UK Confusion

There’s a lot of confusion among us Americans when it comes to the nomenclature of the British Isles. This quick and dirty guide might help to figure out what part of the British Isles one wants to refer to:

INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES

These are countries within a greater country.

Map of England
ENGLAND
  • English Government: Non-devolved state within a constitutional monarchy
  • Capital: London, England
  • Recognized Languages: English, Cornish
Map of Scotland
SCOTLAND
  • Scottish Government: Devolved government in a constitutional monarchy
  • Capital: Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Recognized Languages: Scots, Gaelic, English
Map of Wales
WALES
  • Welsh Government: Devolved government in a constitutional monarchy
  • Capital: Cardiff (Caerdydd), Wales
  • Recognized Languages: English, Welsh
Map of Northern Ireland
NORTHERN IRELAND
  • Northern Irish Government: Constitutional monarchy; Consociationalism
  • Capital: Belfast, Ireland
  • Recognized Languages: Irish, Ulster Scots, English

REGIONS

Map of Britain
BRITAIN

BRITAIN = England + Wales

Map of Great Britain
GREAT BRITAIN

GREAT BRITAIN = England + Wales + Scotland

When referring to “Britain” or “Great Britain,” think of the large island on the right side, separate from Ireland.

THE UNITED KINGDOM

Map of United Kingdom
THE UNITED KINGDOM

THE UNITED KINGDOM = England + Wales + Scotland + Northern Ireland

  • Capital: London, England, United Kingdom
  • Official Language: English

BRITISH TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS

There are 14 British possessions and territories that are governed by the United Kingdom, though they do not form part of the United Kingdom itself. These territories include:

  1. Anguilla
  2. Bermuda
  3. the British Antarctic Territory
  4. the British Indian Ocean Territory
  5. the British Virgin Islands
  6. the Cayman Islands
  7. the Falkland Islands
  8. Gibraltar
  9. Montserrat
  10. the Pitcairn Islands
  11. Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
  12. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
  13. the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia
  14. Turks and Caicos Islands

Similarly, there are three territories that are referred to as Crown Dependancies. These dependencies include:

  1. Jersey
  2. Guernsey
  3. the Isle of Man

THE BRITISH ISLES

Map of the British Isles
THE BRITISH ISLES

The British Isles is an archipelago situated off the Northwest coast of continental Europe. The Isles are composed of the two large islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. The major sovereign states and United Kingdom Crown Dependencies of the British Isles include:

  • Ireland
  • The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • the Isle of Man
  • Jersey
  • Guernsey

THE COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS

Map of the Commonwealth of Nations
THE COMMONWEALTH

The Commonwealth of Nations is an intergovernmental organization of 53 independent members, made up mostly of countries that were formerly part of the British Empire.

  • Headquarters: Marlborough House, London, England, United Kingdom
  • Official Language: English

Member Nations:

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Bangladesh
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Botswana
  • Brunei
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Cyprus
  • Dominica
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • India
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Kiribati
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nauru
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Samoa
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Swaziland
  • Tanzania
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • United Kingdom
  • Vanuatu
  • Zambia