Subdivisions of the United Kingdom
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The subdivisions of the United Kingdom:
There are numerous ill-defined regions in the United Kingdom. Their extents vary according to the consideration in hand or the view of the person. They are therefore, too complex to describe but are nonetheless real. Some such as the Highlands of Scotland have or have had, to some extent, formal boundaries. Others such as the London commuter belt are more diffuse. Some such as Snowdonia (Yr Eryri) have a formal boundary in some contexts. Here it is a National Park. Others such as The Fens of eastern England are quite distinctly defined by geography but do not form any official entity. This page deals with those divisions which are formally defined.
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Countries
The United Kingdom is divided into four entities — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These are commonly termed 'nations' or 'countries' (but this usage for Northern Ireland is disputed).
England and Wales are often treated as a single entity England and Wales.
England
Main article: Subdivisions of England
England is divided into regions. One of these is Greater London, which has a Greater London Authority and is further divided into 32 London boroughs and the City of London.
The other regions are divided into unitary authorities (some of which are metropolitan districts grouped to form metropolitan counties), and shire counties. Shire counties are further divided into districts.
Below the district level, Civil parishes exist, though not uniformly. Parish (or town) councils exist for villages, and small towns, and only rarely for communities within urban areas.
Scotland
Main article: Council Areas of Scotland
Scotland has a legislature, the Scottish Parliament, and a Scottish Executive.
Below the national level, Scotland has 32 council areas (unitary authorities). Parish-level subdivisions known as communities exist.
Wales
Main article: Unitary Authorities of Wales
Wales has an elected assembly, the National Assembly for Wales.
Wales consists of 10 county boroughs, 9 Counties, and 3 Cities. Below this level of unitary authorities, parish-level subdivisions known as communities exist.
Northern Ireland
Main article: Districts of Northern Ireland
As a whole, executive government in Northern Ireland is currently administered by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and laws are made in the United Kingdom Parliament - known as "direct rule" in contrast to devolution. The Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive established under the Good Friday Agreement are currently suspended.
For local government, Northern Ireland is divided into 26 districts, which are unitary authorities.
International subdivisions
Both Eurostat and the International Standards Organisation have developed a subdivision and codes for the UK. See NUTS:UK and ISO_3166-2:GB.
See also
- Dependent territories of the United Kingdom
- Crown Dependencies
- Overseas Territories
- List of subnational entities
- Office for National Statistics coding system for counties, districts, wards and census areas
- Traditional counties of the British Isles
- Etymological list of counties of the United Kingdom
- Britain
- Great Britain
- UK topics
References
- CIA World Fact Book 2002
External link
- Browsable list of all UK local authorities' contact details and websites on the Business Link website (http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/findcontactbrowse?r.l1=1073909872&topicId=1074537118)
- Map of division into countries (http://www.world-gazetteer.com/s/s_gb.htm)bg:Административно деление на Обединеното кралство
de:Verwaltungsgliederung Grobritanniens und Nordirlands fr:Subdivisions du Royaume-Uni pl:Podział administracyjny Wielkiej Brytanii pt:Subdivises do Reino Unido