United States

United States of America

federal republicIndependence 4 July 1776 (from England)

United States as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 105 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

Position38 00 N, 97 00 W

Area9,629,091 sq km

LocationNorth America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean

Populationas each edition published it

272.64 million July 1999 est. · 250.41m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.85% 1999 est. · 1.02% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 35.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

76.23 years 1999 est. · 75.8 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.07 children per woman 1999 est. · 1.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

6.33 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 10 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$31,500 1998 est. · $23,400 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3.9% 1998 est. · 2.1% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

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, low inflation, and rapid advances in technology. The biggest cloud over this affluent society is the distribution of gains--since 1975 most of the increase in national income has gone to the 20% of people at the top of the income ladder.

Geography

North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean | and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico

18 fields

Land useshare of 9,629,091 sq km

arable land 19%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 25%forests and woodland 30%other 26% (1993 est.)irrigated 207,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

9,629,091sq km

land: 9,158,960 sq kmwater: 470,131 sq kmnote: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbiaabout one-half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about one-half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; about two and one-half times the size of Western Europe

Coastline

19,924km

contiguous zone: 12 nmcontinental shelf: not specifiedexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

6,194m

Mount McKinleylowest point: Death Valley -86 m

Land boundaries

12,248km

border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Cuba 29 km (US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay), Mexico 3,326 kmnote: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba

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

Map references

North America

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

Natural resources

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

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 Treaty, Climate Change, 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, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes

Geography--note

world's third-largest country (after Russia and Canada)

People

15 fields

Population

272,639,608

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 0.85% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

14.3Death

8.8Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)76.23

72.95 · 79.67

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1979 est.)97%

97% · 97%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups(1992)

white 83.5%black 12.4%Asian 3.3%Amerindian 0.8% (1992)

Religions(1989)

Protestant 56%Roman Catholic 28%Jewish 2%other 4%none 10% (1989)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 22% (male 30,097,125; female 28,699,568)
15-64 years:: 66% (male 89,024,052; female 90,379,328)
65 years and over:: 12% (male 14,189,132; female 20,250,403) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

6.33 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.07 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun:: American(s)
adjective:: American

Languages

English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)

Government

Federal republic; President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993); President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)

17 fields

Legislature, 435 seatsseats by party

-Republican Party 223Democratic Party 211independent 1

Country name

conventional long form:: United States of America
conventional short form:: United States
abbreviation:: US or USA

Data code

Government 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

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 Atoll

note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new 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 England)

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 William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993);
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 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
election results:: William Jefferson CLINTON reelected president;
percent of popular vote--William Jefferson CLINTON (Democratic Party) 49.2%, Robert DOLE (Republican Party) 40.7%, Ross PEROT (Reform Party) 8.4%, other 1.7%

Legislative branch

bicameral Congress consists of 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 House of Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)

elections:: Senate--last held 2 November 1998 (next to be held 7 November 2000); House of Representatives--last held 2 November 1998 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
election results:: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--Republican Party 55, Democratic Party 45;
House of Representatives--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--Republican Party 223, Democratic Party 211, independent 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (the nine justices are appointed for life by the president with confirmation by the Senate)

Political parties and leaders

Republican Party [Jim NICHOLSON, national committee chairman]; several other groups or parties of minor political significance

International organization participation

AfDB, ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Flag description

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 GDP | of $31,500, the largest among major industrial nations.

31 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$31,500

purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)

Real growth rate

3.9%

(1998 est.)industrial production growth: 3.6% (1998)

Inflation, consumer prices

1.6%

(1998)

Unemployment rate

4.5%

(1998)

GDP--composition by sector(1998 est.)

agriculture 2%industry 23%services 75% (1998 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$1.722 trillionExpenditures

$1.653 trillion (1998)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 65.1%hydro 9.6%nuclear 18.59%other 6.71% (1996)

Electricity production

3.629 trillion (1996)Electricity consumption

3.666 trillion (1996)Electricity exports

9.02 billion (1996)Electricity imports

46.543 billion (1996)

Economy--overview

The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $31,500, the largest among major industrial nations. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and government buys 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, lay off surplus workers, and 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, although 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 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 1994-98 witnessed solid increases in real output, low inflation rates, and a drop in unemployment to below 5%. Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs of an aging population, sizable trade deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups.

