2016 Edition

Background

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. Since the end of World War II, the economy has achieved relatively steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.

Area

9,833,517 sq km 9,147,593 sq km 685,924 sq km includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia, no overseas territories (2010)

land

9,147,593 sq km

note

includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia, no overseas territories (2010)

total

9,833,517 sq km

water

685,924 sq km

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

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

Coastline

19,924 km

Elevation

760 m lowest point: Death Valley -86 m (lowest point in North America) highest point: Denali (Mount McKinley) 6,190 m (highest point in North America) the peak of Mauna Kea (4,205 m above sea level) on the island of Hawaii rises about 10,200 m above the Pacific Ocean floor; by this measurement, it is the world's tallest mountain - higher than Mount Everest (8,850 m), which is recognized as the tallest mountain above sea level

elevation extremes

lowest point: Death Valley -86 m (lowest point in North America)

highest point

Denali (Mount McKinley) 6,190 m (highest point in North America)

mean elevation

760 m

note

the peak of Mauna Kea (4,205 m above sea level) on the island of Hawaii rises about 10,200 m above the Pacific Ocean floor; by this measurement, it is the world's tallest mountain - higher than Mount Everest (8,850 m), which is recognized as the tallest mountain above sea level

Environment - current issues

large emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; limited natural freshwater resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification

Environment - international agreements

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 Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes

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

Geographic coordinates

38 00 N, 97 00 W

Geography - note

world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China and India); Denali (Mt. McKinley) is the highest point in North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent

Irrigated land

264,000 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

12,048 km Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Mexico 3,155 km US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US and is part of Cuba; the base boundary is 28.5 km

border countries (2)

Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Mexico 3,155 km

note

US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US and is part of Cuba; the base boundary is 28.5 km

total

12,048 km

Land use

44.5% arable land 16.8%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 27.4% 33.3% 22.2% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

44.5%

forest

33.3%

other

22.2% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

North America

Maritime claims

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm not specified

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

not specified

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

tsunamis; volcanoes; 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 volcanic activity in the Hawaiian Islands, Western Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and in the Northern Mariana Islands; both Mauna Loa (elev. 4,170 m) in Hawaii and Mount Rainier (elev. 4,392 m) in Washington have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Pavlof (elev. 2,519 m) is the most active volcano in Alaska's Aleutian Arc and poses a significant threat to air travel since the area constitutes a major flight path between North America and East Asia; St. Helens (elev. 2,549 m), famous for the devastating 1980 eruption, remains active today; numerous other historically active volcanoes exist, mostly concentrated in the Aleutian arc and Hawaii; they include: in Alaska: Aniakchak, Augustine, Chiginagak, Fourpeaked, Iliamna, Katmai, Kupreanof, Martin, Novarupta, Redoubt, Spurr, Wrangell; in Hawaii: Trident, Ugashik-Peulik, Ukinrek Maars, Veniaminof; in the Northern Mariana Islands: Anatahan; and in the Pacific Northwest: Mount Baker, Mount Hood

volcanism

volcanic activity in the Hawaiian Islands, Western Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and in the Northern Mariana Islands; both Mauna Loa (elev. 4,170 m) in Hawaii and Mount Rainier (elev. 4,392 m) in Washington have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Pavlof (elev. 2,519 m) is the most active volcano in Alaska's Aleutian Arc and poses a significant threat to air travel since the area constitutes a major flight path between North America and East Asia; St. Helens (elev. 2,549 m), famous for the devastating 1980 eruption, remains active today; numerous other historically active volcanoes exist, mostly concentrated in the Aleutian arc and Hawaii; they include: in Alaska: Aniakchak, Augustine, Chiginagak, Fourpeaked, Iliamna, Katmai, Kupreanof, Martin, Novarupta, Redoubt, Spurr, Wrangell; in Hawaii: Trident, Ugashik-Peulik, Ukinrek Maars, Veniaminof; in the Northern Mariana Islands: Anatahan; and in the Pacific Northwest: Mount Baker, Mount Hood

