The
administrative geography of the United Kingdom is complex, multi-layered and non-uniform. The
United Kingdom, a
sovereign state to the northwest of
continental Europe, consists of
England,
Northern Ireland,
Scotland and
Wales. For
local government in the United Kingdom, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales each have their own system of administrative and geographic demarcation. Consequently, there is "no common stratum of administrative unit encompassing the United Kingdom".
[1]Because there is no written document that comprehensively encompases the British constitution, and owing to a convoluted history of the formation of the United Kingdom, a variety of terms exist which are used to refer to what are commonly called the four countries of the United Kingdom.[2] The four are sometimes collectively referred to as the Home Nations, particularly in sporting contexts. A publication submitted by the UK to the United Nations Economic and Social Council states the four are "constituent parts" and "countries", but "should not be considered as first-order administrative divisions".[1]
Historically, the subnational divisions of the UK have been the county[3] and the ecclesiastical parish, whilst following the emergence of a unified parliament of the United Kingdom, the ward and constituency have been pan-UK political subdivisions. More contemporary divisions include Lieutenancy areas and the statistical territories defined with the modern NUTSUK and ISO 3166-2GB systems.
This structure was formed by the union agreed between the former sovereign states, the Kingdom of England (which included the conquered principality of Wales) and the Kingdom of Scotland in the Treaty of Union and enacted by the Acts of Union 1707 to form the united Kingdom of Great Britain (1707-1800); followed by the Act of Union 1800, which united Great Britain with the Kingdom of Ireland to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The independence of the Irish Free State in 1922, and the partition of Ireland, resulted in the current United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
