Legally, the referendum is non-binding, but the British government cannot ignore the result. Prime Minister David Cameron said he will resign within three months after the UK voted to leave the EU.
"I do not think it would be right for me to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination," he told reporters in a statement.
"The British people have made a very clear decision to take a different path and as such, I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction," he said.
The results of the Brexit vote have sparked numerous reactions from politicians and officials across the world.
1. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier
The fact that the campaigns supporting the United Kingdom leaving the European Union won is "sobering" and a sad day for Europe, Steinmeier said.
2. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
"This is an internal issue for the British people," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists when asked to comment on the results of the vote.
3. The Kremlin
Russia is interested in the European Union remaining a major economic force but considers the British referendum to exit the 28-member bloc its internal issue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
“I would like to recall the words that have been said by President [Vladimir] Putin: the Brexit subject is the United Kingdom’s internal affair and a topic of the relationship between the UK and the EU. The European Union is Russia’s very important trade and investment partner, so Moscow is interested in the EU remaining a major economic force, prosperous and predictable,” Peskov told reporters.
4. President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz
"I want to repeat what was described in the settlement, which is null and void, after the decision of the British voters. Both sides should respect mutually different views. Now the United Kingdom decided to leave and therefore the member states who remain in the European Union must discuss how to improve the European Union and how to protect especially the Eurozone countries," he told reporters.
5. The Foreign Ministry of Japan
"If it is true then it is regretful. It will have an impact, we are thinking of tense and fast reaction," Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shinsuke Sugiyama was quoted as saying by the Kyodo news agency.
6. The leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), Nigel Farage
"Dare to dream that the dawn is breaking on an independent United Kingdom. This, if the predictions now are right, this will be a victory for real people, a victory for ordinary people, a victory for decent people," he said.
I now dare to dream that the dawn is coming up on an independent United Kingdom.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) 24 июня 2016 г.
"We have fought against the multinationals, we have fought against the big merchant banks, we have fought against big politics, we have fought against lies, corruption and deceit," he added.
7. Former US Ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul
"Shocked by #Brexit vote! Losers: EU, UK, US, those that believe in utility of a strong, united, democratic Europe. Winners: Putin," he wrote on Twitter.
Shocked by #Brexit vote! Losers: EU, UK, US, those that believe in utility of a strong, united, democratic Europe. Winners: Putin.
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) 24 июня 2016 г.
8. US Republican Presidential Hopeful Donald Trump
Trump hailed Britain's vote to leave the EU as "fantastic" after arriving in Scotland on Friday.
"I think it's a great thing. I think it's a fantastic thing," he told reporters.
Ahead of the vote, the billionaire said that Britain "should go it alone" and leave the EU.
9. Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s National Front party.
Commenting on the Brexit vote, she reiterated her demands to hold a referendum on France’s membership in the EU.
"Victory for freedom! As I have demanded for years, now the same referendum should be held in France and other EU countries," Le Pen said on Twitter.
Victoire de la liberté! Comme je le demande depuis des années, il faut maintenant le même référendum en France et dans les pays de l'UE MLP
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) 24 июня 2016 г.
10. Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz
"#Brexit is a political earthquake for #Europa. Europe needs rapid changes to be more than the #EU minus # UK," Kurz wrote on Twitter.
#Brexit ist politisches Erdbeben für #Europa. Europa braucht rasche Veränderung, um mehr zu sein, als die #EU minus #Großbritannien.
— Sebastian Kurz (@sebastiankurz) 24 июня 2016 г.
11. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban
Britain's vote to leave the EU shows that Brussels must listen to the voice of the people and give proper answers to such pivotal issues as migration, Orban was quoted as saying by Reuters.
"Brussels must hear the voice of the people, this is the biggest lesson from this decision," he said.
12. Jan Hamacek, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of the Czech Republic
"Brexit is the most serious hit to European integration since World War II ended," he wrote on Twitter.
#Brexit je nejzávažnějším zásahem do procesu Evr. integrace po 2. světové válce.
— Jan Hamáček (@jhamacek) 24 июня 2016 г.
13. German Chancellor Angela Merkel
"Brexit is a blow to Europe and the European integration process," Merkel said on Friday in a statement.
She said that Berlin deeply regrets over the results of the vote.
Merkel said that Germany has "special interest and special responsibility" in European unity.
The European Union is strong enough to find "right answers" after Brexit vote, the German chancellor added.
14. European Council President Donald Tusk
"There's no hiding the fact that we wanted a different outcome of yesterday's referendum. I am fully aware of how serious or even dramatic this moment is politically and there's no way of predicting all the political consequences of this event, especially for the UK," Tusk said.
15. French President Francois Hollande
"The British vote poses a grave test for Europe, which must show solidity and strength in its response to the economic and financial risks," Hollande said during an emergency ministerial meeting on Friday.
He said that the referendum was "a painful choice that he already regrets," and that France would continue to work with the UK, which he described as a "great ally."
