irish and Ulstermen, who are descendants of the Scots and English in Ireland and the local inhabitants. Ethnographic literature sometimes separately mentions the Gaels, who live in the north of Scotland in the mountainous regions, the inhabitants of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Also in modern Britain live representatives of other peoples of the world, including former British colonies.

Culture and life of the peoples of Great Britain

In modern Britain, the majority of English people live in well-established areas with a large number of cities, so the bulk of them belong to the urban population. The British work in industry, trade, the service sector, and some of them are engaged in agriculture. Their culture and way of life were greatly influenced by Protestantism, which is widespread in Great Britain in the form of Anglicanism. The British are characterized by asceticism, hard work and religiosity, they pay great attention to the preservation of traditions. English families are characterized by isolation.

Various interest clubs are common here, and the British love sports. Meat dishes predominate in English cuisine; oatmeal and puddings are very popular. Among drinks, the British prefer tea, and among alcoholic drinks - beer and whiskey.

Welsh mostly speak English and are Anglican. Modern Welsh people have retained some features of Celtic culture; they are fighting to preserve traditions and the Welsh language. The majority of the population lives in rural areas and is engaged in agriculture; mining villages remain in South Wales. The life of the population remains traditional.

English is also common among the Scots, but it contains a large number of local dialects. The main religion is Presbyterianism, but there are also Anglicans. Most modern Scots are employed in the service sector and industry, and sheep farming is also developed here. The Scottish family is more equal than the English one.

Unlike most other peoples of Great Britain, the Irish are Catholics. Their culture developed under difficult colonial conditions. The Irish are characterized by emigration to England and other countries. In Northern Ireland, conflicts based on ethnic hatred often arise. Most representatives of this people live in rural areas; the main industry in agriculture is livestock raising. The patriarchal order has been preserved in families, this is especially noticeable in rural areas.

The Gaels live in the northern highlands of Scotland, they speak Gaelic, but English is also common, and most are Catholic. The Gaels live very poorly, many of them move to the industrial regions of Scotland and assimilate with the local population.

Ulsterians differ from the native Irish in a number of ways, the main one being religion. But they consider themselves neither English nor Scottish.

Traditions and customs of the peoples of Great Britain

Among all the peoples of Great Britain, traditions are very strong, calendar customs and rituals are preserved, and the Christmas holidays are especially revered. Many remnants of medieval traditions have been preserved in the country's government. The peoples of Great Britain have a rich folklore; ethnic festivals are popular in different regions of the country. So, in Wales they imitate the ancient rites of the Druids.

Celtic festivals are popular in Scotland, where folk songs and dances are performed and bagpipes are played. On holidays, many men wear traditional Scottish kilts. Among the traditional holidays, St. Andrew's Day is especially popular here; it is celebrated in November. This saint is considered the patron saint of the Scots.

Northern Ireland also has strong national traditions; many ancient Celtic holidays are celebrated here. They are accompanied by songs, dances, and folk festivals. The national color is green.

Among the Gaels, “Gel rallies” are popular, which are parades with clan marches. A large number of folklore works have been preserved; the bagpipe is considered a national instrument.

From 1348 to 1450, England experienced population decline largely due to periodic plagues.

Due to the current unstable economic situation, a large number of UK residents are moving to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the USA and other countries. In many ways, there is an outflow of the intellectually employed population.

Population dynamics

Population dynamics of the British Isles according to census data since 1801. Pre-1922 data includes the population of Ireland. After 1922, Ireland became an independent state and only Northern Ireland is included in the census.

Population density

Ethnic composition of the population

The largest group in the UK population is English who inhabit England, most of Wales and form compact settlements in some areas in the south of Scotland. Scots inhabit mainly Scotland - the northwestern regions of the island of Great Britain and the Shetland, Orkney and Hebrides islands adjacent to their coast. In the mountains of the northwestern part of the island lives a unique ethnic group that preserves its original traditions and culture - Gaels(highlanders). Welsh- inhabit mainly Wales. There are 500 thousand indigenous people living in Northern Ireland - Irish(Catholics) - as well as 1 million Anglo-Irish and Scots-Irish. The Isle of Man (Irish Sea) is home to a small Celtic people - the Manx, numbering 47 thousand.

