World Countries Info > United States > Albuquerque, Anchorage, Aspen, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Berkeley, Boise, Boston, Boulder, Branson, Buffalo, Cape Cod, Chattanooga, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Flagstaff, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Worth, Honolulu, Houston, Jackson, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Key West, La Jolla, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis, Monterey, Napa, Nashville, New Haven, New Orleans, New York, Niagara Falls, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Orlando, Palm Springs, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Reno, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Scottsdale, Seattle, Sedona, Tampa, Tucson, Tulsa, Washington DC
Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as
the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the
nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas
possessions. The two most traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War
(1861-65) and the Great Depression of the 1930s. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and
II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful nation
state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid
advances in technology.
Geography of the United States
|
Location:
|
North America, bordering
both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between
Canada and Mexico |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
38 00 N, 97 00 W |
|
Area:
|
total: 9,629,091 sq
km
land: 9,158,960 sq km
water: 470,131 sq km
note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia |
|
Area - comparative:
|
about half the size of
Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about half the size of
South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than
China; about two and a half times the size of Western Europe |
|
Land boundaries:
|
total: 12,034 km
border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with
Alaska), Mexico 3,141 km
note: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US
and thus remains part of Cuba; the base boundary is 29 km |
|
Coastline:
|
19,924 km |
|
Maritime claims:
|
contiguous zone: 24
NM
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
|
Climate:
|
mostly temperate, but
tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great
plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the
southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated
occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the
eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains |
|
Terrain:
|
vast central plain,
mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and
broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point: Death
Valley -86 m
highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
coal, copper, lead,
molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel,
potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber |
|
Land use:
|
arable land: 19.32%
other: 80.46% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 0.22% |
|
Irrigated land:
|
214,000 sq km (1998 est.) |
|
Natural hazards:
|
tsunamis, volcanoes, and
earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic
and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud
slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in
northern Alaska, a major impediment to development |
|
Environment - current issues:
|
air pollution resulting in
acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single
emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water
pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; very limited
natural fresh water resources in much of the western part of the country
require careful management; desertification |
|
Environment - international agreements:
|
party to: Air
Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes |
|
Geography - note:
|
world's third-largest
country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China
and India); Mt. McKinley is highest point in North America and Death
Valley the lowest point on the continent
|
Population of the United States
|
Population:
|
293,027,571 (July 2004 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 20.8% (male 31,122,974;
female 29,713,748)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 97,756,380; female 98,183,309)
65 years and over: 12.4% (male 15,078,204; female 21,172,956) (2004 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total: 36 years
male: 34.7 years
female: 37.4 years (2004 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
0.92% (2004 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
14.13 births/1,000 |
|
Death rate:
|
8.34 deaths/1,000 |
|
Net migration rate:
|
3.41 migrant(s)/1,000 |
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total: 6.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 7.31 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 77.43 years
male: 74.63 years
female: 80.36 years (2004 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
2.07 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
0.6% (2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
900,000 (2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
15,000 (2001 est.) |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: American(s)
adjective: American |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
white 77.1%, black 12.9%, Asian 4.2%,
Amerindian and Alaska native 1.5%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.3%, other
4% (2000)
note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US Census Bureau
considers Hispanic to mean a person of Latin American descent (including persons of Cuban,
Mexican, or Puerto Rican origin) living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group
(white, black, Asian, etc.) |
|
Religions:
|
Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish
2%, other 4%, none 10% (1989) |
|
Languages:
|
English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable
minority) |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1979 est.)
|
Government
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: United
States of America
conventional short form: United States
abbreviation: US or USA |
|
Government type:
|
Constitution-based federal republic; strong
democratic tradition |
|
Capital:
|
Washington, DC |
|
Administrative divisions:
|
50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska,
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*,
Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North
Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota,
Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming |
|
Dependent areas:
|
American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland
Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island,
Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered the Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands. It entered into a political relationship with all four
political units: the Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with
the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the
US (effective 1 October 1994); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free
Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands
signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986) |
|
Independence:
|
4 July 1776 (from Great Britain) |
|
National holiday:
|
Independence Day, 4 July (1776) |
|
Constitution:
|
17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789 |
|
Legal system:
|
based on English common law; judicial
review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations |
|
Suffrage:
|
18 years of age; universal |
|
Executive branch:
|
chief of state: President George W.
