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England

Official Language

English

Destination Stats

Population
Surface Area
Temperature
Water
Energy
Air Quality
Flora
Fauna

England is making great strides toward balancing its ecosystem and wildlife conservation along with steadfast revitalization projects. Commitments to renewable energy and biocapacity improvement complement the culture’s overall embrace of environmental unity.

This section highlights England’s ecological health and efficiency of living along with additional information that helps assemble a wide-ranging understanding of England’s ecology.  Just click on the sections that you want to explore!

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  • Projected Population Growth: 59.04 million by 2030… a 3.5% increase between 2020 and 2030.  
  • Current Population and Density
    • 2024 Population:  57.04 million people.
    • Population Density:  1,141.2 people per mi² | 441 people per km²
    • England is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe.  
  • Median Age: 40.5 years
  • Female Population: 51.0% | Male Population: 49%
  • Ethnic Breakdown
    • White: 81%
    • Asian: 9.7%
    • Black British: 4.2% 
    • British Mixed: 2.9%
    • Other: 2.2%

(Source: United Kingdom Office for National Statistics)

  • Footprint: 4.19 global hectares (gha) | 10.6 acres per person
  • Biocapacity: 1.17 gha | 4.2 acres /person
  • Biocapacity Deficit: 3.02 gha | 6.4 acres per person
  • Global Ranking: 4
  • Agriculture: 69% | 16.84 million hectares | 41.62 million acres
    • Permanent meadows and pastures:  66 % |11.24 Mha | 27.76 million acres
    • Arable Land and Permanent Crops: 33% | 5.56 Mha | 13.74 million acres
  • Forests: 10% | 1.69 million hectares (ha) | 4.18 million acres
  • Artificial Space (Human Development):  7.7 % | 1.88 Mha | 4.64 million acres
  • Wetlands & Water Bodies: 0.38% –  462,000 ha | 1.2 million acres
  • *Arid & Semi-Arid:  2% – 487,000 ha | 49.7 million acres**.
    * Does not include human development on arid land.
    ** Total arid land & semi-arid land is 25.3% –  61,631 ha | 152,275 acres.
  • Other: 11% | 2.77 million hectares | 6.85 million acres

Note: England’s land is mainly used for agriculture, with 25.3% being arid or semi-arid, supporting biodiversity. Forests, wetlands, and human development also play key roles in environmental stability.

  • Primary Food Products: England produces 60% of its food, focusing on wheat, barley, potatoes, livestock, dairy, and fishing.  
  • Top Non-crop Food Commodities: Major non-crop commodities include dairy, poultry, animal feed, processed foods, gin, whisky, and wine.  
  • Top Non-Food Products: Key non-food products include electronics, technology, automobiles, clothing, cosmetics, and home appliances.
  • Average Annual Surface Temperature: 10.89C | 51.6 °F
  • Climate: England is a temperate maritime climate, located approximately 3,898 km (2,421 mi) north of the equator, with mild winters and cool summers due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream.
  • Seasons
    • Fall – September to November:  6°C – 18°C | 43°F – 63°F. Cooler and wetter, with temperatures gradually decreasing and increased windiness.
    • Winter – December to February: F 1°C – 7°C | 34°F – 45°. Cold and wet with occasional snowfall, especially in northern and higher altitude regions.
    • Spring – March to May: 3°C – 16°C | 37°F – 60°F. Mild and wetter at the beginning, with increasing sunshine and milder temperatures towards May. 
    • Summer – June to August: 9°C – 20°C | 48°F – 69°F. Warmest period with pleasant temperatures and the least rainfall, though showers are still frequent.

(Liquid water equivalent)

  • Total Water volume: 7.8 billion cubic meters (bcm) | 2.06 trillion gallons.
  • Potable Water Supply per Person: 0.000238 km3 | 0.06284 billion gallons.
  • Average Precipitation: 838 mm | 32.99 inches.
  • Annual Precipitation: 869.59 mm | 34.24 inches.