Natural resources

coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, rare earth elements, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber, arable land the US has the world's largest coal reserves with 491 billion short tons accounting for 27% of the world's total

note

the US has the world's largest coal reserves with 491 billion short tons accounting for 27% of the world's total

Population - distribution

large urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western tier states; mountainous areas, principally the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian chain, deserts in the southwest, the dense boreal forests in the extreme north, and the central prarie states are less densely populated; Alaska's population is concentrated along its southern coast - with particular emphasis on the city of Anchorage - and Hawaii's is centered on the island of Oahu

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

Age structure

18.84% (male 31,182,660/female 29,854,687) 13.46% (male 22,360,342/female 21,252,215) 39.6% (male 64,170,791/female 64,135,619) 12.85% (male 20,081,837/female 21,536,994) 15.25% (male 21,895,128/female 27,525,255) (2016 est.)

0-14 years

18.84% (male 31,182,660/female 29,854,687)

15-24 years

13.46% (male 22,360,342/female 21,252,215)

25-54 years

39.6% (male 64,170,791/female 64,135,619)

55-64 years

12.85% (male 20,081,837/female 21,536,994)

65 years and over

15.25% (male 21,895,128/female 27,525,255) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

12.5 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

0.5% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

76.4% percent of women aged 15-44 (2006/10)

note

percent of women aged 15-44 (2006/10)

Death rate

8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Dependency ratios

50.9% 28.6% 22.3% 4.5% (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

22.3%

potential support ratio

4.5% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

50.9%

youth dependency ratio

28.6%

Drinking water source

urban: 99.4% of population rural: 98.2% of population total: 99.2% of population urban: 0.6% of population rural: 1.8% of population total: 0.8% of population (2015 est.)

rural

1.8% of population

total

0.8% of population (2015 est.)

urban

0.6% of population

Education expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2011)

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) 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

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

Health expenditures

17.1% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

5.8 deaths/1,000 live births 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

female

5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

male

6.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English 79.2%, Spanish 12.9%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 3.3%, other 0.9% (2011 est.) data represents the language spoken at home; the US has no official national language, but English has acquired official status in 31 of the 50 states; Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii

note

data represents the language spoken at home; the US has no official national language, but English has acquired official status in 31 of the 50 states; Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii

Life expectancy at birth

79.8 years 77.5 years 82.1 years (2016 est.)

female

82.1 years (2016 est.)

male

77.5 years

total population

79.8 years

Major urban areas - population

New York-Newark 18.593 million; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana 12.31 million; Chicago 8.745 million; Miami 5.817 million; Dallas-Fort Worth 5.703 million; WASHINGTON, D.C. (capital) 4.955 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

14 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

37.9 years 36.6 years 39.3 years (2016 est.)

female

39.3 years (2016 est.)

male

36.6 years

total

37.9 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

25.6 (2011 est.)

Nationality

American(s) American

adjective

American

noun

American(s)

Net migration rate

3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

35% (2014)

Physicians density

2.45 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

323,995,528 (July 2016 est.)

Population distribution

large urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western tier states; mountainous areas, principally the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian chain, deserts in the southwest, the dense boreal forests in the extreme north, and the central prarie states are less densely populated; Alaska's population is concentrated along its southern coast - with particular emphasis on the city of Anchorage - and Hawaii's is centered on the island of Oahu

Population growth rate

0.81% (2016 est.)

Religions

Protestant 46.5%, Roman Catholic 20.8%, Mormon 1.6%, Jehovah's Witness 0.8%, other Christian 0.9%, Jewish 1.9%, Muslim 0.9%, Buddhist 0.7%, Hindu 0.7%, other 1.8%, unaffiliated 22.8%, don't know/refused 0.6% (2014 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

rural

0% of population

total

0% of population (2015 est.)

urban

0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

17 years 16 years 17 years (2014)

female

17 years (2014)

male

16 years

total

17 years

Sex ratio

NA 1.04 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female 0.79 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.79 male(s)/female

at birth

NA

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.87 children born/woman (2016 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

13.4% 14.5% 12.2% (2014 est.)

female

12.2% (2014 est.)