The outlook for 1999 is for GDP growth somewhat below 1998's, continued low inflation, and about the same level of unemployment. Two shadows for 1999 are the severe financial crises in East Asia and Russia and the exuberant level of stock prices in relation to corporate earnings.

GDP

purchasing power parity--$8.511 trillion (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line

13% (1997 est.)

Labor force

137.7 million (includes unemployed) (1998)

Labor force--by occupation

managerial and professional 29.6%, technical, sales and administrative support 29.3%, services 13.6%, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and crafts 24.8%, farming, forestry, and fishing 2.7% (1998) note: figures exclude the unemployed

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

Agriculture--products

wheat, other grains, corn, fruits, vegetables, cotton;
beef, pork, poultry, dairy products;
forest products;
fish

Exports

$663 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities

capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products

Exports--partners

Canada 22%, Western Europe 21%, Japan 10%, Mexico 10% (1997)

Imports

$912 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities

crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery, automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and beverages

Imports--partners

Canada, 19%, Western Europe 18%, Japan 14%, Mexico 10%, China 7% (1997)

Debt--external

$862 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid--donor

ODA, $7.4 billion (1995)

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

British pounds (L) per US$--0.6057 (January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994);
Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$--1.5192 (January 1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996), 1.3724 (1995), 1.3656 (1994);
French francs (F) per US$--5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994);
Italian lire (Lit) per US$--1,668.7 (January 1999), 1,763.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994);
Japanese yen (Y) per US$--113.18 (January 1999), 130.91 (1998), 120.99 (1997), 108.78 (1996), 94.06 (1995), 102.21 (1994);
German deutsche marks (DM) per US$--1.69 (January 1999), 1.9692 (1998), 1.7341 (1997), 1.5048 (1996), 1.4331 (1995), 1.6228 (1994);
Euro per US$--0.8597 (January 1999)

Fiscal year

1 October--30 September

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

182.558 million

(1987 est.)

Telephone system

domestic:: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries conventional telephone traffic;
a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile telephone traffic throughout country
international:: 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite earth stations--61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean regions) (1990 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4,987, FM 4,932, shortwave 0

Radios

540.5 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

more than 1,500 (including nearly 1,000 stations affiliated with the five major networks--NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and PBS; in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems) (1997)

Televisions

215 million (1993 est.)

Transportation

10 fields

Merchant marine, 385 ships by type(1998 est.)

barge carrier 10bulk 61cargo 28chemical tanker 13combination bulk 2container 83liquefied gas tanker 9multifunctional large-load carrier 3oil tanker 114passenger 7passenger-cargo 1roll-on/roll-off cargo 43short-sea passenger 3specialized tanker 1vehicle carrier 7

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

1,027

over 3,047 m: 180 2,438 to 3,047 m: 219 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,294 914 to 1,523 m: 2,447

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

7,482

over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 156 914 to 1,523 m: 1,647

Networkskm

Highways

6.42 millionRailways

240,000

Highways: paved: 3,903,360 km (including 88,400 km of expressways) · unpaved: 2,516,640 km (1996 est.) · Railways: (nongovernment owned) · standard gauge: 240,000 km 1.435-m gauge (1989)

Railways

total:: 240,000 km mainline routes (nongovernment owned)
standard gauge:: 240,000 km 1.435-m gauge (1989)

Highways

total:: 6.42 million km
paved:: 3,903,360 km (including 88,400 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 2,516,640 km (1996 est.)

Waterways

41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of the Great Lakes

Pipelines

petroleum products 276,000 km; natural gas 331,000 km (1991)

Ports and harbors

Anchorage, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral, Portland (Oregon), Prudhoe Bay, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Toledo

Airports

14,459 (1998 est.)

Heliports

122 (1998 est.)

Military

5 fields

Military expenditures--percent of GDP

3.4%

(1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes--international

maritime boundary disputes with Canada (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island);
US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 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 Atoll

Illicit drugs

consumer of cocaine shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean;
consumer of heroin, marijuana, and increasingly methamphetamines from Mexico;
consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin;
illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamines;
drug-money-laundering center

Central Intelligence Agency. “United States.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/united-states/1999.

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