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British people
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Total population
Regions with significant populations
 United Kingdom 57,678,000
 United States
  • 34,275,567
  • 678,000
 Australia
  • 10,764,870
  • 1,300,000
 Canada
  • 10,753,945
  • 609,000
 New Zealand
  • 2,425,278
  • 217,000
 South Africa
  • 1,603,575
  • 750,000
 Chile 700,000
 France 400,000
 Ireland 291,000
 Argentina 250,000
United Kingdom British Overseas Territories 247,899
 United Arab Emirates 240,000
 Spain 236,669
 Peru 150,000
 Germany 115,000
 Pakistan 79,447
 Cyprus 59000
 Thailand 51,000
 Singapore 45,000
 Switzerland 45,000
 Netherlands 44,000
 Israel 44,000
 Portugal 41,000
 Sweden 39,989
 Italy
  • 26,000
  • 39,177
 Norway 34,279
 Turkey 34,000
 India 32,000
 Kenya 29,000
 Belgium 28,000
 Barbados 27,000
 Saudi Arabia 26,000
 Jamaica 25,000
 Trinidad and Tobago 25,000
 Japan 23,000
 Hong Kong
  • 19,405
  • 3,400,000
  • 33,733
 Greece 18,000
 Finland 16,732
 Hungary 9,000
Languages
Religion

The British people, or Britons, are the citizens of the United Kingdom (which includes Great Britain and Northern Ireland). They also include people from the British Overseas Territories and the Crown dependencies.

Sometimes, the word "British" can refer to people from a long time ago. These were the Celtic Britons, who lived in Great Britain and Brittany. Today, their descendants are the Welsh people, Cornish people, and Bretons. The term can also mean people from the old British Empire who moved to the UK before 1973.

Who are the British People?

British people are the citizens of the United Kingdom. This includes people living in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It also covers those in places like the British Overseas Territories, which are small areas connected to the UK.

A Look Back in Time

How British Identity Grew

A sense of being "British" started to grow a long time ago. In 1603, the crowns of England and Scotland were united. Then, in 1707, the Kingdom of Great Britain was formed. These events helped people feel like they were part of one larger group.

During the 1700s and early 1800s, Britain was often at war with France. This helped to strengthen the idea of a shared British identity. It grew even more during the Victorian era (when Queen Victoria ruled). The way the United Kingdom was formed created a special feeling of belonging for people in Great Britain.

Where Do Britons Come From?

Most modern British people have ancestors from many different groups. These groups settled in Great Britain before the 11th century. They include prehistoric peoples, Brittonic people, and those from Roman Britain. Later, Anglo-Saxons, Norsemen (Vikings), and Normans also settled there.

Since 1922, many people have moved to the UK from other countries. These include people from the Republic of Ireland, the Commonwealth, and mainland Europe. Their children and grandchildren are usually British citizens. Many of them feel British, or have a dual identity. This includes groups like Black British people and Asian British people. Together, these groups make up about 10% of the UK's population.

A Diverse Nation

The British are a very diverse group of people. They come from many different backgrounds and cultures. The UK is a multinational and multicultural society. People have "strong regional accents, expressions and identities." This means that people from different parts of the UK might speak with different accents. They also have unique local traditions.

The main language spoken is English. However, there are also several other languages spoken in different parts of the UK. These include Cornish, Irish, Manx, and Welsh. There are also Scots and Scottish Gaelic. Many people also speak languages from their home countries.

Most British people follow Christianity. This includes different types like Anglicanism, Presbyterianism, Catholicism, and Methodism.

Britons Around the World

The population of the UK is about 66 million people. But there are also many British people living outside the UK. This group is called the British diaspora. About 140 million people with British roots live in other countries.

The largest groups of British people abroad live in the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Smaller groups can be found in the Republic of Ireland, Chile, South Africa, and parts of the Caribbean.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pueblo británico para niños

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