male

14.5%

total

13.4%

Urbanization

81.6% of total population (2015) 1.02% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.02% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

81.6% of total population (2015)

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

Capital

Washington, DC 38 53 N, 77 02 W UTC-5 (during Standard Time) +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November the 50 United States cover six time zones

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

geographic coordinates

38 53 N, 77 02 W

name

Washington, DC

note

the 50 United States cover six time zones

time difference

UTC-5 (during Standard Time)

Citizenship

yes yes no, but the US government acknowledges such situtations exist; US citizens are not encouraged to seek dual citizenship since it limits protection by the US 5 years

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent

yes

dual citizenship recognized

no, but the US government acknowledges such situtations exist; US citizens are not encouraged to seek dual citizenship since it limits protection by the US

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

previous 1781 (Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union); latest drafted July - September 1787, submitted to the Congress of the Confederation 20 September 1787, submitted for states' ratification 28 September 1787, ratification completed by nine states 21 June 1788, effective 4 March 1789; amended many times, last in 1992 (2016)

Country name

United States of America United States US or USA the name America is derived from that of Amerigo VESPUCCI (1454-1512), Italian explorer, navigator, and cartographer

abbreviation

US or USA

conventional long form

United States of America

conventional short form

United States

etymology

the name America is derived from that of Amerigo VESPUCCI (1454-1512), Italian explorer, navigator, and cartographer

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 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 entities: 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)

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 entities: 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)

Executive branch

President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009) Cabinet appointed by the president, approved by the Senate president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by the Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 10 November 2020) Donald J. TRUMP elected president; electoral vote count - Donald J. TRUMP (Republican Party) 306, Hillary D. CLINTON (Democratic Party) 232; percent of direct popular vote - Donald J. TRUMP 47.3%, Hillary D. CLINTON 47.8%, other 4.9%; note - Donald J. TRUMP will assume office on 20 January 2017

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president, approved by the Senate

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 chief of state and head of government

election results

Donald J. TRUMP elected president; electoral vote count - Donald J. TRUMP (Republican Party) 306, Hillary D. CLINTON (Democratic Party) 232; percent of direct popular vote - Donald J. TRUMP 47.3%, Hillary D. CLINTON 47.8%, other 4.9%; note - Donald J. TRUMP will assume office on 20 January 2017

elections/appointments

president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by the Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 10 November 2020)

head of government

President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)

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; the blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship; red symbolizes courage, zeal, and fervency, while white denotes purity and rectitude of conduct; commonly referred to by its nickname of Old Glory the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico

note

the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico

Government type

constitutional federal republic

Independence

4 July 1776 (declared); 3 September 1783 (recognized by Great Britain)

International law organization participation

withdrew acceptance of compulsory ICJ jurisdiction in 2005; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2002

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), ANZUS, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, EAPC, EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNSC (permanent), UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

US Supreme Court (consists of 9 justices - the chief justice and 8 associate justices) president nominates and, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints Supreme Court justices; justices appointed for life Courts of Appeal (includes the US Court of Appeal for the Federal District and 12 regional appeals courts); 94 federal district courts in 50 states and territories the US court system consists of the federal court system and the state court systems; although each court system is responsible for hearing certain types of cases, neither is completely independent of the other, and the systems often interact

highest court(s)

US Supreme Court (consists of 9 justices - the chief justice and 8 associate justices)

judge selection and term of office

president nominates and, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints Supreme Court justices; justices appointed for life

note

the US court system consists of the federal court system and the state court systems; although each court system is responsible for hearing certain types of cases, neither is completely independent of the other, and the systems often interact

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal (includes the US Court of Appeal for the Federal District and 12 regional appeals courts); 94 federal district courts in 50 states and territories