​Important Facts:

  • England withdraws about 14.6 billion gallons of water daily for industrial and household use.  
  • 99% of the population relies on a public water supply system managed by privatized companies.  
  • Domestic wells are rare due to the extensive public water infrastructure across the country.
  • Total Energy Used: 1,539 TWh | 132 MTOE | 1.539 trillion kWh – kilowatt hours
  • Global Rank in Energy Consumption: 23
  • Primary fuel sources used:
    • Natural Gas – 39.4%
    • Oil – 34.8%
    • Renewables – 14.5%
    • Nuclear – 8.1%
    • Coal – 3.2% 
  • Renewable Energy Sources:
    • Wind – 48.8%
    • Solar – 21.5%
    • Hydro – 15.6%
    • Biofuels –   9.0%
    • Other (includes Geothermal, Biomass, Waste Energy) – 5.1%
  • Electricity Sources:
    • Coal – 2% | Gas – 40% | Nuclear – 16% | Renewables – 42 %
  • Important Facts:
    • Almost 87% of Austria’s electricity needs comes from renewable energy.
  • Total Estimated Living Species: ~70,000 Species Flora and Fauna.
  • Identified fauna species – ~24,590
  • Identified plant species – ~2,563 plant species
    (Over 30 plant species are listed as data deficient according to the NBN Atlas.)
  • Endangered plant and animal species: ~2,440

Five of the of the fascinating and intriguing Natural Wonders of South Africa among many:

  • The White Cliffs of Dover, One of England’s most iconic natural landmarks, these cliffs are known for their striking white chalk face, created from deposits laid down during the Cretaceous Period. The cliffs rise to 110 meters (350 feet) and have stood as a symbol of Britain’s natural beauty and resilience. They face France across the narrowest part of the English Channel and are visible from the French coast on clear days.
  • Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage, the Lake District is renowned for its stunning lakes, mountains, and valleys. It is home to Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England, standing at 978 meters (3,209 feet), and numerous lakes, including Windermere, the longest lake in England. This region is a haven for outdoor activities such as hiking, boating, and wildlife spotting. 
  • Giant’s Causeway, although geographically located in Northern Ireland, this UNESCO World Heritage site is often associated with the British Isles’ natural wonders. The Giant’s Causeway consists of around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns resulting from an ancient volcanic eruption. The unique hexagonal shapes and steep cliffs draw millions of visitors annually. 
  • Seven Sisters Cliffs located in the South Downs National Park, these chalk cliffs along the Sussex Heritage Coast are known for their breathtaking natural beauty and serve as a popular destination for hiking and sightseeing. The cliffs are similar to the White Cliffs of Dover but are more pristine and less eroded. 
  • Cheddar Gorge, England’s largest gorge, Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, features cliffs towering 137 meters (450 feet) high. It is not only a natural wonder but also a historical and geological site. The area is known for the discovery of Britain’s oldest complete human skeleton, “Cheddar Man,” dating back to around 7,150 BC. The gorge is popular for rock climbing and exploring the caves beneath it.

Destinations – England is a proprietary presentation of Ecology Prime™ in collaboration with the Ecology Prime Foundation and iConsult Collaborative in the College of Professional Studies at Syracuse University.

Acknowledgements:

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Welcome from England!

England is the largest country of the United Kingdom in both population and land area, nestled between the North Sea to the east, the English Channel to the south, Wales and the Irish Sea to the west and Scotland to the north.  It is a humid temperate ocean climate affected primarily by the Atlantic Ocean environment, but it can also be affected by harsh Arctic winter air masses in the areas closest to mainland Europe.

Manchester, England, is the world’s first industrial city and the origin of the Industrial Revolution. Pictured is its skyline featuring Deansgate Square & Elizabeth Tower (Wikimedia CC 4.0 by ChrisClarke88)

The country is home to over 84% of United Kingdom’s citizens, and it covers over half of the kingdom’s surface area.  It is a land of low hills and plateaus, with 4,422 km (2,748 mi) of coastline.  As the British Empire grew and the nation received people from all over the world, English culture was accented with diverse contributions from Afro-Caribbeans, Asians, Muslims, and other immigrant groups.

The global Industrial Revolution started in England in 1760 C.E. when manual labor began to be replaced with mechanical technology fueled by the use of fossil fuels, primarily coal.  This would lead to the world’s greatest advances in health, living and human longevity, but this also led to equally great ecological challenges worldwide. 

Although England has lost over half of its biodiversity since the advent of the Industrial Revolution due in large part to its expanded agricultural development, it has developed a plan primarily in partnership with farmers to help significantly improve its ecological health.  

England has some of the most spectacular geology and landscapes from its dramatic coastal cliffs, shorelines and ancient caves to its sweeping mountain terrains, rock formations and gorges.  One of the world’s great natural wonders is the Jurassic Coast, a 95-mile stretch of ancient coastal rock formations along England’s southern coast that is internationally renowned for its contribution to the study of earth sciences over the past 300 years; it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 because of its importance.

Ecology Prime™ brings you into the rich tradition and ecological essence of England, the collaborative heartbeat of a diversified world culture seeking an efficient path toward sustainable living and a more unified planet. This is the beginning of England’s cultural hub on Ecology Prime™.   This is England…. 

