Administrative geography of the United Kingdom
The subdivisions of the United Kingdom are complex, multi-layered and non-uniform, varying between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. They have developed into the current structure over hundreds of years.
More recently the traditionally most important tiers of counties and parishes have given way to more prominence for other subdivisions such as the district or European Union influenced region.
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). This structure was formed by the political union between the formerly separate kingdoms of England and Scotland, the principality of Wales and the province of Northern Ireland, each of which has a unique political status.
England and Wales are treated as a single entity for some purposes, principally that they share a legal system, while Scotland and Northern Ireland each have a separate legal system.
England
England is divided into nine regions. One of these is London, which has a Mayor of London and a London Assembly 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 and are prevented from existing within Greater London.
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
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
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.
Informal divisions
There are also many informal, historical and special purpose regional designations. 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.
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