The United States of America, commonly known as the United States (US), is a federal republic located in North America. It is the world's third-largest country by land area and the third most populous country with a population of over 332 million people.

The US is composed of 50 states, a federal district, five major territories, and various possessions. The country has a diverse geography, including mountains, deserts, plains, and coastlines. The largest city is New York City, while the capital is Washington, D.C.

The US has a mixed-market capitalist economy, which is characterized by high levels of productivity, technology, and innovation. It is the world's largest economy, with a nominal GDP of over $22 trillion. The country's economy is driven by services, followed by manufacturing, and agriculture.

The US is a multicultural nation with a rich history and diverse population. The country has a democratic political system, and the Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land. The country has a federal system of government, with power divided between the federal government and the individual states.

The US is a leading military power, with the world's largest defense budget. The country is also a major player in international diplomacy and is a member of numerous international organizations, including the United Nations, NATO, and the World Trade Organization.

The US is known for its contributions to science, technology, and culture. It has a thriving entertainment industry, including Hollywood movies, music, and television shows. The country has produced many Nobel laureates, including in the fields of physics, medicine, and economics.

However, the US also faces significant challenges, including economic inequality, racial and social divisions, and political polarization. The country has been grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as issues related to immigration, gun control, and climate change, among others.

Telephone Code
1

Local Emergency Phone
911

Vaccinations
See WHO recommendations

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

Currency (Code)
Dollar (USD)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
120 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): A, B

Major Languages
English, Spanish, Chinese, Hawaiian

Major Religions
Protestant 46.5%, Roman Catholic 20.8%, Jewish 1.9%, Mormon 1.6%, other Christian 0.9%, Muslim 0.9%, Jehovah's Witness 0.8%, Buddhist 0.7%, Hindu 0.7%

Potable Water
Yes

International Driving Permit
Suggested for non-US citizens.

Road Driving Side
Right

Tourist Destinations
Grand Canyon; Niagara Falls; Statue of Liberty; Washington, DC (includes White House, National Mall); Yellowstone National Park; Yosemite National Park; Denali National Park; Times Square; Golden Gate Bridge; Mesa Verde; Disney World/Land in Florida/California; Hawaii (includes Oahu, Maui, and island of Hawaii); Utah’s national parks; Las Vegas

Major Sports
American Football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, soccer, tennis

Cultural Practices
Honking your car horn unnecessarily can make drivers angry in America.

Tipping Guidelines
At restaurants, tip 15-20% of the bill, based on quality of service; if the service is bad, it’s customary to tip as low as 10%. For bartenders, tip $1 per drink or 15-20% of the total bill. Tip taxi drivers 10-15% of the fare. Tip housekeeping $2-3 per night; tip room service $1-2 per delivery, regardless of service charge; tip bellhops $1-2 per bag, or more if the bags are very heavy; $2-5 for valet; $1-2 for doormen if they hail a taxi; $5 and higher for concierge depending on the difficulty of the request.

Souvenirs
Regional food items such as sauces, preserves, and candy; pottery; regional art including paintings and wood-carved items; Native American handcrafted items such as turquoise and beaded jewelry, sand paintings, and woven goods

Traditional Cuisine
Hamburger; Hot dog

Geography
Area
total: 9,833,517 sq km
land: 9,147,593 sq km
water: 685,924 sq km

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

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;

People and Society
Population
339,665,118 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups
White 61.6%, Black or African American 12.4%, Asian 6%, Amerindian and Alaska native 1.1%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.2%, other 8.4%, two or more races 10.2% (2020 est.)

Languages
English only 78.2%, Spanish 13.4%, Chinese 1.1%, other 7.3% (2017 est.)

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

Population growth rate
0.68% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
constitutional federal republic

Capital
name: Washington, DC

Economy
Economic overview
high-income, diversified North American economy; NATO leader; largest importer and second-largest exporter; home to leading financial exchanges; high and growing public debt; rising socioeconomic inequalities; historically low interest rates; hit by COVID-19

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$21.132 trillion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$63,700 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
maize, milk, soybeans, wheat, sugar cane, sugar beet, poultry, potatoes, cotton, pork

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

Exports
$2.557 trillion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
Canada 17%, Mexico 16%, China 7%, Japan 5% (2019)

Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars and vehicle parts, integrated circuits, aircraft (2019)

Imports
$3.402 trillion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
China 18%, Mexico 15%, Canada 13%, Japan 6%, Germany 5% (2019)

Imports - commodities
cars, crude petroleum, computers, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicines (2019)