<P> The British Isles are a group of islands off the north - western coast of continental Europe that consist of the islands of Great Britain , Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles . Situated in the North Atlantic , the islands have a total area of approximately 315,159 km , and a combined population of just under 70 million . Two sovereign states are located on the islands : the Republic of Ireland ( which covers roughly five - sixths of the island of Ireland ) and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland . The British Isles also include three Crown Dependencies : the Isle of Man and , by tradition , the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Bailiwick of Guernsey in the Channel Islands , although the latter are not physically a part of the archipelago . </P>
<P> The British Isles are a group of islands off the north - western coast of continental Europe that consist of the islands of Great Britain , Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles . Situated in the North Atlantic , the islands have a total area of approximately 315,159 km , and a combined population of just under 70 million . Two sovereign states are located on the islands : the Republic of Ireland ( which covers roughly five - sixths of the island of Ireland ) and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland . The British Isles also include three Crown Dependencies : the Isle of Man and , by tradition , the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Bailiwick of Guernsey in the Channel Islands , although the latter are not physically a part of the archipelago . </P>
2 countries that make up the british isles
2 countries that make up the british isles
Great Britain Ireland
Great Britain Ireland