United States
United States of America
Constitution-based federal republicIndependence 4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)
United States as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 137 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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), in which a northern Union of states defeated a secessionist Confederacy of 11 southern slave states, and the Great Depression of the 1930s, an economic downturn during which about a quarter of the labor force lost its jobs.
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
North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
20 fieldsLand useshare of 9,826,630 sq km
Location
North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
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 note: the US has the world's largest coal reserves with 491 billion short tons accounting for 27% of the world's total
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 477 cu km/yr (13%/46%/41%)
- per capita:
- 1,600 cu m/yr (2000)
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;
- 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, 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
People
21 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)
Male · female
Religions(2007 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.72 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Languages
English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census) note: Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii
Government
Constitution-based federal republic; President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001); President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001)
17 fieldsSenate, 435 seats, elected 7 November 2006seats by party
Country name
- conventional long form:
- United States of America
- conventional short form:
- United States
- abbreviation:
- US or USA
Capital
- name:
- Washington, DC
- geographic coordinates:
- 38 53 N, 77 02 W
- time difference:
- UTC-5 (during Standard Time)
- daylight saving time:
- +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
note: the 50 United States cover six time zones
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);
the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994)
Legal system
- federal court system based on English common law;
- each state has its own unique legal system, of which all but one (Louisiana, which is still influenced by the Napoleonic Code) is based on English common law;
- judicial review of legislative acts;
- has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001);
- Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (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); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
- 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 (eligible for a second term);
- election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held on 6 November 2012)
- election results:
- Barack H. OBAMA elected president;
- percent of popular vote - Barack H. OBAMA 52.4%, John MCCAIN 46.3%, other 1.3%;
- note - OBAMA is expected to assume office on 20 January 2009
Legislative branch
bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats, 2 members are elected from each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third are elected every two years) and the House of Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
- elections:
- Senate - last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008); House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)
- election results:
- Senate - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - Democratic Party 49, Republican Party 49, independent 2;
- House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - Democratic Party 233, Republican Party 202
Judicial branch
- Supreme Court (nine justices; nominated by the president and confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate; appointed to serve for life);
- United States Courts of Appeal;
- United States District Courts;
- State and County Courts
Political parties and leaders
- Democratic Party [Howard DEAN];
- Green Party;
- Libertarian Party [William (Bill) REDPATH];
- Republican Party [Robert M. (Mike) DUNCAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- environmentalists;
- business groups;
- labor unions;
- churches;
- ethnic groups;
- political action committees or PAC;
- health groups;
- education groups;
- cuvuc griyos;
- youth groups;
- transportation groups;
- agricultural groups;
- veterans groups;
- women's groups;
- reform lobbies
International organization participation
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), ANZUS, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SECI (observer), SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Flag description
- 13 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
Economy
The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $46,000.
51 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2007 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $46,000. 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 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 enter their rivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering 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 response to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 showed the remarkable resilience of the economy. The war in March-April 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq, and the subsequent occupation of Iraq, required major shifts in national resources to the military.
The rise in GDP in 2004-07 was undergirded by substantial gains in labor productivity. Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage in the Gulf Coast region in August 2005, but had a small impact on overall GDP growth for the year. Soaring oil prices in 2005-2007 threatened inflation and unemployment, yet the economy continued to grow through year-end 2007.
Imported oil accounts for about two-thirds of US consumption. 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.
The merchandise trade deficit reached a record $847 billion in 2007. Together, these problems caused a marked reduction in the value and status of the dollar worldwide in 2007.
