Wed May 23 18:08:42 BST 2012
UK economy key facts
- The UK is the world’s 6th largest economy and one of the world’s top 10 manufacturers.
- The UK is the world’s 2nd largest services exporter and the world’s 6th largest trading nation.
- The World Bank rated the UK 2nd in the EU and 7th in the world on its "Ease of Doing Business" ranking.
- The UK is the no.1 location for European headquarters: more overseas companies have their European headquarters in the UK than in France and Germany put together.
- 6 of the world’s top 10 vehicle makers are based in the UK – the industry accounts for 11% of the UK’s manufactured exports.
- The UK has the world’s 2nd largest aerospace market share, with an annual turnover of £20 billion/yr.
- London’s global financial centre was ranked 1st in the 2011 Global Financial Centres Index. Across the UK, there are >1 million people employed in financial services.
- UK academic institutions include 4 of the world’s top 10 universities.
- The UK has created 5 of the world’s top 20 best-selling medicines.
- The UK’s low carbon industry is worth £112 billion/yr and employs 910,000 people.