Legal system

common law system based on English common law at the federal level; state legal systems based on common law except Louisiana, which is based on Napoleonic civil code; judicial review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats; 2 members directly elected in each of the 50 state constituencies by simple majority vote except in Georgia and Louisiana which require an absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 6-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 2 years) and the House of Representatives (435 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote except in Georgia which requires an absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 2-year terms) Senate - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 10 November 2020); House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 10 November 2020) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 46, Republican Party 52, independent 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 194, Republican Party 241 in addition to the regular members of the House of Representatives there are 6 non-voting delegates elected from the District of Columbia and the US territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands; these are single seat constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote; election of delegates last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held on 1 November 2016)

description

bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats; 2 members directly elected in each of the 50 state constituencies by simple majority vote except in Georgia and Louisiana which require an absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 6-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 2 years) and the House of Representatives (435 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote except in Georgia which requires an absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 2-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 46, Republican Party 52, independent 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 194, Republican Party 241

elections

Senate - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 10 November 2020); House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 10 November 2020)

note

in addition to the regular members of the House of Representatives there are 6 non-voting delegates elected from the District of Columbia and the US territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands; these are single seat constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote; election of delegates last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held on 1 November 2016)

National anthem

"The Star-Spangled Banner" Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH adopted 1931; during the War of 1812, after witnessing the successful American defense of Fort McHenry in Baltimore following British naval bombardment, Francis Scott KEY wrote the lyrics to what would become the national anthem; the lyrics were set to the tune of "The Anacreontic Song"; only the first verse is sung

lyrics/music

Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH

name

"The Star-Spangled Banner"

note

adopted 1931; during the War of 1812, after witnessing the successful American defense of Fort McHenry in Baltimore following British naval bombardment, Francis Scott KEY wrote the lyrics to what would become the national anthem; the lyrics were set to the tune of "The Anacreontic Song"; only the first verse is sung

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

National symbol(s)

bald eagle; national colors: red, white, blue

bald eagle; national colors

red, white, blue

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party [Debbie Wasserman SCHULTZ] Green Party [collective leadership] Libertarian Party [Nicholas SARWARK] Republican Party [Reince PRIEBUS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

environmentalists; business groups; labor unions; churches; ethnic groups; political action committees or PACs; health groups; education groups; civic groups; youth groups; transportation groups; agricultural groups; veterans groups; women's groups; reform lobbies

other

environmentalists; business groups; labor unions; churches; ethnic groups; political action committees or PACs; health groups; education groups; civic groups; youth groups; transportation groups; agricultural groups; veterans groups; women's groups; reform lobbies

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$3.249 trillion $3.688 trillion for the US, revenues exclude social contributions of approximately $1.0 trillion; expenditures exclude social benefits of approximately $2.3 trillion (2015 est.)

expenditures

$3.688 trillion

note

for the US, revenues exclude social contributions of approximately $1.0 trillion; expenditures exclude social benefits of approximately $2.3 trillion (2015 est.)

revenues

$3.249 trillion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.5% (31 December 2010) 0.5% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

3.26% (31 December 2015 est.) 3.25% (31 December 2014 est.)

Current account balance

-$484.1 billion (2015 est.) -$389.5 billion (2014 est.)

Debt - external

$17.26 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) $16.49 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) approximately 4/5ths of US external debt is denominated in US dollars; foreign lenders have been willing to hold US dollar denominated debt instruments because they view the dollar as the world's reserve currency

note

approximately 4/5ths of US external debt is denominated in US dollars; foreign lenders have been willing to hold US dollar denominated debt instruments because they view the dollar as the world's reserve currency

Distribution of family income - Gini index

45 (2007) 40.8 (1997)

