Explore Britain

Industry

The United Kingdom became the world's first industrialised country in the mid-19th century. The manufacturing sector still plays an important role and the UK excels in high-technology industries like pharmaceuticals, electronics (including computers), aerospace and offshore equipment. However, today the service sector (finance, retailing, tourism and business services - the fastest growing industries) contributes about 66% of gross domestic product and employs 75% of the British workforce. The UK is now the world's ninth largest producer of crude oil, which is the nation's main source of power.

Picture: Haymaking Northern Ireland Overseas Press and Picture Service

Agriculture

From the air the United Kingdom still looks like an agricultural country. Urban areas cover about 13% of the land, and about 10% is forest or mountainous terrain. Much of the rest of the land is cultivated. The UK has an efficient agricultural industry and is a major exporter of agricultural produce and food products, agrochemicals and machinery. Only about 2% of the workforce are employed in agriculture, a smaller proportion than in any other industrialised country. On the eastern side of the UK farmers mainly grow arable crops such as wheat and cereals. In the west they concentrate on rearing cattle and sheep.

Picture: Southampton Port

Trade

The United Kingdom has only 1% of the world's population but is the fifth largest trading nation. As a member of the 15-nation European Union, it is part of the world's biggest established trading group. It exports oil and manufactured goods such as machinery, electrical and electronic equipment, aerospace equipment and chemicals. Products from the chemical industry (such as pharmaceuticals) are among the biggest export earners. Just over half of the UK's exports are to other countries in the European Union. The UK's export earnings from services such as banking, insurance and tourism exceed those from exports of goods.

 

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