United States

United States

Introduction

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.

Geography

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

Map references

North America

Area

total: 9,826,675 sq km
country comparison to the world: 3 land:9,161,966 sq km
water:664,709 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

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:not specified

Climate

mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest

low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains

Terrain

vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east

rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska

rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
highest point:Mount McKinley 6,194 m
note:the peak of Mauna Kea (4,207 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, which is recognized as the tallest mountain above sea level

Natural resources

coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, rare earth elements, 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

arable land: 18.01%
permanent crops:0.21%
other:81.78% (2005)

Irrigated land

230,000 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

3,069 cu km (1985)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 477cu km/yr (13%/46%/41%)
per capita:1,600cu m/yr (2000)

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
volcanism:the United States experiences 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

Environment – current issues

air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada

the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels

water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers

limited natural freshwater resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management

desertification

Environment – international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes

Geography – note

world’s third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China and India)

Mt. McKinley is highest point in North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent

People and Society

Nationality

noun: American(s)
adjective:American

Ethnic groups

white 79.96%, black 12.85%, Asian 4.43%, Amerindian and Alaska native 0.97%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.18%, two or more races 1.61% (July 2007 estimate)
note:a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean persons of Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin including those of Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican Republic, Spanish, and Central or South American origin living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group (white, black, Asian, etc.)

about 15.1% of the total US population is Hispanic

Languages

English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)
note:Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii

Religions

Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, other Christian 1.6%, Jewish 1.7%, Buddhist 0.7%, Muslim 0.6%, other or unspecified 2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, none 4% (2007 est.)

Population

313,232,044 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.1% (male 32,107,900/female 30,781,823)
15-64 years:66.8% (male 104,411,352/female 104,808,064)
65 years and over:13.1% (male 17,745,363/female 23,377,542) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 36.9 years
male:35.6 years
female:38.2 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.963% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118

Birth rate

13.83 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148

Death rate

8.38 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89

Net migration rate

4.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23

Urbanization

urban population: 82% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

New York-Newark 19.3 million

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana 12.675 million

Chicago 9.134 million

Miami 5.699 million

WASHINGTON, D.C. (capital) 4.421 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.047 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.75 male(s)/female
total population:0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

24 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 121

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.06 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 176 male:6.72 deaths/1,000 live births
female:5.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.37 years
country comparison to the world: 50 male:75.92 years
female:80.93 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.06 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122

Health expenditures

16.2% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 2

Physicians density

2.672 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
country comparison to the world: 49

Hospital bed density

3.1 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 73

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 94% of population
total: 99% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 6% of population
total: 1% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 99% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 1% of population
total: 0% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

1.2 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

HIV/AIDS – deaths

17,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

33.9% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 6

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.3% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 118

Education expenditures

5.5% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 43

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99%
male:99%
female:99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years
male:15 years
female:17 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 17.6%
country comparison to the world: 66 male:20.1%
female:14.9% (2009)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: United States of America
conventional short form:United States
abbreviation:US or USA

Government type

Constitution-based federal republic

strong democratic tradition

Capital

name: Washington, DC
geographic coordinates:38 53 N, 77 02 W
time difference:UTC-5 (during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins second Sunday in March

ends first Sunday in November
note:the 50 United States cover six time zones

Administrative divisions

50 states and 1 district*

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Dependent areas

American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
note:from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

it entered into a political relationship with all four political 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)

Independence

4 July 1776 (declared)

3 September 1783 (recognized by Great Britain)

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Constitution

17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789

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

International law organization participation

withdrew acceptance of compulsoryICJ jurisdiction in 2005

withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2002

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009)

Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)

note – the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009)

Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president and vice president elected on the same ticket by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each state

president and vice president serve four-year terms (eligible for a second term)

election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held on 6 November 2012)
election results:Barack H. OBAMA elected president

percent of popular vote – Barack H. OBAMA 52.4%, John MCCAIN 46.3%, other 1.3%;

Legislative branch

bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats, 2 members elected from each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms

one-third elected every two years) and the House of Representatives (435 seats

members directly elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections:Senate – last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012)

House of Representatives – last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results:Senate – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – Democratic Party 51, Republican Party 47, independent 2

House of Representatives – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – Democratic Party 192, Republican Party 243