Economy - overview

The US has the most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $54,800. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers, pharmaceuticals, and medical, aerospace, and military equipment; however, their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II. Based on a comparison of GDP measured at Purchasing Power Parity conversion rates, the US economy in 2014, having stood as the largest in the world for more than a century, slipped into second place behind China, which has more than tripled the US growth rate for each year of the past four decades. In the US, 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, businesses face higher barriers to enter their rivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering US markets. Long-term problems for the US include stagnation of wages for lower-income families, inadequate investment in deteriorating infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population, energy shortages, and sizable current account and budget deficits. The onrush of technology has been a driving factor in 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. But the globalization of trade, and especially the rise of low-wage producers such as China, has put additional downward pressure on wages and upward pressure on the return to capital. Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. Since 1996, dividends and capital gains have grown faster than wages or any other category of after-tax income. Imported oil accounts for nearly 55% of US consumption and oil has a major impact on the overall health of the economy. Crude oil prices doubled between 2001 and 2006, the year home prices peaked; higher gasoline prices ate into consumers' budgets and many individuals fell behind in their mortgage payments. Oil prices climbed another 50% between 2006 and 2008, and bank foreclosures more than doubled in the same period. Besides dampening the housing market, soaring oil prices caused a drop in the value of the dollar and a deterioration in the US merchandise trade deficit, which peaked at $840 billion in 2008. Because the US economy is energy-intensive, falling oil prices since 2013 have alleviated many of the problems the earlier increases had created. The sub-prime mortgage crisis, falling home prices, investment bank failures, tight credit, and the global economic downturn pushed the US into a recession by mid-2008. GDP contracted until the third quarter of 2009, making this the deepest and longest downturn since the Great Depression. 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 industrial corporations, much of which had been returned to the government by early 2011. In January 2009, Congress passed and President Barack OBAMA signed a bill providing an additional $787 billion fiscal stimulus to be used over 10 years - two-thirds on additional spending and one-third on tax cuts - to create jobs and to help the economy recover. In 2010 and 2011, the federal budget deficit reached nearly 9% of GDP. In 2012, the Federal Government reduced the growth of spending and the deficit shrank to 7.6% of GDP. US revenues from taxes and other sources are lower, as a percentage of GDP, than those of most other countries. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan required major shifts in national resources from civilian to military purposes and contributed to the growth of the budget deficit and public debt. Through 2014, the direct costs of the wars totaled more than $1.5 trillion, according to US Government figures. In March 2010, President OBAMA signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a health insurance reform that was designed to extend coverage to an additional 32 million Americans by 2016, through private health insurance for the general population and Medicaid for the impoverished. Total spending on healthcare - public plus private - rose from 9.0% of GDP in 1980 to 17.9% in 2010. In July 2010, the president signed the DODD-FRANK Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, a law designed to promote financial stability by protecting consumers from financial abuses, ending taxpayer bailouts of financial firms, dealing with troubled banks that are "too big to fail," and improving accountability and transparency in the financial system - in particular, by requiring certain financial derivatives to be traded in markets that are subject to government regulation and oversight. In December 2012, the Federal Reserve Board (Fed) announced plans to purchase $85 billion per month of mortgage-backed and Treasury securities in an effort to hold down long-term interest rates, and to keep short term rates near zero until unemployment dropped below 6.5% or inflation rose above 2.5%. In late 2013, the Fed announced that it would begin scaling back long-term bond purchases to $75 billion per month in January 2014 and further reduce them as conditions warranted; the Fed ended the purchases during the summer of 2014. In 2014, the unemployment rate dropped to 6.2%, and continued to fall to 5.5% by mid-2015, the lowest rate of joblessness since before the global recession began; inflation stood at 1.7%, and public debt as a share of GDP continued to decline, following several years of increases. In December 2015, the Fed raised its target for the benchmark federal funds rate by 0.25%, the first increase since the recession began, but the Fed has opted to hold the target rate steady at 0.25%-0.5% through the first three quarters of 2016, with US GDP growth falling below 2% in each of those quarters.

Exchange rates

0.6528 (2015 est.), 0.607 (2014 est), 0.6391 (2013 est.), 0.6324 (2012 est.), 0.624 (2011 est.) 1 (2015 est.), 1.275 (2015 est.), 1.1047 (2014 est.), 1.0298 (2013 est.), 0.9992 (2012 est.), 0.9895 (2011 est) 1 (2014 est.), 6.243 (2015 est.), 6.1434 (2014 est.), 6.1958 (2013 est.), 6.3123 (2012 est.), 6.4615 (2011 est.) (2012 est.), 0.885 (2015 est.), 0.7525 (2014 est.), 0.7634 (2013 est.), 0.7752 (2012 est.), 0.7185 (2011 est.) 122.10 (2015 est.), 105.86 (2014 est.), 97.44 (2013 est.), 79.79 (2012 est.), 79.81 (2011 est.)