Nationalities according to the 2001 census

“White” by skin color - 92.1% (54,153,898), including British (“white” by skin color) - 85.7% (50,336,497).

Of these, they are distinguished (by historical regions):

Main ethnic groups according to the 2001 census:

The United Kingdom, or Great Britain, is four united states: England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Consequently, the main peoples of Great Britain are the English, Scots, Welsh and Irish. All peoples have different roots, and everyone is proud of their history, culture and language, and tries to preserve them. This is especially true for the Scots, Welsh and Irish, who do not like to be called English. Below in the article we will consider from which peoples the peoples of Great Britain originated, and their main occupations.

English

Modern Englishmen are the descendants of the assimilated Anglo-Saxons and Normans, from whom they adopted the language, culture and standard of living. Today they live in England itself, most of Wales and the south of Scotland. According to a 2011 study, there are approximately 45 million English people living in the UK.

The professed religion is Protestantism in the form of Anglicanism. The family structure remains patriarchal.

When people talk about the British, they first of all remember their restraint towards new people, their reluctance to change the old for the new, and their confidence in their superiority over other peoples. Today, such a characteristic is nothing more than a stereotype, since the degree of individuality of the British is no higher than that of any other people on Earth.

Scots

Scots are associated throughout the world with bagpipes, kilts and tweed playing. Today they are the most numerous of all the peoples inhabiting Great Britain. The north-west of the island and the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland Islands adjacent to the coast are their territory of residence. In total, approximately 5 million Scots live in the UK today.

The Scots are a different people from the English in many ways: they have their own language, culture, laws, government, school system, currency and church, despite the fact that they are part of the same country. The Scots' struggle for independence from the English throne continues to this day, which is currently being waged by the Scottish National Party within the European community.

The Scots, like other peoples inhabiting Great Britain, do everything possible to preserve their language, which is a mixture of the northern dialects of Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian languages. The phonetics and vocabulary of Scots differ from standard English.

The main religion of the Scots is Presbyterianism, but there are also Anglicans among them. The family, unlike the British, is more equal.

The national symbol of the country is the thistle.

Welsh (Welsh)

The Welsh, or Welsh, consider themselves to be the true British and are the oldest of all the peoples in the British Isles. But quantitatively they are far behind the British and Scots - only 2.8 million people.

The Welsh, like the Scots and Irish, are also fighting England for independence - the main objectives of the nationalist party “Plaid Camry” are the self-government of Wales, the preservation of its original culture and language. By the way, the Welsh have the most in Europe, and they do everything possible to preserve it - programs are broadcast on television and radio in their native language, all inscriptions in Wales are written in Welsh, music festivals are held annually, it is taught in schools, office work in government agencies should conducted in two languages, knowledge of Welsh is required for teachers and social workers.

Today, according to the latest census data, there are 1.5 million Welsh people in the UK, most of whom live in rural areas. The Welsh, like the English, profess Anglicanism. The family structure and life of the Welsh remained traditional.

A narcissist appears.

Irish

The ancestors of the Irish are Celts. Today they speak their native language - Gaelic - and cherish their culture and traditions. Many world-famous representatives of English literature were of Irish origin: D. Swift, O. Wilde, D.B. Show.

Today there are very few people in the UK who consider themselves Irish - only 1.5 million people living in Northern Ireland. In addition, there are immigrants from Scotland and the British on its territory. All three groups are hostile to each other, and the authorities, albeit unofficially, encourage this split.

Ireland has its own parliament.

The main religion of the people is Catholicism. The patriarchal system has been preserved in the family. This trend is especially observed in rural areas.

The symbol of Northern Ireland is the shamrock.

Ulstermen

Ulsters live in Northern Ireland. Despite the fact that they trace their origins to the English and Scots, they do not consider themselves to be either one or the other. Relations between the Ulstermen and the Irish were formal, and mixed marriages were the exception rather than the rule. These peoples of Great Britain, despite living on the same territory, developed independently, and hostility between them was no exception. The last time it worsened was at the beginning of the 20th century, when the Irish again began to fight for independence from the English throne, and the Ulsterites did not support it, choosing an alliance with Great Britain.

Most of the believers are Protestants, in contrast to Irish Catholics.

