Ok, people from the UK this is going to be a very, very silly question, but up until now nobody could give me a decent answer.

here goes...

What is the difference between the United Kingdom and Great-Britain? Is it the same or is it a different grouping of your regions?

I told you so, a silly question

Kris

Perhaps not so silly as you thought.
As I understand it, Great Britain is England, Wales and Scotland. The United Kingdom are those countries plus North-Ireland (and any leftovers from the empire, I think). Being English and not lived there for so long so might have clouded my memory.
Does this help any ???

essentially they are the same,

the 'united kingdom' is a political name devised to reflect the fact that we (england, wales, scotland and NI) are a united kingdom.

Great Britain is often frowned upon due to political correctness about the past.

to be honest UK is not a term used by many, other than those in high places. its more common for us to say we are either, English etc or British.

i for one am proud to be British! (hence 'greatbrit')

cheers

joe

Thank you, for this explanation

One more of life's little mysteries solved...
You know, sometimes you can have something running around your head...

Kris

eh, another question, if GB/UK is one country, then how come in football tournamnets there is
England, Scotland,Ireland??

Ooopss, somebody is about to get some flak... touchy subject me thinks...

Kris

england, scotland wales etc are different countries, but all go to make up great britain(or the UK)

the history of Britain is very complicated, which leads to the situation now. the british government rules britain, but the scottish and welsh have their own assemblies to decide local affairs, but these are below the british government, and thus can be over-ruled.

sometimes scots and welsh can get a little upset when talking about 'britain' as some would like to think we should be seperated. i dont, as really we are one people and nation, Great Britain.

and before someone jumps on a little englishmans view, i will point out that whilst i am of english birth, i have english, scottish and irish ancesty, so im not biased against one or the other, and would consider myself a true brit!

cheers

joe

PS, i also support england, scotland and irelands sports teams too!

to make it more interesting in Scotland laws are different on many things like property,crime you can be found not proven on murder ect ie not innocent nor guilty the Scottish Parliment can also pass laws with out going through the house's of Parliment like banning fox hunting with horses and ensuring universtiy students will not have to pay for their education

I believe mossieramm got the explanation pretty well. Living near the border in Ireland.. topics like that are ... discussed (?) quite often. I have often heard it called great britan and northern Ireland. Or just the united kingdom for the lot together. Thats what i always believed anyway:

nice and simple as my modern studies teacher says. Great britain is Scotland England and Wales
United kingdom isScotland England Wales and Northern Ireland.