England () (, Middle English: Engelond) is the largest and most populous constituent country[LINK: http://www.britannica.com/ebi/article-9274182/] England -- Britannica Student Encyclopedia. URL retrieved on 6 June 2007. of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total population of the United Kingdom,[LINK: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nugget.asp?ID=6] National Statistics Online - Population Estimates. URL accessed 6 June 2007. whilst the mainland territory of England occupies most of the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west. Elsewhere, it is bordered by the North Sea, Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, Bristol Channel and English Channel. England became a unified state during the 10th century and takes its nam