British pounds per US dollar

0.6528 (2015 est.), 0.607 (2014 est), 0.6391 (2013 est.), 0.6324 (2012 est.), 0.624 (2011 est.)

Canadian dollars per US dollar

1 (2015 est.), 1.275 (2015 est.), 1.1047 (2014 est.), 1.0298 (2013 est.), 0.9992 (2012 est.), 0.9895 (2011 est)

Chinese yuan per US dollar

1 (2014 est.), 6.243 (2015 est.), 6.1434 (2014 est.), 6.1958 (2013 est.), 6.3123 (2012 est.), 6.4615 (2011 est.)

euros per US dollar

(2012 est.), 0.885 (2015 est.), 0.7525 (2014 est.), 0.7634 (2013 est.), 0.7752 (2012 est.), 0.7185 (2011 est.)

Japanese yen per US dollar

122.10 (2015 est.), 105.86 (2014 est.), 97.44 (2013 est.), 79.79 (2012 est.), 79.81 (2011 est.)

Exports

$1.51 trillion (2015 est.) $1.633 trillion (2014 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% (2008 est.)

Exports - partners

Canada 18.6%, Mexico 15.7%, China 7.7%, Japan 4.2% (2015)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP - composition, by end use

68.4% 17.7% 16.2% 0.6% 12.6% -15.5% (2015 est.)

exports of goods and services

12.6%

government consumption

17.7%

household consumption

68.4%

imports of goods and services

-15.5% (2015 est.)

investment in fixed capital

16.2%

investment in inventories

0.6%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

1.1% 19.4% 79.5% (2015 est.)

agriculture

1.1%

industry

19.4%

services

79.5%

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$55,800 (2015 est.) $54,900 (2014 est.) $54,000 (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2015 est.) 2.4% (2014 est.) 1.5% (2013 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$17.95 trillion (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$17.95 trillion (2015 est.) $17.52 trillion (2014 est.) $17.11 trillion (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

Gross national saving

14.1% of GDP (2015 est.) 14.2% of GDP (2014 est.) 13.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2% 30% (2007 est.)

highest 10%

30% (2007 est.)

lowest 10%

2%

Imports

$2.273 trillion (2015 est.) $2.386 trillion (2014 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) (2008 est.)

Imports - partners

China 21.5%, Canada 13.2%, Mexico 13.2%, Japan 5.9%, Germany 5.5% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

1.9% (2015 est.)

Industries

highly diversified, world leading, high-technology innovator, second-largest industrial output in the world; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.1% (2015 est.) 1.6% (2014 est.)

Labor force

157.1 million includes unemployed (2015 est.)

note

includes unemployed (2015 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

0.7% 20.3% 37.3% 24.2% 17.6% figures exclude the unemployed (2009)

farming, forestry, and fishing

0.7%

managerial, professional, and technical

37.3%

manufacturing, extraction, transportation, and crafts

20.3%

note

figures exclude the unemployed

other services

17.6%

sales and office

24.2%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$18.67 trillion (31 December 2015 est.) $15.64 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) $17.14 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)

Population below poverty line

15.1% (2010 est.)

Public debt

73.6% of GDP (2015 est.) 74.4% of GDP (2014 est.) data cover only what the United States Treasury denotes as "Debt Held by the Public," which includes all debt instruments issued by the Treasury that are owned by non-US Government entities; the data include Treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by individual US states, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of Treasury borrowings from surpluses in the trusts for Federal Social Security, Federal Employees, Hospital Insurance (Medicare and Medicaid), Disability and Unemployment, and several other smaller trusts; if data for intra-government debt were added, "Gross Debt" would increase by about one-third of GDP

note

data cover only what the United States Treasury denotes as "Debt Held by the Public," which includes all debt instruments issued by the Treasury that are owned by non-US Government entities; the data include Treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by individual US states, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of Treasury borrowings from surpluses in the trusts for Federal Social Security, Federal Employees, Hospital Insurance (Medicare and Medicaid), Disability and Unemployment, and several other smaller trusts; if data for intra-government debt were added, "Gross Debt" would increase by about one-third of GDP