BUSH (since 20 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001) ; note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by a college of
representatives who are elected directly from each state; president and vice president
serve four-year terms; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2 November
2004)
election results: George W. BUSH elected president; percent of popular vote -
George W. BUSH (Republican Party) 48%, Albert A. GORE, Jr. (Democratic Party) 48%, Ralph
NADER (Green Party) 3%, other 1% |
|
Legislative branch:
|
bicameral Congress consists of the Senate
(100 seats, one-third are renewed every two years; two members are elected from each state
by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (435 seats;
members are directly elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Republican Party 51, Democratic Party 48, independent 1; House of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Republican Party 226, Democratic Party
204, independent 1, undecided 4
elections: Senate - last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November 2004);
House of Representatives - last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November 2004) |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme Court (its nine justices are
appointed for life on condition of good behavior by the president with confirmation by the
Senate); United States Courts of Appeal; United States District Courts; State and County
Courts |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
Democratic Party [Terence McAULIFFE]; Green
Party [leader NA]; Libertarian Party [Steve DASBACH]; Republican Party [Governor Marc
RACICOT] |
Economy
The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a
per capita GDP of $37,800. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and
business firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy
needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms
enjoy considerably greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and
Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop
new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to entry in their rivals' home
markets than the barriers to entry of foreign firms in US markets. US firms are at or
near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical,
aerospace, and military equipment; their advantage has narrowed since the end of World
War II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a
"two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and
the professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get
comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975,
practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households.
The years 1994-2000 witnessed solid increases in real output, low inflation rates, and a
drop in unemployment to below 5%. The year 2001 saw the end of boom psychology and
performance, with output increasing only 0.3% and unemployment and business failures
rising substantially. The response to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 showed
the remarkable resilience of the economy. Moderate recovery took place in 2002 with the
GDP growth rate rising to 2.4%. A major short-term problem in first half 2002 was a
sharp decline in the stock market, fueled in part by the exposure of dubious accounting
practices in some major corporations. The war in March/April 2003 between a US-led
coalition and Iraq shifted resources to the military. In 2003, growth in output and
productivity and the recovery of the stock market to above 10,000 for the Dow Jones
Industrial Average were promising signs. Unemployment stayed at the 6% level, however,
and began to decline only at the end of the year. Long-term problems include inadequate
investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an
aging population, sizable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation of family income in
the lower economic groups.
|
GDP:
|
purchasing power parity - $10.98 trillion
(2003 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
3.1% (2003 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
purchasing power parity - $37,800 (2003
est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 2%
industry: 18%
services: 80% (2002 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
12% (2003 est.) |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 30.5% (1997) |
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|
40.8 (1997) |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
2.1% (2003) |
|
Labor force:
|
141.8 million (includes unemployed) (2003) |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
managerial, professional, and technical
31%, sales and office 28.9%, services 13.6%, manufacturing, extraction, transportation,
and crafts 24.1%, farming, forestry, and fishing 2.4%
note: figures exclude the unemployed (2001) |
|
Unemployment rate:
|
6.2% (2003) |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $1.946 trillion
expenditures: $2.052 trillion, including capital expenditures of NA (2002 est.) |
|
Industries:
|
leading industrial power in the world,
highly diversified and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles,
aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods,
lumber, mining |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
-1% (2003 est.) |
|
Electricity - production:
|
3.719 trillion kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 71.4%
hydro: 5.6%
other: 2.3% (2001)
nuclear: 20.7% |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
3.602 trillion kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - exports:
|
18.17 billion kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - imports:
|
38.48 billion kWh (2001) |
|
Oil - production:
|
8.054 million bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - consumption:
|
19.65 million bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - proved reserves:
|
22.45 billion bbl (1 January 2002) |
|
Natural gas - production:
|
548.1 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - consumption:
|
640.9 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - exports:
|
11.16 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - imports:
|
114.1 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - proved reserves:
|
5.195 trillion cu m (1 January 2002) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
wheat, corn, other grains, fruits,
vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest products; fish |
|
Exports:
|
$714.5 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
capital goods, automobiles, industrial
supplies and raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products |
|
Exports - partners:
|
Canada 23.2%, Mexico 14.1%, Japan 7.4%, UK
4.8% (2002) |
|
Imports:
|
$1.26 trillion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
crude oil and refined petroleum products,
machinery, automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and beverages |
|
Imports - partners:
|
Canada 17.8%, Mexico 11.3%, China 11.1%,
Japan 10.4%, Germany 5.3% (2002) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$1.4 trillion (2001 est.) |
|
Economic aid - donor:
|
ODA, $6.9 billion (1997) |
|
Currency:
|
US dollar (USD) |
|
Currency code:
|
USD |
|
Exchange rates:
|
British pounds per US dollar - 0.6139
(2003), 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), Canadian dollars per
US dollar - 1.4045 (2003), 1.5693 (2002), 1.5488 (2001), 1.4851 (2000), 1.4857 (1999),
Japanese yen per US dollar - 116.08 (2003), 125.39 (2002), 121.53 (2001), 107.77 (2000),
113.91 (1999), euros per US dollar - 0.8866 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.08540
(2000), 0.93863 (1999) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Some Copyrights Reserved © 2006 Free Global Information
|