Tower Bridge on The River Thames in London, England. (Photo by Chris Schippers – Pexels)

Official Language:  English

  • British English is the distinct dialect of England.
  • 98.1% of England’s population speak English as a first or second language.  Polish is spoken as a first language by 1.1% of the population and is the largest non-English language spoken.  Other main languages spoken in England are Romanian, Punjabi and Urdu.

Unique England Facts: Did You Know…?

  • The first humans arrived in England some 840,000 to 950,000 years ago, according to the archeological record which revealed stone tools unearthed from sediments during that time.  
  • England includes over 100 islands which are home to approximately 400,000 of its residents.
  • England plans on improving air quality by ending the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040.
  • Around 400 million years ago, a mountain ranges the size of the Himalayas stood across England, worn over time by powerful erosion. Today, prominent remnants of this mountain range, called the Brimham Rocks, reside in Brimham Rocks National Park in North Yorkshire. 
  • Constructed around 3,100 B.C.E., Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England, is among the oldest man-made landmarks. The ruins consist of a circle of seven four-meter-tall stones topped by horizontal stones aligning with the summer solstice sunrise.
  • English people consume more tea per capita than anybody else in the world (2.5 times more than the Japanese and 22 times more than the Americans or the French).

Stonehenge, located in Wiltshire, England, is estimated to be about 5,000 years old. Its construction started around 3100 BCE and it was built over several phases, (Photo by John Nail)
  • The Slimbridge Wildlife & Wetlands Trust is the world’s largest and most diversified wildflower center. It has the largest collection of swans, geese, and ducks on Earth, and it is the only place where all six species of Flamingo can still be observed.
  • No place in England is more than 75 miles (120 km) from the sea!
  • England’s population is projected to grow more quickly than the other UK nations: 3.5% between mid-2020 and mid-2030, compared with 2.6% for Wales, 2.0% for Northern Ireland and 0.3% for Scotland.
  • Weather in England is as variable as the topography. As in other temperate maritime zones, the averages are moderate, ranging in the Thames River Valley from about 2°C | 35°F in January to 22°C | 72°F in July; but the extremes in England range from below −18 °C | 0 °F to above 32 °C | 90 °F.
  • Sherwood Forest, the royal midlands forest in Nottinghamshire associated with the legend of Robin Hood, has been wooded since the Last Ice Age which ended about 11,700 years ago.

Republic of England’s Home Statistics

(Note: Some statistics are approximate due to varying methods of recording by various established sources, i.e., population, living species and water volume totals.  Others are more precise, i.e., surface area, precipitation/rainfall, air quality and temperatures.) 

Population

Total Population: 57.04 Million (2024) | 59.04 million Projected by 2030 considering 3.5% increase in population

  • World Rank: 21, 0.86% of the world’s total population. 
  • Population Density: 434 people per km2 | 1,124 people per mi2. 
  • Most Populous City: London | 9,748,033
  • Least Populous City:  Wells | ~ 10,536

Surface Area

Total Surface Area: 130,279 km2 | 50,301 mi2  

(* Does not include the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, which are Crown dependencies. 

  • Land Surface Area: 127,659 km² | 49,289 mi² (which is 97.99% of the total surface area).
  • Water Surface Area: 2,620 km² | 1,012 mi² (which is 1.97% of the total surface area).  

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Temperature

Average Annual Temperature: 10.89°C | 51.6°F  

  • Average High – 15.7°C | 60.3°F, Average Low – 6.8°C | 44.2°F.   
  • Hottest Month (average high): July | 25.6°C (78.1°F).   
  • Coldest Month (average low): February | 4.8°C (40.6°F).   
  • Coldest temperature on record: -26.1°C (-15°F) recorded in Shropshire in January 1982. 
  • Hottest temperature on record: 40.3°C (104.5°F) recorded in Coningsby, Lincolnshire on July 19, 2022.

Water

Total Water Volume:  ~ 20 billion cubic meters (bcm) – or about 5.28 trillion gallons.   

  • Total water volume includes surface water of around 1.5 bcm or 396.3 billion gallons, and groundwater estimated at 18.5 bcm or about 4.88 trillion gallons.
  • Annual Precipitation (average): 885 mm | 34.8 inches. (England’s Annual Precipitation)
  • Potable (rechargeable) water supply per resident: Around 90 cubic meters per year (23,775 gallons).

