The British Isles are an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the north-western coast of continental Europe. It comprises Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles (Orkney and Shetland), and over six thousand smaller islands.
Covering approximately 315,159 square kilometers (121,684 square miles) with a combined population of nearly 72 million, the British Isles contain two sovereign states: the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The Channel Islands, located off the north coast of France, are often considered part of the British Isles, but they do not geographically belong to the archipelago. According to the UK Interpretation Act of 1978, they are classified as part of the British Islands, which should not be confused with the British Isles.
