The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The UK includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and most of the smaller islands within the British Isles. Northern Ireland shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland; The total area of the United Kingdom is 244,376 km2, with an estimated population of nearly 67.6 million people in 2022. The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The UK has three distinct jurisdictions; England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.[