Britain has voted in its historic referendum to leave the European Union. Jenny Watson, chief counting officer for the referendum, has declared from the count centre in Manchester that "Leave" wins the vote with a 52-48 percent split.

"The total number of ballot papers counted was 33, 577, 342. The total number of votes cast in favour of Remain was 16, 141, 241. The total number of votes cast in favour of Leave was 17, 410, 742," said Jenny Watson, chief counting officer for EU Referendum.

There was a high turnout for Thursday's historic referendum, standing at 72 percent. The majority of voters in England and Wales voted to leave, while every council in Scotland saw remain majorities. Northern Ireland also had an overall remain majority.

The result means an end of UK's 43-year EU membership. European Parliament President Martin Schulz has reacted to the news, saying he expects negotiations over Britain's departure from the EU to begin quickly.