If you were born, bred, or educated in any part of the United Kingdom, you may not consider this a question since the answer is at your fingertip. You may not have even thought of it because it is as simple as the description of your house. However, you might be surprised that it can be more challenging to explain this to someone interested in the political and geographical compositions of the United Kingdom.
Let’s illustrate. We’ve heard many people in Africa and Asia who know only London as the place their kin and kiths travel to whenever the news break that these travel to the United Kingdom. And due to the popularity, size, and influence of England, it is all too easy to equate the United Kingdom or Great Britain with England. In this video, we shall try to show you the difference between those geographical locations and political designations. This we hope will clarify the confusion in the minds of those who may be confusing things. It can also be a great instructional material that can assist in explaining to those confused.
The Three Geographical Entities Broadly Viewed
The two terms, the United Kingdom and Great Britain are often used interchangeably. However, the geographical designations are not the same; hence they are not synonymous. Nevertheless, we need to quickly tell you here that the official name of the country UK is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. But then, if that’s the official name, is there really any difference between the United Kingdom and Great Britain? Are we not being bothered by a mere academic exercise?
Yes, there’s a difference, and it is not all about an academic exercise. The difference dwells in the geographical area covered by each term and in the expansive history of the British Isle. Great Britain, also known simply as Britain, is a geographical term that refers to a great island while the United Kingdom is a sovereign state made up of four countries. And what about England? It is simply a country within the United Kingdom; one of the four countries that make up the Kingdom. To clearly define the differences, let us now look at what each of them stands for in greater detail, starting first with the United Kingdom, or the UK.
What Is the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom is an independent country of countries situated off the northwestern coast of Europe. It is the name describing the entire island of Great Britain and a northern part of the island of Ireland, hence the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It has as its capital city, de facto London. Its existence dates back to 1801 when the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland united to form a big country. Then, it was known by the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. But when the southern part of Ireland gained its independence through diplomacy in the 1920s, the name changed to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
When the Irish state declared its freedom in 1949, it became the Republic of Ireland, a change from its former name Irish Free State. Even then, this country is no part of Great Britain also as we shall soon see. While the northern part of Ireland decided to remain in the United Kingdom. Thus, what is known today as the United Kingdom is a product of the separation and union of the different parts.
The UK as a country has a unitary parliament democracy with a constitutional monarchy. It is one of the biggest and strongest and most competitive economies globally. It has one of the most powerful militaries as a world power. And it is one of the most influential countries in the world.



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