ABSTRACT
The United Kingdom (UK) consists of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and is composed of islands located on the western edge of the main European landmass. It has a population of almost 60 million with a growth rate of 0.4 percent (Office of National Statistics, 2005). According to the 2001 census (Office of National Statistics, 2001), 92 percent of the British population was classified as white while the size of the minority ethnic population was 4.6 million or 8 percent of the total population of the UK. Indians were the largest minority group, followed by Pakistanis, those of mixed ethnic backgrounds, Black Caribbeans, Black Africans, and Bangladeshis. The remaining minority ethnic groups each accounted for less than 0.5 percent but together accounted for a further 1.4 percent of the UK population. The census also found that nearly 72 percent of the population were Christians, almost 3 percent were Muslims, approximately 1 percent were Hindus, while other religions and unspecified religions were 1.6 percent and 23 percent respectively. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (to give it its full title) is located in temperate climes and has an area of 244,820 sq. km. The main spoken and written language is English.
