This chapter provides an overview of the political, social and economic situation in England, a constituent part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Great Britain evolved from independent countries (England, Scotland and Wales). This became the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1922, following the independence of five-sixths of Ireland.

The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy which has a constitutional sovereign as head of state.

Unlike the devolved administrations, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which were granted devolved powers in 1998, England has no separate government of its own. Legislation for England is passed by the United Kingdom Parliament in Westminster, London.

The structure of local government varies across the country. Responsibility for education, insofar as it is lies with local government, lies with 150 top-tier local authorities, which are either county councils or unitary authorities.

The population of the United Kingdom was estimated to be approximately 66.7 million in mid-2019, of which the population of England was approximately 56.2 million.

English is the language used in England by custom and practice.

Article last reviewed December 2020.