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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 14,177 usable: 12,417 with permanent-surface runways: 4,820 with runways over 3,659 m: 63 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 325 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 2,524

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

7,599,250 km total; 6,230,000 km state-financed roads; 1,369,250 km federally-financed roads (including 71,825 km interstate limited access freeways) (1988)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of the Great Lakes (est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

385 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,567,000 GRT/19,511,000 DWT; includes 3 passenger-cargo, 36 cargo, 23 bulk, 169 tanker, 13 tanker tug-barge, 13 liquefied gas, 128 intermodal; in addition, there are 219 government-owned vessels

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports [time series]

Anchorage, Baltimore, Beaumont, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Cleveland, Duluth, Freeport, Galveston, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Mobile, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), Richmond (California), San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Wilmington

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

240,000 km of mainline routes, all standard 1.435 meter track, no government ownership (1989)

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

126,000,000 telephone access lines; 7,557,000 cellular phone subscribers; broadcast stations - 4,987 AM, 4,932 FM, 1,092 TV; about 9,000 TV cable systems; 530,000,000 radio sets and 193,000,000 TV sets in use; 16 satellites and 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite ground stations - 45 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 16 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT (1990)

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $315.5 billion, 5.3% of GDP (1992)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 66.826 million; fit for military service NA (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 2% of GDP and 2.8% of labor force; favorable climate and soils support a wide variety of crops and livestock production; world's second largest producer and number one exporter of grain; surplus food producer; fish catch of 4.4 million metric tons (1990)

Budget [time series]

revenues $1,092 billion; expenditures $1,382 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

donor - commitments, including ODA and OOF, (FY80-89), $115.7 billion

Electricity [time series]

780,000,000 kW capacity; 3,230,000 million kWh produced, 12,690 kWh per capita (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

British pounds: (#) per US$ - 0.6527 (January 1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988) Canadian dollars: (Can$) per US$ - 1.2776 (January 1993), 1.2087 (1992), 1.1457 (1991), 1.1668 (1990), 1.1840 (1989), 1.2307 (1988) French francs: (F) per US$ - 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988) Italian lire: (Lit) per US$ - 1,482.5 (January 1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1.372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988) Japanese yen: (Y) per US$ - 125.01 (January 1993), 126.65 (1992), 134.71 (1991), 144.79 (1990), 137.96 (1989), 128.15 (1988) German deutsche marks: (DM) per US$ - 1.6158 (January 1993), 1.5617 (1992), 1.6595 (1991), 1.6157 (1990), 1.8800 (1989), 1.7562 (1988)

Exports [time series]

$442.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products partners: Western Europe 27.3%, Canada 22.1%, Japan 12.1% (1989)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$NA

Fiscal year [time series]

1 October - 30 September

Illicit drugs [time series]

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 [time series]

$544.1 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery, automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and beverages partners: Western Europe 21.5%, Japan 19.7%, Canada 18.8% (1989)

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 1.5% (1992 est.); accounts for NA% of GDP

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3% (1992)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $5.951 trillion (1992)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$23,400 (1992)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

2.1% (1992)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $23,400, the largest among major industrial nations. The economy is market oriented with most decisions made by private individuals and business firms and with government purchases of goods and services made predominantly in the marketplace. In 1989 the economy enjoyed its seventh successive year of substantial growth, the longest in peacetime history. The expansion featured moderation in wage and consumer price increases and a steady reduction in unemployment to 5.2% of the labor force. In 1990, however, growth slowed to 1% because of a combination of factors, such as the worldwide increase in interest rates, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August, the subsequent spurt in oil prices, and a general decline in business and consumer confidence. In 1991 output fell by 1%, unemployment grew, and signs of recovery proved premature. Growth picked up to 2.1% in 1992. Unemployment, however, remained at nine million, the increase in GDP being mainly attributable to gains in output per worker. Ongoing problems for the 1990s include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs, and sizable budget and trade deficits.

Unemployment rate [time series]

7% (April 1993)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 9,372,610 km2 land area: 9,166,600 km2 comparative area: about 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 note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia

Climate [time series]

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 [time series]

19,924 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

pollution control measures improving air and water quality; agricultural fertilizer and pesticide pollution; management of sparse natural water resources in west; desertification; tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; permafrost in northern Alaska is a major impediment to development

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

maritime boundary disputes with Canada (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca); US Naval Base at Guantanamo 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 [time series]

181,020 km2 (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 12,248 km, Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Cuba 29 km (US naval base at Guantanamo), Mexico 3,326 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 26% forest and woodland: 29% other: 25%

Location [time series]

North America, between Canada and Mexico

Map references [time series]

North America, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 m or depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

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

Note [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Abbreviation [time series]

US or USA

Administrative divisions [time series]

50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California,, Colorado, 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 [time series]

Washington, DC

Constitution [time series]

17 September 1787, effective 4 June 1789

Dependent areas [time series]

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: since 18 July 1947, the US has administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship with three of the 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 that was approved by the US Congress but to date the Compact process has not been completed in Palau, which continues to be administered by the US as the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; 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)

Digraph [time series]

Executive branch (Elections) [time series]

President: 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% Senate: last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 8 November 1994); results - Democratic Party 53%, Republican Party 47%, other NEGL%; seats - (100 total) Democratic Party 57, Republican Party 43 House of Representatives: last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 8 November 1994); results - Democratic Party 52%, Republican Party 46%, other 2%; seats - (435 total) Democratic Party 258, Republican Party 176, Independent 1

Executive branch [time series]

president, vice president, Cabinet

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

4 July 1776 (from England)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Executive branch (Leaders) [time series]

Chief of State and Head of Government: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Congress consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, CCC, COCOM, CP, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, FAO, ESCAP, G-2, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNRWA, UN Security Council, UNTAC, UN Trusteeship Council, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: United States of America conventional short form: United States

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

federal republic; strong democratic tradition

People

Birth rate [time series]

15.48 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.67 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

white 83.4%, black 12.4%, asian 3.3%, native american 0.8% (1992)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

8.36 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Labor force [time series]

128.548 million (includes armed forces and unemployed; civilian labor force 126.982 million) (1992) by occupation: NA

Languages [time series]

English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.8 years male: 72.49 years female: 79.29 years (1993 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over having completed 5 or more years of schooling (1991) total population: 97.9% male: 97.9% female: 97.9%

Nationality [time series]

noun: American(s) adjective: American

Net migration rate [time series]

3.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Population [time series]

258,103,721 (July 1993 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.02% (1993 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.05 children born/woman (1993 est.)