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$117.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $130.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$11.79 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) $10.69 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$5.269 trillion (31 December 2015 est.) $4.921 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$3.28 trillion (31 December 2015 est.) $2.901 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$19.23 trillion (31 December 2015 est.) $18.66 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.022 trillion (31 December 2015 est.) $2.811 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

18.1% of GDP excludes contributions for social security and other programs; if social contributions were added, taxes and other revenues would amount to approximately 22% of GDP (2015 est.)

note

excludes contributions for social security and other programs; if social contributions were added, taxes and other revenues would amount to approximately 22% of GDP (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.3% (2015 est.) 6.2% (2014 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

5.402 billion Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

1.162 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

8.567 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

9.415 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

36.52 billion bbl (1 January 2016 es)

Electricity - consumption

3.913 trillion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports

13 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

73.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

7.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

9.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

7.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

67 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.075 billion kW (2014 est.)

Electricity - production

4.103 trillion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity access

100% (2016)

electrification - total population

100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption

773.2 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - exports

42.87 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - imports

76.96 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - production

766.2 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

10.44 trillion cu m (1 January 2015 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

19.53 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

3.102 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

881,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

19.89 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadcast media

4 major terrestrial TV networks with affiliate stations throughout the country, plus cable and satellite networks, independent stations, and a limited public broadcasting sector that is largely supported by private grants; overall, thousands of TV stations broadcasting; multiple national radio networks with many affiliate stations; while most stations are commercial, National Public Radio (NPR) has a network of some 600 member stations; satellite radio available; overall, nearly 15,000 radio stations operating (2008)

Internet country code

.us

Internet users

239.58 million 74.6% (July 2015 est.)

percent of population

74.6% (July 2015 est.)

total

239.58 million

Telephone system

a large, technologically advanced, multipurpose communications system 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 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) (2015)

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

general assessment

a large, technologically advanced, multipurpose communications system

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) (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

121.991 million 38 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

38 (July 2015 est.)

total subscriptions

121.991 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

382.307 million 119 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

119 (July 2015 est.)

total

382.307 million

Airports

13,513 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

5,054 1,478 2,249 903 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1,478

2,438 to 3,047 m

235

914 to 1,523 m

2,249

over 3,047 m

189

total

5,054

under 914 m

903 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

8,459 1,552 6,760 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

140

2,438 to 3,047 m

6

914 to 1,523 m

1,552

over 3,047 m

1

total

8,459

under 914 m

6,760 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

N (2016)

Heliports

5,287 (2013)

Merchant marine

barge carrier 6, bulk carrier 55, cargo 51, carrier 2, chemical tanker 30, container 84, passenger 18, passenger/cargo 56, petroleum tanker 35, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 27, vehicle carrier 26 85 (Australia 1, Bermuda 5, Denmark 31, France 4, Germany 5, Malaysia 2, Norway 17, Singapore 16, UK 4) 794 (Antigua and Barbuda 7, Australia 2, Bahamas 109, Belgium 1, Bermuda 26, Canada 10, Cayman Islands 57, Comoros 2, Cyprus 5, Georgia 1, Greece 8, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 44, Indonesia 2, Ireland 2, Isle of Man 1, Italy 23, Liberia 53, Malta 34, Marshall Islands 200, Netherlands 16, Norway 10, Panama 90, Portugal 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 18, Singapore 36, South Korea 8, Togo 1, UK 14, Vanuatu 2, unknown 6) (2010)

by type

barge carrier 6, bulk carrier 55, cargo 51, carrier 2, chemical tanker 30, container 84, passenger 18, passenger/cargo 56, petroleum tanker 35, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 27, vehicle carrier 26

foreign-owned

85 (Australia 1, Bermuda 5, Denmark 31, France 4, Germany 5, Malaysia 2, Norway 17, Singapore 16, UK 4)

registered in other countries

794 (Antigua and Barbuda 7, Australia 2, Bahamas 109, Belgium 1, Bermuda 26, Canada 10, Cayman Islands 57, Comoros 2, Cyprus 5, Georgia 1, Greece 8, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 44, Indonesia 2, Ireland 2, Isle of Man 1, Italy 23, Liberia 53, Malta 34, Marshall Islands 200, Netherlands 16, Norway 10, Panama 90, Portugal 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 18, Singapore 36, South Korea 8, Togo 1, UK 14, Vanuatu 2, unknown 6) (2010)

total

393

National air transport system

6,817 798.23 million 37.219 billion mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

