|
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:
9,826,630 sq km
land: 9,161,923 sq km
water: 664,707 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; more than twice the size of the
European Union |
|
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 is part of Cuba;
the base boundary is 28 km |
|
Coastline:
|
19,924 km
|
|
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:
18.01%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 81.78% (2005) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
223,850 sq km (2003)
|
|
Population:
|
301,139,947 (July
2007 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years:
20.2% (male 31,152,050/female 29,777,438)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male
100,995,752/female 101,365,035)
65 years and over: 12.6% (male
15,858,477/female 21,991,195) (2007 est.)
|
|
Median age:
|
total: 36.6
years
male: 35.3 years
female: 37.9 years (2007 est.)
|
|
Population
growth rate:
|
0.894% (2007 est.)
|
|
Nationality:
|
noun:
American(s)
adjective: American |
|
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 US is divided into 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's) is based on English common law;
judicial review of legislative acts |
|
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 2 November 2004 (next to be
held on 4 November 2008)
election results: George W. BUSH
reelected president; percent of popular vote -
George W. BUSH 50.9%, John KERRY 48.1%, other
1.0% |
|
Legislative
branch:
|
bicameral Congress
consists of the Senate (100 seats, one-third are
renewed every two years; 2 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)
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 [Ken
MEHLMAN] |
|
International
organization participation:
|
AfDB, ANZUS, APEC,
Arctic Council, ARF, AsDB, 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, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, 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, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG,
UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO,
ZC |
|
Economy -
overview:
|
The US has the
largest and most technologically powerful
economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of
$43,500. 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 2004-06 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 and 2006 threatened
inflation and unemployment, yet the economy
continued to grow through year-end 2006.
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 $750
billion in 2006. |
|
GDP (purchasing
power parity):
|
$12.98 trillion
(2006 est.) |
|
GDP (official
exchange rate):
|
$13.22 trillion
(2006 est.) |
|
GDP - real
growth rate:
|
3.4% (2006 est.)
|
|
GDP - per capita
(PPP):
|
$43,500 (2006 est.)
|
|
GDP -
composition by sector:
|
agriculture:
0.9%
industry: 20.4%
services: 78.6% (2006 est.) |
|
Labor force:
|
151.4 million
(includes unemployed) (2006 est.) |
|
Labor force - by
occupation:
|
farming, forestry,
and fishing 0.7%, manufacturing, extraction,
transportation, and crafts 22.9%, managerial,
professional, and technical 34.9%, sales and
office 25%, other services 16.5%
note: figures exclude the unemployed
(2006) |
|
Unemployment
rate:
|
4.8% (2006 est.)
|
|
Population below
poverty line:
|
12% (2004 est.)
|
|
Household income
or consumption by percentage share:
|
lowest 10%:
1.8%
highest 10%: 30.5% (1997) |
|
Distribution of
family income - Gini index:
|
45 (2004)
|
|
Inflation rate
(consumer prices):
|
2.5% (2006 est.)
|
|
Investment
(gross fixed):
|
16.6% of GDP (2006
est.) |
|
Budget:
|
revenues:
$2.409 trillion
expenditures: $2.66 trillion; including
capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
|
|
Public debt:
|
64.7% of GDP (2005
est.) |
|
Agriculture -
products:
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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:
|
4.2% (2006 est.)
|
|
Electricity -
production:
|
3.979 trillion kWh
(2004) |
|
Electricity -
consumption:
|
3.717 trillion kWh
(2004) |
|
Electricity -
exports:
|
22.9 billion kWh
(2004) |
|
Electricity -
imports:
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34.21 billion kWh
(2004) |
|
Oil -
production:
|
7.61 million bbl/day
(2005 est.) |
|
Oil -
consumption:
|
20.73 million
bbl/day (2004 est.) |
|
Oil - exports:
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1.048 million
bbl/day (2004) |
|
Oil - imports:
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13.15 million
bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - proved
reserves:
|
22.45 billion bbl (1
January 2002) |
|
Natural gas -
production:
|
531.1 billion cu m
(2004 est.) |
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Natural gas -
consumption:
|
635.1 billion cu m
(2004 est.) |
|
Natural gas -
exports:
|
24.18 billion cu m
(2004 est.) |
|
Natural gas -
imports:
|
120.6 billion cu m
(2004 est.) |
|
Natural gas -
proved reserves:
|
5.451 trillion cu m
(1 January 2005 est.) |
|
Current account
balance:
|
$-862.3 billion
(2006 est.) |
|
Exports:
|
$1.024 trillion
f.o.b. (2006 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 23.4%, Mexico
13.3%, Japan 6.1%, China 4.6%, UK 4.3% (2005)
|
|
Imports:
|
$1.869 trillion
f.o.b. (2006 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:
|
Canada 16.9%, China
15%, Mexico 10%, Japan 8.2%, Germany 5% (2005)
|
|
Reserves of
foreign exchange and gold:
|
$69.19 billion
(August 2006 est.) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$10.04 trillion (30
June 2006 est.) |
|
Economic aid -
donor:
|
ODA, $6.9 billion
(1997) |
|
Currency (code):
|
US dollar (USD)
|
|
Telephones -
main lines in use:
|
268 million (2003)
|
|
Telephones -
mobile cellular:
|
219.4 million (2005)
|
|
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; 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) (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:
|
195.139 million
(2005) |
|
Internet users:
|
205.327 million (2005) |
|
Airports:
|
14,858 (2006) |
|
Airports - with
paved runways:
|
total: 5,119
over 3,047 m: 189
2,438 to 3,047 m: 221
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,426
914 to 1,523 m: 2,337
under 914 m: 946 (2006) |
|
Pipelines:
|
petroleum products
244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km (2003)
|
|
Railways:
|
total:
226,605 km
standard gauge: 226,605 km 1.435-m gauge
(2004) |
|
Roadways:
|
total:
6,430,366 km
paved: 4,165,110 km (includes 75,009 km
of expressways)
unpaved: 2,265,256 km (2005) |
|
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 (2004) |
|
Merchant marine:
|
total: 465
ships (1000 GRT or over) 10,590,325 GRT/13,273,133
DWT
by type: barge carrier 7, bulk carrier
67, cargo 91, chemical tanker 20, container 76,
passenger 19, passenger/cargo 58, petroleum
tanker 76, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll
off 27, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 20
foreign-owned: 51 (Australia 2, Canada 4,
Denmark 24, Germany 2, Greece 1, Malaysia 4,
Netherlands 4, Norway 2, Singapore 2, Sweden 5,
Taiwan 1)
registered in other countries: 700
(Antigua and Barbuda 7, Australia 3, Bahamas
121, Belize 5, Bermuda 27, Cambodia 8, Canada 2,
Cayman Islands 41, Comoros 2, Cyprus 7, Greece
1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 21, Ireland 2, Isle of
Man 3, Italy 15, North Korea 3, South Korea 7,
Liberia 93, Luxembourg 3, Malta 3, Marshall
Islands 143, Netherlands 13, Netherlands
Antilles 1, Norway 13, Panama 94, Peru 1,
Philippines 8, Portugal 1, Puerto Rico 3, Qatar
1, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
21, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 7, Spain 7, Sweden
1, Trinidad and Tobago 1, UK 6, Vanuatu 1,
Wallis and Futuna 1) (2006) |
|
Ports and
terminals:
|
Corpus Christi,
Duluth, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long Beach, Los
Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia,
Tampa, Texas City
note: 13 ports north of New Orleans
(South Louisiana Ports) on the Mississippi River
handle 290,000,000 tons of cargo annually
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