United States of America

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Geography

• Area: 6,106,013 square miles; the third largest country in the world, after Russia and Canada, and the third largest in population after China and India.
• Capital: Washington, DC
• US Territories: 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 and Wake Island.
• Features: Almost 7,700 miles of coastline. Mt. McKinley is the highest point in North America and Death Valley is the lowest point on the North American continent.

Current Environmental Issues

Air pollution results 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 is caused from the runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; limited natural freshwater resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management.

People

• Nationality: American(s)
• Population: 313,232,044 (July 2011 est.) (the 3^rd biggest population in the world)
• Urban Population: 82% of total population
• Primary 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.
• Religions: Protestant 51%; Roman Catholic 24%; Mormon 2%; Jewish 2%; other Christian 2%; Buddhist 1%; Muslim 1%; other or unaffiliated 15%, none 4% (2007 est.)
• Languages: English is the official language and spoken by about 82% of the population; 10% speak Spanish and 3.8% speak an Asian and/or Pacific Island language.
• Literacy rate (age 15 and over): 99% (Male: 99%/Female: 99%)
• School Life Expectancy: 16 years
• Infant mortality rate: 6/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy: 78 years (Male: 76/ Female: 81) (2011 est.)
• HIV/AIDS: There are 1.2 million people living with HIV/AIDs, about 0.4% of the total American population. Ranked 10^th in the world.

Government & Economy

• Independence: July 4, 1776 from Great Britain
• Number of registered political parties: 5
• Flag Description: The 50 stars represents 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.
• Natural resources: Coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
• Primary exports: Soybeans, fruit, corn and other crops, organic chemicals, transistors, electronics, planes, motor vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications equipment, cars and medicine
• Average annual income per person: $47,200 (2010 est.)
• Unemployment Rate: 10% (2010 est.)
• Population below poverty line: 12% (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

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.

• Refugees (country of origin): The US admitted 62,643 refugees during 2004-05 including; 10,586 (Somalia), 8,549 (Laos); 6,666 (Russia; 6,479 (Cuba); 3,100 (Haiti); 2,136 (Iran) (2006).