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 [Debbie Wasserman SCHULTZ]

Green Party

Libertarian Party [Mark HINKLE]

Republican Party [Reince PRIEBUS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

environmentalists

business groups

labor unions

churches

ethnic groups

political action committees or PAC

health groups

education groups

civic groups

youth groups

transportation groups

agricultural groups

veterans groups

women’s groups

reform lobbies

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), ANZUS, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, EAPC, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, 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, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Flag description

13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white

there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars

the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies

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

National symbol(s)

bald eagle

National anthem

name: “The Star-Spangled Banner”
lyrics/music:Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH
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

Economy

Economy – overview

The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $47,200. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to enter their rivals’ home markets than foreign firms face entering US markets. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment

their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a “two-tier labor market” in which those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. The war in March-April 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq, and the subsequent occupation of Iraq, required major shifts in national resources to the military. Soaring oil prices between 2005 and the first half of 2008 threatened inflation and unemployment, as higher gasoline prices ate into consumers’ budgets. Imported oil accounts for about 60% of US consumption. Long-term problems include inadequate investment in deteriorating infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population, sizable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation of wages in lower-income families. The merchandise trade deficit reached a record $840 billion in 2008 before shrinking to $507 billion in 2009, and ramping back up to $647 billion in 2010. The global economic downturn, the sub-prime mortgage crisis, investment bank failures, falling home prices, and tight credit pushed the United States into a recession by mid-2008. 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 other industrial corporations, much of which had been returned to the government by early 2011. In January 2009 the US 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. Approximately two-thirds of these funds were injected into the economy by the end of 2010. In 2010, the US budget deficit reached nearly 9% of GDP

total government revenues from taxes and other sources remained lower, as a percentage of GDP, than that of any other developed country. In March 2010, President OBAMA signed a health insurance reform bill into law that will extend coverage to an additional 32 million American citizens by 2016, through private health insurance for the general population and Medicaid for the impoverished. In July 2010, the president signed the DODD-FRANK Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, a bill 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$14.66 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2 $14.25 trillion (2009 est.)
$14.64 trillion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$14.66 trillion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

2.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127 -2.6% (2009 est.)
0% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$47,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11 $46,400 (2009 est.)
$48,100 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 1.2%
industry:22.2%
services:76.6% (2010 est.)

Labor force

153.9 million
country comparison to the world: 4 note:includes unemployed (2010 est.)

Labor force – by occupation

farming, forestry, and fishing: 0.7%
manufacturing, extraction, transportation, and crafts:20.3%
managerial, professional, and technical:37.3%
sales and office:24.2%
other services:17.6%
note:figures exclude the unemployed (2009)

Unemployment rate

9.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107 9.3% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

15.1% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%:30% (2007 est.)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

45 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 40 40.8 (1997)

Investment (gross fixed)

11.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178

Budget

revenues: $2.162 trillion
expenditures:$3.456 trillion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

14.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-8.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190

Public debt

62.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29 54.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52 -0.3% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.5% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 139 0.5% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

3.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177 3.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.866 trillion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4 $1.724 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of broad money

$12.14 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2 $12.37 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$32.61 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1 $31.53 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$17.14 trillion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 1 $15.08 trillion (31 December 2009)
$11.74 trillion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton

beef, pork, poultry, dairy products

fish

forest products

Industries

highly diversified, world leading, high-technology innovator, second largest industrial output in world

petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining

Industrial production growth rate

5.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78

Electricity – production

3.953 trillion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1

Electricity – consumption

3.741 trillion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1

Electricity – exports

18.11 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

34.32 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

9.688 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3

Oil – consumption

19.15 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1

Oil – exports

1.92 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10

Oil – imports

10.27 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1

Oil – proved reserves

20.68 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13

Natural gas – production

611 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1

Natural gas – consumption

683.3 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1

Natural gas – exports

32.2 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8

Natural gas – imports

105.8 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1

Natural gas – proved reserves

7.716 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5

Current account balance

-$470.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197 -$376.6 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$1.289 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4 $1.069 trillion (2009 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%

Exports – partners

Canada 19.4%, Mexico 12.8%, China 7.2%, Japan 4.7% (2010)

