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 ::United States
Population:
307,212,123 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.2% (male 31,639,127/female 30,305,704)
15-64 years: 67% (male 102,665,043/female 103,129,321)
65 years and over: 12.8% (male 16,901,232/female 22,571,696) (2009
est.)
Median age:
total: 36.7 years
male: 35.4 years
female: 38 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.975% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Birth rate:
13.82 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Death rate:
8.38 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Net migration rate:
4.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Urbanization:
urban population: 82% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.26 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 180
male: 6.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.11 years
country comparison to the world: 50
male: 75.65 years
female: 80.69 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.05 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.2 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
22,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Nationality:
noun: American(s)
adjective: American
Ethnic groups:
white 79.96%, black 12.85%, Asian 4.43%, Amerindian and Alaska
native 0.97%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.18%, two
or more races 1.61% (July 2007 estimate)
note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US
Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean persons of
Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin including those of Mexican, Cuban,
Puerto Rican, Dominican Republic, Spanish, and Central or South
American origin living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic
group (white, black, Asian, etc.); about 15.1% of the total US
population is Hispanic
Religions:
Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, other Christian
1.6%, Jewish 1.7%, Buddhist 0.7%, Muslim 0.6%, other or unspecified
2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, none 4% (2007 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
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5.3% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 57
Government ::United States
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:
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)
Independence:
4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution:
17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789
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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009);
Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January
2009); Vice President Joseph BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
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%;
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 4 November 2008 (next to be held
November 2010); House of Representatives - last held 4 November 2008
(next to be held in November 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Democratic Party 57, Republican Party 41, independent 2;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Democratic Party 257, Republican Party 178
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 [Timothy KAINE]; Green Party; Libertarian Party
[William (Bill) REDPATH]; Republican Party [Michael STEELE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
environmentalists; business groups; labor unions; churches; ethnic
groups; political action committees or PAC; health groups; education
groups; civic groups; youth groups; transportation groups;
agricultural groups; veterans groups; women's groups; reform lobbies
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), ANZUS, APEC,
Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS,
BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE (observer), CERN (observer),
CP, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-20, 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 Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
Economy ::United States
Economy - overview:
The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in
the world, with a per capita GDP of $46,900. 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 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. 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 between 2005 and
the first half of 2008 threatened inflation and unemployment, as
higher gasoline prices ate into consumers' budgets. 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 $819 billion in 2007 and $821 billion in 2008. The global
economic downturn, the sub-prime mortgage crisis, investment bank
failures, falling home prices, and tight credit pushed the United
States into a recession by mid-2008. To help stabilize financial
markets, the US Congress established a $700 billion Troubled Asset
Relief Program (TARP) in October 2008. The government used some of
these funds to purchase equity in US banks and other industrial
corporations. In January 2009 the US Congress passed and President
Barack OBAMA signed a bill providing an additional $787 billion
fiscal stimulus - two-thirds on additional spending and one-third on
tax cuts - to create jobs and to help the economy recover.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.44 trillion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
$14.38 trillion (2007 est.)
$14.09 trillion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$14.44 trillion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
2.1% (2007 est.)
2.7% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$47,500 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$47,700 (2007 est.)
$47,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 19.2%
services: 79.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
154.3 million (includes unemployed) (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
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)
Unemployment rate:
5.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
4.6% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
12% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 30% (2007 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
45 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 44
40.8 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
14.3% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Budget:
revenues: $2.524 trillion
expenditures: $2.978 trillion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
37.5% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
65% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
2.9% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
0.5% (31 March 2009)
country comparison to the world: 110
4.83% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.09% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 105
8.05% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$1.436 trillion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 4
$1.395 trillion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$10.99 trillion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 1
$7.466 trillion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$15.06 trillion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 2
$14.21 trillion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 1
$19.95 trillion (31 December 2007)
$19.43 trillion (31 December 2006)
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
Industrial production growth rate:
-2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Electricity - production:
4.11 trillion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Electricity - consumption:
3.873 trillion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Electricity - exports:
24.08 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
57.02 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
8.514 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Oil - consumption:
19.5 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Oil - exports:
1.433 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Oil - imports:
13.47 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Oil - proved reserves:
21.32 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Natural gas - production:
582.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Natural gas - consumption:
657.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Natural gas - exports:
28.49 billion cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 10
Natural gas - imports:
112.7 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Natural gas - proved reserves:
6.731 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Current account balance:
-$706.1 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
-$731.2 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$1.277 trillion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$1.148 trillion (2007 est.)
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)
Exports - partners:
Canada 20.1%, Mexico 11.7%, China 5.5%, Japan 5.1%, Germany 4.2%, UK
4.1% (2008)
Imports:
$2.117 trillion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
$1.968 trillion (2007 est.)
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)
Imports - partners:
China 16.5%, Canada 15.7%, Mexico 10.1%, Japan 6.6%, Germany 4.6%
(2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$77.65 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$70.57 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$13.75 trillion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 1
$13.43 trillion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$2.367 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
$2.093 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$3.162 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
$2.791 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
British pounds per US dollar: 0.5302 (2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418
(2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004)
Canadian dollars per US dollar: 1.0364 (2008), 1.0724 (2007), 1.1334
(2006), 1.2118 (2005), 1.3010 (2004)
Chinese yuan per US dollar: 6.9385 (2008), 7.61 (2007), 7.97 (2006),
8.1943 (2005), 8.2768 (2004)
euros per US dollar: 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006),
0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Japanese yen per US dollar: 103.58 (2008), 117.99 (2007), 116.18
(2006) 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004)
Communications ::United States
Telephones - main lines in use:
150 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 2
Telephones - mobile cellular:
270 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 3
Telephone 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4,789, FM 8,961, shortwave 19 (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
2,218 (2006)
Internet country code:
.us
Internet hosts:
383 million (2009); note - the US Internet total host count includes
the following top level domain host addresses: .us, .com, .edu,
.gov, .mil, .net, and .org
country comparison to the world: 1
Internet users:
231 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 2
Transportation ::United States
Airports:
15,095 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 1
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5,174
over 3,047 m: 190
2,438 to 3,047 m: 229
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,477
914 to 1,523 m: 2,309
under 914 m: 969 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 9,921
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 158
914 to 1,523 m: 1,757
under 914 m: 8,000 (2009)
Heliports:
126 (2009)
Pipelines:
petroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 226,427 km
country comparison to the world: 1
standard gauge: 226,427 km 1.435-m gauge (2007)
Roadways:
total: 6,465,799 km
country comparison to the world: 1
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)
country comparison to the world: 4
note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint
Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with Canada (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 422
country comparison to the world: 24
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 8, 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 ::United States
Military branches:
United States Armed Forces: US Army, US Navy (includes Marine
Corps), US Air Force, US Coast Guard; note - Coast Guard
administered in peacetime by the Department of Homeland Security,
but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy (2009)
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.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 59,764,677
females age 16-49: 59,437,663 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,196,124
female: 2,085,085 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.06% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Transnational Issues ::United States
Disputes - international: