This annual publication contains a comprehensive collection of statistics about key aspects of the United Kingdom’s demography, social and economic life, including population, trade and investment, finance, the labour market, health, crime, education and transport. This statistical encyclopedia is compiled from more than 100 sources and includes back data to enable historical comparison, as well as explanatory notes and definitions. The five parts of the Annual Abstract of Statistics illustrated in the contents align with their equivalents in UK2004: The Official yearbook of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, so that the two books can be consulted as complementary volumes painting a picture of the UK in words and figures.