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Energy

Annual Total Energy Usage (est. for 2023): 1,539 TWh | 1.539 Trillion KWh | 5.25 Quadrillion BTU | 132 MTOE

  • Global Ranking in Energy Consumption: 23. 
  • Percentage of Total Global Energy Consumption: 1.1%. 
  • Per Capita Energy Consumption: 75.2 Million Btu | 21,200 kWh per capita

Energy Sources:  Natural Gas – 39.4% | Oil – 34.8% | Renewables – 14.5% | Nuclear – 8.1%  | Coal – 3.2% 

Renewable Energy Sources: Wind – 48.8% | Solar – 21.5% | Hydro – 15.6% | Biofuels –   9% | Other (includes Geothermal, Biomass, Waste Energy) – 5.1%

Electricity Sources: Coal – 2% | Gas – 40% | Nuclear – 16% | Renewables – 42 %

(Source: UK Energy in Brief and Energy Consumption in UK)

Air Quality

Air Quality Index – AQI 58 – Moderate

(2024 Average of most polluted and least polluted cities across England) 

  • Global ranking – 2024: #56 most polluted nation of 147 monitored. 
  • Most polluted city -2024: Wallsend – AQI 151 (Unhealthy)
  • Least polluted city – 2024: Crowland – AQI 0 (Good)
  • Leading pollutants and sources – Air pollution is the second largest threat to health in England, primarily due to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3).
  • Primary Sources of Pollution:  Vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and domestic heating. Major air pollutants are nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2).

Featured: Biological Footprint

View England’s Current Air Quality

Real Time Air Quality Index – AQI

(Provided by IQAir)
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Estimated Total Number Living Species: ~70,000 Species

Fauna and Flora Species – Source: England Biodiversity Indicator | State of Nature – England

(This is the total number of plant and animal species that is estimated to exist but have not been identified. Numbers are approximate due to various reporting methods by various qualified organizations.) 

Total Number of Identified Flora & Fauna Species: ~27,153

Note: – (The total number of identified flora and fauna in England is an approximation because this number is constantly evolving as new species are discovered and categorized through ongoing research and biodiversity studies)

Flora

Identified Flora:  ~2,563 species.

  • Flowering Plants: 1,500 species
  • Ferns and Fern Allies: 60
  • Conifers: 3
  • Mosses & Liverworts: ~1,000+

Fungi, Lichens and Other: ~56,400

  • Fungi & Lichens: ~10,000+
  • Other: Bacteria: ~ 45,000, plankton : ~1,000+ algae : ~400+

Total Number of Endangered/Threatened Plant and Animal Species: ~2,440

  • Plants (Flora) and Animals (Fauna):  1,500 species of flowering plants, and about 940 identified animal species in England.
  • At Risk of Extinction:  Animals – Species such as the turtle dove, hazel dormouse, and harvest mouse are at risk among many others. Plants – Flowering plants, including , Heather, Harebell, among others.
  • Primary Causes of Extinction:  Human development, intensive agriculture, habitat destruction, and climate change are the primary factors driving species decline.
  • England (as part of the UK) ranks in the bottom 10% globally for biodiversity, making it one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, although the country is striving toward biological revitalization.

Endangered Plant Species (examples):

Nees’ Hornwort (Anthoceros neesii), Stipa styriaca, Sorbus slovenica, Pinus mugo subsp. rotundata, Aldrovanda vesiculosa (Waterwheel) 

Endangered Animal Species (examples):Orsini’s Viper, Freshwater Pearl Mussel, Hutchen Fish.

European Turtle Dove (Wikimedia CC 2.5 by Shelley Abbott – Natural England)

Fauna

Identified Fauna: ~24,590

  • Invertebrates: ~23,630
    • Insects: ~22,500 species 
    • Arachnids (spiders, scorpions): 660 
    • Crustaceans: 220 
    • Mollusks: 250 
    • Worms: Multiple species, exact count variable 
  • Vertebrates: 960+
    • Fishes:  300 
    • Birds:  600+ 
    • Mammals: 49 
    • Reptiles: 6
    • Amphibians: 7
Lady’s Slipper Orchid (Wikimedia CC 2.0 photo by Björn S)

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India is home to over 1.4 billion people, the world’s second most populous country, occupying the world’s seventh largest area of land – including water surface – of nearly 3.3 million square kilometers or about 1.3 million square miles.  Still, with such a huge population, India is only the world’s 30th most densely populated country…
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Sources and Research

Notable England’s Universities and Colleges for Environmental Studies

Notable England’s Environmental Organizations:

Research and Development Credits

Destinations – England is a proprietary presentation of Ecology Prime™ in collaboration with the Ecology Prime Foundation and iConsult Collaborative in the College of Professional Studies at Syracuse University.

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Principal Researcher
Jinal Pravin Darji |  LinkedIn | iConsult Collaborative

Web Publishing
Samruddha Deshmukh | LinkedIn | iConsult Collaborative