United States

federal republicIndependence 4 July 1776 (from England)

United States as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 71 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalWashington, DC

Area9,372,610 km2

Populationas each edition published it

252.5 million July 1991 · 250.41m in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 1.02% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 35.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 75.8 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.8 children per woman 1991 · 1.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

10 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 10 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $23,400 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.1% in 1993

Geography

11 fields

Total area

9,372,610km2

land area: 9,166,600 km2; includes only the 50 states and District of ColombiaComparative area: about four-tenths the size of USSR; about one-third the size of Africa; about one-half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly smaller than China; about two and one-half times the size of Western Europe

Land boundaries

12,248km total

Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Mexico 3,326 km, Cuba (US naval base at Guantanamo) 29 km

Coastline

19,924 km Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
Continental shelf: not specified;
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes

maritime boundary disputes with Canada;
US Naval Base at Guantanamo is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease;
Haiti claims Navassa Island;
US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other nation;
Marshall Islands claims Wake Island

Climate

mostly temperate, but varies from tropical (Hawaii) to arctic (Alaska); arid to semiarid in west with occasional warm, dry chinook wind

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

Natural resources

coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, crude oil, natural gas, timber

Land use

arable land 20%;
permanent crops NEGL%;
meadows and pastures 26%;
forest and woodland 29%;
other 25%;
includes irrigated 2%

Environment

pollution control measures improving air and water quality;
acid rain;
agricultural fertilizer and pesticide pollution;
management of sparse natural water resources in west;
desertification;
tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin;
continuous permafrost in northern Alaska is a major impediment to development

Note

world's fourth-largest country (after USSR, Canada, and China)

People

14 fields

Population

252,502,000

(July 1991), growth rate 0.8% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth

15Death

9Net migration

Ethnic divisions(1985)

white 85%black 12%other 3% (1985)

Religion

Protestant 61% (Baptist 21%, Methodist 12%, Lutheran 8%, Presbyterian 4%, Episcopalian 3%, other Protestant 13%)Roman Catholic 25%Jewish 2%other 5%none 7%

Labor force

126,424,000

(includes armed forces and unemployed); civilian labor force 124,787,000 (1990)

Literacy

97%

(male 97%, female 97%) age 15 and over having completed 5 or more years of schooling (1980)

Infant mortality rate

10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth

72 years male, 79 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate

1.8 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality

noun--American(s); adjective--American

Language

predominantly English; sizable Spanish-speaking minority

Organized labor

16,729,000 members; 16.1% of total wage and salary employment which was 103,905,000 (1990)

Government

Federal republic

17 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

53.37%

George BUSH (Republican Party) 53.37%Michael DUKAKIS (Democratic Party) 45.67%other 0.96%8 November 1988 (next to be held 3 November 1992)

Senate, 100 seats, elected 6 November 1990one dot, one seat

Democratic Party 56Republican Party 44

Percent of vote

Democratic Party 51%Republican Party 47%other 2%

Long-form name

United States of America; abbreviated US or USA

Type

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

Independence

4 July 1776 (from England)

Constitution

17 September 1787, effective 4 June 1789

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. Since 18 July 1947, the US has administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship with three of the four political units.

The Northern Mariana Islands is a Commonwealth associated with the US (effective 3 November 1986). Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US that was approved by the US Congress but to date the Compact process has not been completed in Palau, which continues to be administered by the US as the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

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).

Legal system

based on English common law;
judicial review of legislative acts;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Executive branch

president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch

bicameral Congress consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch

Supreme Court Chief of State and Head of Government--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989);
Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989) Republican Party, Clayton YEUTTER, national committee chairman;
Jeanie AUSTIN, co-chairman;
Democratic Party, Ronald H. BROWN, national committee chairman;
several other groups or parties of minor political significance

Suffrage

universal at age 18 President--last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held 3 November 1992);
results--George BUSH (Republican Party) 53.37%, Michael DUKAKIS (Democratic Party) 45.67%, other 0.96%;
Senate--last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held 3 November 1992);
results--Democratic Party 51%, Republican Party 47%, other 2%;
seats--(100 total) Democratic Party 56, Republican Party 44;
House of Representatives--last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held 3 November 1992);
results--Democratic Party 52%, Republican Party 44%, other 4%;
seats--(435 total) Democratic Party 267, Republican Party 167, Socialist 1

Communists

Communist Party (claimed 15,000-20,000 members), Gus HALL, general secretary; Socialist Workers Party (claimed 1,800 members), Jack BARNES, national secretary

Member of

AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC, COCOM, CP, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, FAO, ESCAP, G-2, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NATO, NEA, OAS, OECD, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UN Security Council, UN Trusteeship Council, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation

US Representative to the UN, Ambassador Thomas R. PICKERING;
Mission at 799 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017;
telephone (212) 415-4444 (afternoon hours)

Flag

thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white;
there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars;
the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
known as Old Glory;
the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including
- Chile,
- Liberia,
- Malaysia,
- and Puerto Rico

Economy

The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GNP of $21,800, the largest among major industrial nations.