Gaels

The Gaels live in the north of Scotland in the mountainous regions. They speak an ancient language, but according to the latest data, it will soon be replaced by English and Anglo-Scottish languages. The English call the Gaels Highlanders. They are a very poor people; today many Gaels are moving from the highlands to Scotland.

Most Gaels profess Catholicism.

Migrants

The peoples of Great Britain are not only the English, Scots, Welsh and Irish, but also other peoples, of which there are fewer in the country than the main ones. Most of them are migrants from Africa, South Asia, the Caribbean Islands, and the East, and their total number is 3 million people. For migrants, Great Britain, its peoples and their activities are interesting not so much from a cultural point of view, but from an economic one, since many leave their homeland in search of a better life. According to UN data, the UK ranks 5th in the number of migrants after the USA, Germany, Russia and Saudi Arabia. So, what kind of migrant peoples inhabit the UK?

According to the National Statistics Office, in 2014 alone, about 90 thousand Chinese came to the country for long-term residence. The second largest number (approximately 86 thousand) are Indians. US citizens occupy third place - approximately 36 thousand people. About 21 thousand Australians also changed their place of residence to the British Isles. They are followed by immigrants from Saudi Arabia - about 18 thousand people. Approximately this number of people are people with Pakistani citizenship. Seventh on the list are Nigerians - their number does not exceed 17 thousand people. Slightly fewer migrants include Russians (15 thousand), Turks (13 thousand) and Filipinos (12 thousand).

Classes

According to the above-mentioned 2011 census, the majority of the English working population is employed in areas such as industry, trade and services. You can find fewer English people in the agricultural sector.

The main activities of the Scots are the service sector and industry, and to a lesser extent sheep farming.

Most Welsh people live in rural areas, so their main activity is agriculture. The situation is somewhat different in where, thanks to the mines that have survived in the south, the population is also involved in coal mining.

Most Irish people live in rural areas and are involved in livestock farming.

The sphere of employment of migrants, like that of the indigenous population, is very different. African Americans, Pakistanis, Bengalis, Indians and Filipinos are employed in unskilled and semi-skilled jobs. As for the rest of the migrants, these are representatives of business and intellectual work.

It is worth mentioning the spiritual life of migrants. As noted above, the vast majority of the population are churchgoers. What other religions does Great Britain have? The peoples inhabiting the country have the opportunity to practice other religions besides the official one - Islam, Buddhism, Judaism.

Conclusion

Thus, we can say that the peoples inhabiting Great Britain are not only the indigenous population, but also a large number of migrants who influence its culture and history.

England is located on islands, the largest of which are Great Britain and Ireland. The Isles of Man, Anglesey, Wight, the island groups of Shetland, Orkney, and the Hebrides have a relatively small area. The population of Great Britain is 64,789,810 people (as of 2015), with a density of 255 people per km².

The area of ​​the state is 242,514 km², the form of government is a parliamentary monarchy.

England is entirely in the temperate climate zone.

Orography of Great Britain

England is an island state. The largest islands are Great Britain and Ireland, which are separated by the Irish Sea. Together these islands occupy 85.8% of the total area. Groups of islands - Shetland, Orkney, Hebrides, as well as individual islands - Man, White, Anglesey - have a small area.

The island of Great Britain can be divided into several parts:

1. Mountainous Scotland with mixed and coniferous forests. The North Scottish Highlands include the Grampian Mountains and the North West Highlands, which are separated by the Glen Mawr basin. Mount Ben Nevis in the Grampian Mountains is the highest, its height is 1343 m. The Southern Scottish Highlands are lower relative to the Northern Scottish Highlands. Here is Mount Merrick, the highest in this highland, its height is 842 m.
2. Hilly England and Wales.
3. South-eastern England, where the landscape is predominantly flat.

In the north of England are the Pennines. To the northwest are the Cumberland Mountains.

The Cambrian Mountains are located in Wales. In the north they are higher than in the south.

Rivers and lakes of Great Britain

Along its entire length, the UK coastline is highly dissected.

The rivers of England are short in length, and all of them are not capable of passing ships from the ocean. The longest river is the Severn, its length is 354 km. The Thames takes second place, its length is 346 m. ​​There are seaports in the deltas of all major rivers.

The largest and most famous lakes in England are Loch Ness and Lough Neagh. Loch Ness is located in Scotland and has an area of ​​65 km². Lough Neagh is located in northern Ireland and has an area of ​​396 km². This is the largest lake in England.

Climate

The climate of the European island state is humid, with mild winters and cool summers. This is due to the fact that the warm Gulf Stream passes off the coast of Great Britain, which carries a large amount of heat from equatorial latitudes. Throughout the year, a fairly large amount of precipitation falls here - 760 mm in coastal areas, more than 2500 mm in the hills.

Winds blow northwest from the ocean. Therefore, winter here is warm, the thermometer rarely drops below 0 °C, and the average temperature is 4 °C. The average temperature in England in summer is 16°C.

The coldest region of the United Kingdom is Scotland, and the warmest is Wales.

Minerals

Coal

In terms of reserves of this mineral, Great Britain ranks second among Western European countries. There are four major coalfields: Northern, Southern, Central and Scottish. The average thickness of the layers is on average 2 meters. There are both long-flame coals and anthracite coals.

Oil and gas

England ranks fourth among European countries in natural gas reserves, and second in oil reserves. The main oil and gas deposits are located on the shelf zone of the North Sea. Main production locations: Lehman, UK, Indyfetigable - gas; Fortis, Magnus, Limen, Hewett - oil and gas.

Iron

Main deposits: Milo Egremont, Corby.

Kaolin

Deposits: Leigh Moor and St. Austen.

In the UK, copper, polymetallic ores, barium, tin, zinc, fluorite, ornamental and building materials, and celestine are mined in small quantities.

Features of the UK population

The main ethnic group in England are Europeans, who make up 87.2% of the total UK population. The rest are Africans, Pakistanis, Indians, etc.

Great Britain ranks 23rd in the world in terms of population. The population of this country at the beginning of 2015 was 64,789,810 people. The birth rate prevails over the death rate: 12 children born per 1000 population, 9 deaths per 1000 population. Fertility rate: 1.9 children per woman.

Net migration rate: 2.56 migrants per 1000 population.

The average UK population density is 255 people. per km²

Characteristics of the UK population

The national language of the United Kingdom is English, but each province has its own regional language. Recognized regional languages: Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Cornish.

The leading religion in England is Christianity, which includes: the Church of England, Roman Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians - 59.5% of the population. The rest are Muslims, Buddhists, Jews and others. Great Britain is very tolerant; the population calmly accepts the existence of other religions on its territory.

Let's list the largest cities. The population of UK cities is:

• More than 9 million people in London.
• 2.3 million people - Birmingham.
• 2.2 million people - Manchester.
• 1.6 million people - West Yorkshire.
• 1.1 million people - Glasgow.

More than 79% of the total population is urban.

Great Britain: population and economy

The head of state is the British monarch, in this case the Queen. The prime minister is considered the head of government. Great Britain is a unitary state, consisting of four provinces that have significant autonomy: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In addition, England has sovereignty over territories that are not part of the kingdom. British Overseas Territories: Bermuda, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, British Indian Ocean Territory, Montserrat, Gibraltar, Pitcairn Island, Saint Helena, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Islands, South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia, Falkland Islands. As well as sovereign military bases in Cyprus.

Crown lands: the Isle of Man, the islands of Guernsey and Jersey - Great Britain has all rights to these territories. The population of these islands is 253 thousand people, and their area is 766 km².

England ranks fourth in the world in trade, despite the fact that its population is only 1% of the population of the entire Earth. The UK exports more finished goods than raw materials. The country's main exporter is the USA.

One of the most important industrial sectors is the automotive industry. It employs more than 800 thousand people and has a turnover of £52 billion.

The leading sector of the English economy is the service sector. It accounts for 74% of GDP.

Main industries: mechanical engineering, chemical (pharmaceutical), metallurgical, mining, food.

The production and consumer sectors are fully supplied with electricity. Most of the electricity is produced by thermal power plants - 86%. The rest are nuclear power plants and hydroelectric power plants. The largest thermal power plant is located on the Trent River, its capacity is more than 1 million kW.

Most of the hydroelectric power plants are located in the Scottish Highlands.