Imports

$1.935 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1 $1.575 trillion (2009 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)

Imports – partners

China 19.5%, Canada 14.2%, Mexico 11.8%, Japan 6.3%, Germany 4.3% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$132.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17 $130.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$14.71 trillion (30 June 2011)
country comparison to the world: 2 $13.98 trillion (30 June 2010)
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

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$2.674 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1 $2.437 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$3.817 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1 $3.466 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

British pounds per US dollar: 0.6388 (2010), 0.6494 (2009), 0.5302 (2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006)
Canadian dollars per US dollar:1.0346 (2010), 1.1431 (2009), 1.0364 (2008), 1.0724 (2007), 1.1334 (2006)
Chinese yuan per US dollar:6.7852 (2010), 6.8314 (2009), 6.9385 (2008), 7.61 (2007), 7.97 (2006)
euros per US dollar:0.755 (2010), 0.7198 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Japanese yen per US dollar:1.0346 (2010), 1.1548 (2009), 1.0364 (2008), 1.0724 (2007), 1.1334 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

15,079 (2010)
country comparison to the world:1

Airports – with paved runways

total: 5,194
over 3,047 m:189
2,438 to 3,047 m:235
1,524 to 2,437 m:1,479
914 to 1,523 m:2,316
under 914 m:975 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 9,885
2,438 to 3,047 m:7
1,524 to 2,437 m:155
914 to 1,523 m:1,752
under 914 m:7,971 (2010)

Heliports

126 (2010)

Pipelines

petroleum products 244,620 km

natural gas 548,665 km (2010)

Railways

total: 224,792 km
country comparison to the world: 1 standard gauge:224,792 km 1.435-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 6,506,204 km
country comparison to the world: 1 paved:4,374,784 km (includes 75,238 km of expressways)
unpaved:2,131,420 km (2008)

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) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 4

Merchant marine

total: 418
country comparison to the world: 26 by type:barge carrier 6, bulk carrier 58, cargo 58, carrier 3, chemical tanker 30, container 87, passenger 18, passenger/cargo 56, petroleum tanker 45, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 27, vehicle carrier 27
foreign-owned:86 (Australia 1, Bermuda 5, Canada 1, Denmark 34, France 4, Germany 3, Malaysia 2, Norway 10, Singapore 17, Sweden 5, UK 4)
registered in other countries:734 (Antigua and Barbuda 6, Australia 2, Bahamas 100, Belgium 2, Bermuda 25, Cambodia 4, Canada 9, Cayman Islands 54, Comoros 2, Cyprus 7, Georgia 1, Greece 7, Hong Kong 31, Indonesia 2, Ireland 2, Isle of Man 2, Italy 21, Liberia 39, Luxembourg 3, Malta 35, Marshall Islands 168, Netherlands 15, Norway 9, Panama 102, Portugal 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 19, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 33, South Korea 8, UK 11, unknown (2010)

Ports and terminals

cargo ports (tonnage): Baton Rouge, Corpus Christi, Houston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Plaquemines, Tampa, Texas City
container ports (TEUs):Los Angeles (7,849,985), Long Beach (6,350,125), New York/New Jersey (5,265,058), Savannah (2,616,126), Oakland (2,236,244), Hampton Roads (2,083,278) (2008)
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)
oil terminals:LOOP terminal, Haymark terminal

Military

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 (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (17 years of age with parental consent) for male and female voluntary service

maximum enlistment age 42 (Army), 27 (Air Force), 34 (Navy), 28 (Marines)

service obligation 8 years, including 2-5 years active duty (Army), 2 years active (Navy), 4 years active (Air Force, Marines) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 73,270,043
females age 16-49:71,941,969 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 60,620,143
females age 16-49:59,401,941 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 2,161,727
female:2,055,685 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

4.06% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

Transnational Issues

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): the US admitted 62,643 refugees during FY04/05 including

10,586 (Somalia)

8,549 (Laos)

6,666 (Russia)

6,479 (Cuba)

3,100 (Haiti)

2,136 (Iran) (2006)

Illicit drugs

world’s largest consumer of cocaine (shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean), Colombian heroin, and Mexican heroin and marijuana

major consumer of ecstasy and Mexican methamphetamine

minor consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin

illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine

money-laundering center