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Facts and figures
British Council history
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Facts and figures
Our history and achievements
We offer a potted history of our audience and activities, including historical facts and quickfix statistics.
If you cannot find what you are looking for, please contact us.
We opened in Russia in 1945 at conclusion of Soviet Union and the UK's joint successful struggle against fascism but closed in 1947 – due to the beginning of the Cold War.
We re-opened in 1967 when we appointed a representative in Moscow, attached to the British Embassy. For the next 26 years our work focused on organising academic, scientific and cultural exchanges.
In 1992 we opened our first information centre in Moscow.
Set up in 1934, the British Council was originally called ‘The British Council for Relations with Other Countries’.
The first overseas British Council office was the British Institute in Cairo, set up in 1938.
Today the British Council has offices in 215 towns and cities in 110 countries worldwide, and a staff of over 7,000.
Her Majesty The Queen is our Patron. Our Vice-Patron is His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.
Visit our
history website to find out more.
