1996 Edition

Description

thirteen 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

Location

38 00 N, 97 00 W -- North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico Flag ----

Area

comparative area

about one-half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about one-half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly smaller than China; about two and one-half times the size of Western Europe

land area

9,166,600 sq km

note

includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia

total area

9,372,610 sq km

Climate

mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida and 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

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; very limited natural fresh water resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification

international agreements

party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Tropical Timber 94

natural hazards

tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic coast; tornadoes in the midwest; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska is a major impediment to development

Geographic coordinates

38 00 N, 97 00 W

Geographic note

world's fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and China)

International disputes

maritime boundary disputes with Canada (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island); 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 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 nation; Republic of Marshall Islands claims Wake Island

Irrigated land

181,020 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Cuba 29 km (US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay), Mexico 3,326 km

note

Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba

total

12,248 km

Land use

arable land

20%

forest and woodland

29%

meadows and pastures

26%

other

25%

permanent crops

0%

Location

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

Map references

North America

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

12 nm

continental shelf

not specified

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber

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

highest point

Mount McKinley 6,194 m

lowest point

Death Valley -86 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 22% (male 29,718,390; female 28,335,934) 15-64 years: 65% (male 86,225,056; female 87,411,573) 65 years and over: 13% (male 13,850,234; female 20,021,655) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

14.8 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

8.8 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

white 83.4%, black 12.4%, Asian 3.3%, Native American 0.8% (1992)

Infant mortality rate

6.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.41 years (1996 est.)

male

72.65 years

total population

75.95 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)

female

97%

male

97%

total population

97%

Nationality

adjective

American

noun

American(s)

Net migration rate

3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

266,476,278 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

0.91% (1996 est.)

Religions

Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%, none 10% (1989)

Sex ratio

all ages

0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.06 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Constitution

17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789

Data code

US

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, but recently entered into a new political relationship with all four political units: the Northern Mariana Islands is a Commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association 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)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet was appointed by the president with Senate approval

chief of state and head of government

President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) were elected for four-year terms by a college of representatives elected directly from each state; election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - William Jefferson CLINTON (Democratic Party) 43.2%, George BUSH (Republican Party) 37.7%, Ross PEROT (independent) 19.0%, other 0.1%

Flag

thirteen 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

House of Representatives

elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (435 total) Republican Party 231, Democratic Party 203, independent 1

Independence

4 July 1776 (from England)

International organization participation

AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CP, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, FAO, G- 2, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, justices are appointed for life by the president with confirmation by the Senate

Legal system

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

bicameral Congress

Name of country

abbreviation

US or USA

conventional long form

United States of America

conventional short form

United States

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Political parties and leaders

Republican Party, Haley BARBOUR, national committee chairman and Jeanie AUSTIN, co-chairman; Democratic Party, David C. WILHELM, national committee chairman; several other groups or parties of minor political significance

Senate

elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) Republican Party 54, Democratic Party 46

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

federal republic; strong democratic tradition

Agriculture

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

British pounds

(L) per US$ - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991)

Budget

expenditures

$1.461 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)

revenues

$1.258 trillion

Canadian dollars

(Can$) per US$ - 1.3666 (January 1996), 1.3724 (1995), 1.3656 (1994), 1.2901 (1993), 1.2087 (1992), 1.1457 (1991)

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

donor

ODA, $9.721 billion (1993)

Economic overview

The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $27,500, the largest among major industrial nations. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and government purchases of goods and services are made predominantly in the marketplace. US business firms enjoy considerably greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, lay off surplus workers, and develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to entry in their rivals' home markets than the barriers to entry of foreign firms in US markets. In all economic sectors, US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers, medical equipment, and aerospace, although their advantage has steadily 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 professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. The years 1994-95 witnessed moderate gains in real output, low inflation rates, and a drop in unemployment below 6%. The capture of both houses of Congress by the Republicans in the elections of 8 November 1994 has intensified the debate over how the US should address its major economic problems. These problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs of an aging population, sizable budget and trade deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups. The outlook for 1996 is for continued moderate growth, low inflation, and about the same level of unemployment.

Electricity

capacity

695,120,000 kW

consumption per capita

11,236 kWh (1993)

production

3.1 trillion kWh

Exports

$578 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)

commodities

capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products

partners

Western Europe 24.3%, Canada 22.1%, Japan 10.5% (1993)

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

French francs

(F) per US$ - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991)

GDP

purchasing power parity - $7.2477 trillion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

2%

industry

23%

services

75% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita

$27,500 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

2.1% (1995 est.)

German deutsche marks

(DM) per US$ - 1.4617 (January 1996), 1.4331 (1995), 1.6228 (1994), 1.6533 (1993), 1.5617 (1992), 1.6595 (1991)

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis for domestic consumption with 1987 production estimated at 3,500 metric tons or about 25% of the available marijuana; ongoing eradication program aimed at small plots and greenhouses has not reduced production

Imports

$751 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)

commodities

crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery, automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and beverages

partners

Canada, 19.3%, Western Europe 18.1%, Japan 18.1% (1993)

Industrial production growth rate

5.4% (1994 est.)

Industries

leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (1995)

Italian lire

(Lit) per US$ - 1,583.8 (January 1996), 1,629.6 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991)

Japanese yen

(Y) per US$ - 105.84 (January 1996), 94.06 (1995), 102.21 (1994), 111.20 (1993), 126.65 (1992), 134.71 (1991)

Labor force

132.304 million (includes unemployed) (1995)

by occupation

managerial and professional 28.3%, technical, sales and administrative support 30.0%, services 13.5%, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and crafts 25.3%, farming, forestry, and fishing 2.8%

Unemployment rate

5.6% (December 1995)

Branches

Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (includes Marine Corps), Department of the Air Force

note

the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Transportation, but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy

Defense expenditures

$272.2 billion, 3.8% of GDP (1995 est.)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

69,302,573

males fit for military service

NA

males reach military age (18) annually

1,864,580 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4,987, FM 4,932, shortwave 0

Radios

540.5 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system

domestic

large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites

international

24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite earth stations - 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean) (1990 est.), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean regions)

Telephones

182.558 million (1987 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1,092 (in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems)

Televisions

215 million (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

13,387

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

1,204

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

201

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

2,361

with paved runways over 3 047 m

179

with paved runways under 914 m

7,720

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

151

with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

7

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

1,563 (1995 est.)

with unpaved runways over 3 047 m

1

Heliports

63 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

5,574,341 km (in 1991, included 85,267 km of expressways)

total

6,284,488 km

unpaved

710,147 km (1993 est.)

Merchant marine

note

in addition, there are 190 government-owned vessels (1995 est.)

ships by type

bulk 21, cargo 20, chemical tanker 17, intermodal 125, liquefied gas tanker 14, passenger-cargo 2, tanker 110, tanker tug-barge 13

total

322 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 10,716,000 GRT/15,259,000 DWT

Pipelines

petroleum 276,000 km; natural gas 331,000 km (1991)

Ports

Anchorage, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral, Portland (Oregon), Prudhoe Bay, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Toledo

Railways

standard gauge

240,000 km 1.435-m gauge (1989)

total

240,000 km mainline routes (nongovernment owned)

Waterways

41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of the Great Lakes