British Isles
The British Isles is comprised of a group of islands including the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Northern Isles and the Channel Islands, amongst others. Despite their relatively small geographic size, they have a combined population of around 72 million, most of whom are located in the United Kingdom.
The Channel Islands are considered a leading international financial hub, with both Jersey and Guernsey transacting billions of pounds worth of financial operations each year. Both the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are British Crown Dependencies that enjoy judicial and legislative autonomy. That being said, they depend on the UK for international representation and defence.
Each region has its own unique culture and traditions. English is the dominant language, though there are a number of indigenous languages including Scots, Welsh, Gaelic, Irish and French.
Of all the British Isles countries and islands, the United Kingdom has the strongest economy. It is the fifth largest in the world by nominal GDP, which is driven by its service sector, especially in finance, insurance and business services. While London remains a leading global financial centre, The Channel are also highly regarded as top offshore jurisdictions.