37.219 billion mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

798.23 million

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

6,817

number of registered air carriers

92

Pipelines

natural gas 1,984,321 km; petroleum products 240,711 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

Baton Rouge, Corpus Christi, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Plaquemines, Tampa, Texas City Hampton Roads (1,918,029), Houston (1,866,450), Long Beach (6,061,091), Los Angeles (7,940,511), New York/New Jersey (5,503,485), Oakland (2,342,504), Savannah (2,944,678), Seattle (2,033,535)(2011) Miami (2,032,000), Port Everglades (1,277,000), Port Canaveral (1,189,000), Seattle (430,000), Long Beach (415,000) (2009) LOOP terminal, Haymark terminal Cove Point (MD), Elba Island (GA), Everett (MA), Freeport (TX), Golden Pass (TX), Hackberry (LA), Lake Charles (LA), Neptune (offshore), Northeast Gateway (offshore), Pascagoula (MS), Sabine Pass (TX) Kenai (AK)

cargo ports (tonnage)

Baton Rouge, Corpus Christi, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Plaquemines, Tampa, Texas City

container port(s) (TEUs)

Hampton Roads (1,918,029), Houston (1,866,450), Long Beach (6,061,091), Los Angeles (7,940,511), New York/New Jersey (5,503,485), Oakland (2,342,504), Savannah (2,944,678), Seattle (2,033,535)(2011)

cruise departure ports (passengers)

Miami (2,032,000), Port Everglades (1,277,000), Port Canaveral (1,189,000), Seattle (430,000), Long Beach (415,000) (2009)

LNG terminal(s) (export)

Kenai (AK)

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Cove Point (MD), Elba Island (GA), Everett (MA), Freeport (TX), Golden Pass (TX), Hackberry (LA), Lake Charles (LA), Neptune (offshore), Northeast Gateway (offshore), Pascagoula (MS), Sabine Pass (TX)

oil terminals

LOOP terminal, Haymark terminal

Railways

293,564.2 km 293,564.2 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

standard gauge

293,564.2 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

total

293,564.2 km

Roadways

6,586,610 km 4,304,715 km (includes 76,334 km of expressways) 2,281,895 km (2012)

paved

4,304,715 km (includes 76,334 km of expressways)

total

6,586,610 km

unpaved

2,281,895 km (2012)

Waterways

41,009 km (19,312 km used for commerce; Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, is shared with Canada) (2012)

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 (2015)

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 (2015)

Military expenditures

4.35% of GDP (2012) 4.75% of GDP (2011) 4.35% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (17 years of age with parental consent) for male and female voluntary service; no conscription; maximum enlistment age 42 (Army), 27 (Air Force), 34 (Navy), 28 (Marines); 8-year service obligation, including 2-5 years active duty (Army), 2 years active (Navy), 4 years active (Air Force, Marines); DoD is eliminating prohibitions restricting women from assignments in units smaller than brigades or near combat units (2013)

Disputes - international

the US 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; Canada and the United States dispute how to divide the Beaufort Sea and the status of the Northwest Passage but continue to work cooperatively to survey the Arctic continental shelf; 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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

16,370 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); the US admitted 84,995 refugees during FY2016 including: 12,587 (Syria); 12,347 (Burma); 9,880 (Iraq); 9,020 (Somalia); 5,817 (Bhutan); 3,750 (Iran)

refugees (country of origin)

16,370 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); the US admitted 84,995 refugees during FY2016 including: 12,587 (Syria); 12,347 (Burma); 9,880 (Iraq); 9,020 (Somalia); 5,817 (Bhutan); 3,750 (Iran)