Labor force - by occupation
farming, forestry, and fishing 0.6%, manufacturing, extraction, transportation, and crafts 22.6%, managerial, professional, and technical 35.5%, sales and office 24.8%, other services 16.5% note: figures exclude the unemployed (2007)
Agriculture - products
- wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton;
- beef, pork, poultry, dairy products;
- fish;
- forest products
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
Exports - commodities
agricultural products (soybeans, fruit, corn) 9.2%, industrial supplies (organic chemicals) 26.8%, capital goods (transistors, aircraft, motor vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications equipment) 49.0%, consumer goods (automobiles, medicines) 15.0% (2003)
Imports - commodities
agricultural products 4.9%, industrial supplies 32.9% (crude oil 8.2%), capital goods 30.4% (computers, telecommunications equipment, motor vehicle parts, office machines, electric power machinery), consumer goods 31.8% (automobiles, clothing, medicines, furniture, toys) (2003)
Exchange rates
- British pounds per US dollar:
- 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003)
- Canadian dollars per US dollar:
- 1.0724 (2007), 1.1334 (2006), 1.2118 (2005), 1.3010 (2004), 1.4011 (2003)
- Japanese yen per US dollar:
- 117.99 (2007), 116.18 (2006) 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004), 115.93 (2003)
- euros per US dollar:
- 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.8860 (2003)
- Chinese yuan per US dollar:
- 7.61 (2007), 7.97 (2006), 8.1943 (2005), 8.2768 (2004), 8.2770 (2003)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- a large, technologically advanced, multipurpose communications system
- domestic:
- a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form of telephone traffic;
- a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile telephone traffic throughout the country
- international:
- country code - 1;
- multiple ocean cable systems provide international connectivity;
- 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) (2000)
Transportation
10 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
Roadways
- total:
- 6,465,799 km
- paved:
- 4,209,835 km (includes 75,040 km of expressways)
- unpaved:
- 2,255,964 km (2007)
Waterways
41,009 km (19,312 km used for commerce) note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with Canada (2007)
Merchant marine
- total:
- 422
- by type:
- barge carrier 6, bulk carrier 61, cargo 69, carrier 2, chemical tanker 22, container 81, passenger 19, passenger/cargo 59, petroleum tanker 53, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 25, vehicle carrier 22
- foreign-owned:
- 74 (Australia 1, Denmark 31, Germany 5, Japan 7, Malaysia 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 9, Singapore 12, Sweden 5, UK 1)
- registered in other countries:
- 732 (Antigua and Barbuda 8, Australia 2, Bahamas 106, Bermuda 23, Cambodia 6, Canada 10, Cayman Islands 42, Comoros 2, Cyprus 5, Ecuador 1, Greece 8, Hong Kong 29, Ireland 2, Isle of Man 4, Italy 17, South Korea 7, Liberia 98, Luxembourg 4, Malta 23, Marshall Islands 123, Netherlands 14, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 1, Norway 7, Panama 126, Portugal 1, Puerto Rico 3, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 18, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 22, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Tuvalu 1, UK 12, Vanuatu 1, unknown 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals
Corpus Christi, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, Texas City
Military
6 fieldsMilitary branches
- US Army, US Navy (includes ;
- note - Coast Guard administered in peacetime by the Department of Homeland Security, but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy (2008)
Military service age and obligation
- 18 years of age (17 years of age with parental consent) for male and female voluntary service;
- maximum enlistment age 42 (Army), 27 (Air Force), 34 (Navy), 28 (Marines);
- service obligation 8 years, including 2-5 years active duty (Army), 2 years active (Navy), 4 years active (Air Force, Marines) (2008)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 72,715,332
- females age 16-49:
- 71,638,785 (2008 est.)
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsDisputes - international
- the U.S. has intensified domestic security measures and is collaborating closely with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across the international borders;
- abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements;
- 1990 Maritime Boundary Agreement in the Bering Sea still awaits Russian Duma ratification;
- managed maritime boundary disputes with Canada at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock;
- The Bahamas and US have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary;
- 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 US-administered 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 states;
- Marshall Islands claims Wake Island;
- Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island among the islands listed in its 2006 draft constitution
Refugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees (country of origin):
- the US admitted 62,643 refugees during FY04/05 including;
- 10,586 (Somalia);
- 8,549 (Laos);
- 6,666 (Russia);
- 6,479 (Cuba);
- 3,100 (Haiti);
- 2,136 (Iran) (2006)
Illicit drugs
- world's largest consumer of cocaine (shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean), Colombian heroin, and Mexican heroin and marijuana;
- major consumer of ecstasy and Mexican methamphetamine;
- minor consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin;
- illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine;
- money-laundering center
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “United States.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/united-states/2008.