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This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Map of United States



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    United States Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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    United States Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
38 00 N, 97 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
North America
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
19,924 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
highest point: Mount McKinley 6,198 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
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
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 18.01%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 81.78% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
223,850 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
3,069 cu km (1985)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 477 cu km/yr (13%/46%/41%)
per capita: 1,600 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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 Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
303,824,640 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 31,257,108/female 29,889,645)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 101,825,901/female 102,161,823)
65 years and over: 12.7% (male 16,263,255/female 22,426,914) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 36.7 years
male: 35.4 years
female: 38.1 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.883% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14.18 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.27 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
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.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 78.14 years
male: 75.29 years
female: 81.13 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.1 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
950,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
17,011 (2005 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: American(s)
adjective: American
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
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 a person of Latin American descent (including persons of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican 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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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 Field Listing
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):
Definition Field Listing
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.3% of GDP (2005)
   Government    United States Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: United States of America
conventional short form: United States
abbreviation: US or USA
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
Democratic Party [Howard DEAN]; Green Party; Libertarian Party [William (Bill) REDPATH]; Republican Party [Robert M. (Mike) DUNCAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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 Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$13.78 trillion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$13.84 trillion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$45,800 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 19.8%
services: 79% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
153.1 million (includes unemployed) (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.6% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 30% (2007 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
45 (2007)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15.5% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $2.568 trillion
expenditures: $2.73 trillion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
60.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.9% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.83% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.05% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.374 trillion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$10.1 trillion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$14.15 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish; forest products
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-1.7% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.167 trillion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.892 trillion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
20.14 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
51.4 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.457 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20.68 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.165 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13.71 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20.97 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
545.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
652.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
23.28 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
130.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.977 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$731.2 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.148 trillion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
Canada 21.4%, Mexico 11.7%, China 5.6%, Japan 5.4%, UK 4.3%, Germany 4.3% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.968 trillion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
China 16.9%, Canada 15.7%, Mexico 10.6%, Japan 7.4%, Germany 4.8% (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$70.57 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$12.25 trillion (30 June 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.093 trillion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.791 trillion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$17 trillion (2005)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
US dollar (USD)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
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    United States Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
163.2 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
255 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
AM 4,789, FM 8,961, shortwave 19 (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
2,218 (2006)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.us
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
316 million (2008); note - the US Internet total host count includes the following top level domain host addresses: .us, .com, .edu, .gov, .mil, .net, and .org
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
223 million (2008)
   Transportation    United States Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14,947 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 5,143
over 3,047 m: 191
2,438 to 3,047 m: 224
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,452
914 to 1,523 m: 2,323
under 914 m: 953 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 9,804
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 153
914 to 1,523 m: 1,732
under 914 m: 7,912 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
146 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km (2006)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 226,612 km
standard gauge: 226,612 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 6,465,799 km
paved: 4,209,835 km (includes 75,040 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,255,964 km (2007)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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:
Definition Field Listing
Corpus Christi, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, Texas City
   Military    United States Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
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 (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 72,715,332
females age 16-49: 71,638,785 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 59,413,358
females age 16-49: 59,187,183 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
male: 2,186,440
female: 2,079,688 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.06% of GDP (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    United States Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


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