17 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

5.4%

(1990)

Unemployment rate

5.5%

(1990)

External debt

$581billion

(December 1989)

Budget

Revenues

$1,106 billionExpenditures

$1,272 billion

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90 est.)

Overview

The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GNP of $21,800, the largest among major industrial nations. In 1989 the economy enjoyed its seventh successive year of substantial growth, the longest in peacetime history.

The expansion featured moderation in wage and consumer price increases and a steady reduction in unemployment to 5.2% of the labor force. In 1990, however, growth slowed to 1% because of a combination of factors, such as the worldwide increase in interest rates, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August, the subsequent spurt in oil prices, and a general decline in business and consumer confidence.

Ongoing problems for the 1990s include inadequate investment in education and other economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs, and sizable budget and trade deficits.

GNP

$5,465 billion, per capita $21,800; real growth rate 1.0% (1990)

Exports

$393.9 billion (f.o.b., 1990);
commodities--capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products;
partners--Western Europe 27.3%, Canada 22.1%, Japan 12.1% (1989)

Imports

$516.2 billion (c.i.f., 1990);
commodities--crude and partly refined petroleum, machinery, automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and beverages;
partners--Western Europe 21.5%, Japan 19.7%, Canada 18.8% (1989)

Industrial production

growth rate 1.0% (1990)

Electricity

776,550,000 kW capacity; 3,020,000 million kWh produced, 12,080 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries

leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified;
petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, fishing, lumber, mining

Agriculture

accounts for 2% of GNP and 2.8% of labor force;
favorable climate and soils support a wide variety of crops and livestock production;
world's second-largest producer and number-one exporter of grain;
surplus food producer;
fish catch of 5.0 million metric tons (1988)

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis for domestic consumption with 1987 production estimated at 3,500 metric tons or about 25% of the available marijuana;
ongoing eradication program aimed at small plots and greenhouses has not reduced production

Economic aid

donor--commitments, including ODA and OOF, (FY80-89), $115.7 billion

Currency

United States dollar (plural--dollars); 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

British pounds (5) per US$--0.5171 (January 1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985);
Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$--1.1559 (January 1991), 1.1668 (1990), 1.1840 (1989), 1.2307 (1988), 1.3260 (1987), 1.3895 (1986), 1.3655 (1985);
French francs (F) per US$--5.1307 (January 1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985);
Italian lire (Lit) per US$--1,134.4 (January 1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1.372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988), 1,296.1 (1987), 1,490.8 (1986), 1,909.4 (1985);
Japanese yen (3) per US$--133.88 (January 1991), 144.79 (1990), 137.96 (1989), 128.15 (1988), 144.64 (1987), 168.52 (1986), 238.54 (1985);
German deutsche marks (DM) per US$--1.5100 (January 1991), 1.6157 (1990), 1.8800 (1989), 1.7562 (1988), 1.7974 (1987), 2.1715 (1986), 2.9440 (1985)

Fiscal year

1 October-30 September

Communications

9 fields

Merchant marine, 404 ships by type

passenger-cargo 3cargo 44bulk 23tanker 180tanker tug-barge 13liquefied gas 11intermodal; in addition there are 231 government-owned vessels 130404 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling NA GRT/NA DWT)

Airports, 14,177 total, 12,417 usable

permanent surface-runways

4,820runways over 3,659 m

63runways 2,440-3,659 m

325runways 1,220-2,439 m

2,524

Networkskm

Highways

6,365,590Railroads

270,312Pipelines

275,800 (1985)

Highways: , including 88,641 km expressways · Pipelines: , 305,300 km natural gas

Highways

6,365,590 km, including 88,641 km expressways

Inland waterways

41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of the Great Lakes (est.)

Pipelines

275,800 km petroleum, 305,300 km natural gas (1985)

Ports

Anchorage, Baltimore, Beaumont, Boston, Charleston, Cleveland, Duluth, Freeport, Galveston, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Mobile, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), Richmond (California), San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Wilmington

Civil air

3,297 commercial multiengine transport aircraft, including 2,989 jet, 231 turboprop, 77 piston (1985)

Telecommunications

182,558,000 telephones;
stations--4,892 AM, 5,200 FM (including 3,915 commercial and 1,285 public broadcasting), 7,296 TV (including 796 commercial, 300 public broadcasting, and 6,200 commercial cable);
495,000,000 radio receivers (1982);
150,000,000 TV sets (1982);
satellite communications ground stations--45 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 16 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT