Geography

Economics

Demographics

Military

Politics

Surface

Surface (in square kilometers)

Surface (in square miles)

Surface (water)

Water Surface (in square kilometers)

Water Surface (in square miles)

Share of water (%)

Temperature

Average temperature (in Celcius)

Average temperature (in Farenheit)

Average high temperature (in Celcius)

Average high temperature (in Farenheit)

Average low temperature (in Celcius)

Average low temperature (in Farenheit)

Rainfall

Average rainfall (mm)

Average rainfall (inch)

Distance to other capitals (kilometers)

Distance to other capitals (miles)

Proximity

Economic organizations

Gross Domestic Product (US$)

Gross Domestic Product per capita

Amount of memberships (economic organizations)

Absolute earnings for every 1$

Relative earnings

GDP in PPP per capita (in US$)

 

GDP in PPP per capita

Gross Domestic product (in million US$)

GDP per capita (in US$)

Surface GDP

GDP per square kilometer (in US$)

GDP per square mile(in US$)

Relative GDP in PPP

Population

Population density

Emigration

Immigration

Literacy

Health

Population density (in km2)

Population density (in mi2)

Religion

Christianity (share of the total population)

Islam (share of the total population)

Buddhism (share of the total population)

Hinduism (share of the total population)

Judaism (share of the total population)

Other religions (share of the total population)

Non-religious (share of the total population)

Military spending (in % of GDP)

Military spending

In total, the United States of America spends US$731.751 million on its military, or 3.5 percent of its GDP. This makes the United States of America the highest military spender in the world and represents 38.1 percent of total global military expenditure.

The military of the United States, the United States Armed Forces, consists of ground forces, a Navy, an air force and a space force. Over the last 100 years, its military has evolved into one of the most modern militaries in the world which is currently being developed by several large military corporations. It currently has the most aircraft carriers in the world and has some of the most advanced jet fighters which it exports to other states within NATO.  

Military membership

The United States of America is also a member of 15 international military organizations. This makes it the 4th most militarily connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations: 

  • States with nuclear weapons 
  • Member state of NATO 
  • Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) 
  • ANZUS 
  • System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces 
  • Conference on Disarmament 
  • Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons 
  • Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) 
  • Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 
  • Wassenaar Arrangement 
  • Nuclear Suppliers Group 
  • Australia Group 
  • Missile Technology Control Regime
  • International Atomic Energy Agency 
  • Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization 
  • NATO 

Military membership

International wars

United States of America has partaken in 60 international wars. These are: 

  • American Revolutionary War 1775-1783 
  • Northwest Indian War 1785-1795 
  • Quasi-War 1798-1798 
  • US occupation of West Florida 1810-1810 
  • War of 1811 1811-1815 
  • Second Opium War 1856-1860 
  • Pig War 1859-1871 
  • Franco-Mexican War 1861-1867 
  • Hawaiian rebellions 1887-1895 
  • Cuban War of Independence 1895-1898 
  • Philippine Revolution 1896-1898 
  • Spanish–American War 1898-1898 
  • Boxer Rebellion 1899-1901 
  • Philippine–American War 1899-1901 
  • United States occupation of Nicaragua  
  • World War I 1914-1918 
  • United States occupation of Veracruz 
  • United States occupation of Haiti 1915-1934 
  • Russian Civil War 1917-1911 
  • Second Sino-Japanese War 1937-1945 
  • World War II 1939-1945 
  • Hukbalahap Rebellion 1941-1954 
  • Korean conflict 1945-present 
  • Iran crisis 1945-1946 
  • Greek Civil War 1946-1949 
  • First Indochina War 1946-1954 
  • Korean War 1950-1953 
  • Air battle over Merklín 1953-1953 
  • First Taiwan Strait Crisis 1954-1955 
  • Second Taiwan Strait Crisis 1958-1958 
  • Vietnam War 1955-1975 
  • Bay of Pigs Invasion 1961-1961 
  • Brazilian coup d'état 1964-1964 
  • United States invasion of the Dominican Republic 1956-1956 
  • American occupation of the Dominican Republic 1956-1966 
  • Insurgency of the Communist Party of the Philippines  -present 
  • Moro insurgency in the Philippines 1969-present 

  • Third Indochina War 1975-1991 

  • Angolan Civil War 1975-1001 

  • Lebanese Civil War 1975-1990 

  • Cambodian–Vietnamese War 1975-1989 

  • Insurgency in Laos 1975-present 

  • Iran–Iraq War 1980-1988 

  • Agacher Strip War 1985-1985 

  • Paraguayan coup d'état 1989-1989 

  • Gulf War 1990-1991 

  • Iraqi Kurdish Civil War 1994-1997 

  • Civil war in Afghanistan 1996-1001 

  • Monrovia clashes 1998-1998 

  • Eritrean–Ethiopian War 1998-1000 

  • Guinea-Bissau Civil War 1998-1999 

  • Second Liberian Civil War 1999-1003 

  • Iraq War 2003-2011 

  • Iran–PJAK conflict 2004-2015 

  • Houthi insurgency in Yemen 2004-2015 

  • Lebanon War 2006-2006 

  • South Kyrgyzstan ethnic clashes 2010-2010 

  • Libyan Civil War 2011-2011 

  • Syrian Civil War 2011-present 
  • Persian Gulf crisis 2019-present 
  • Ukraine - Russia war 2022-present

Military spending (in US$ million)

Membership (international political organizations)

In total, the United States of America is a member of 14 international political organizations. This makes it the 57th most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations: 

  • Member state of the United Nations 
  • United Nations Security Council 
  • International Labour Organization 
  • Group of Eight (G8) 
  • Arctic Council 
  • Colombo Plan 
  • Pacific Regional Environment Programme 
  • Pacific Community 
  • Organization of American States 
  • International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property 

Political Membership

Democracy/dictatorship rating

It is the 31st most democratic state in the world. This is largely due to upholding individual civil rights. However, some democratic deficits are a dysfunctional justice system, growing wealth disparities as well as limited political choice on the highest level. 

Democracy/Dictatorship

The politics of the United States takes place in the form of a constitutional Federal Republic where the president is head of state as well as head of government. Its legislative branch is made up of two chambers with the Senate and the house of representatives and its judicial branch is made up of the Supreme Court and its lower federal courts. 

  • UNIDROIT 

  • Interpol 

  • Permanent Court of Arbitration 

  • World Organization for Animal Health 

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If you want to know more about other states, click on the flag on the right to discover Uruguay.

United States of America 

Known for its film industry, its cuisine as well as having a major impact in global politics, the United States, or the United States of America has been dominating the global economic and political sphere for more than 70 years. Before its contacts with Europeans, the area was inhabited by several Native American tribes. it is argued that Christopher Columbus had discovered South America, but the Italian explorer Giovanni Caboto had explored North America, including the United States at the end of the 15th century. During the 16th century, many Spanish settlers came to the southern part of the United States and at the start of the 17th century, the United Kingdom and the French colonized the northern part of the United States. Throughout the 17th and 18th century, the French, the Dutch, the Spanish and the United Kingdom fought over control of northern America, During this time, many slaves from Africa were imported and forced to work in agricultural sectors such as cotton plantations. After a disagreement between political rights and economic contributions, a war for independence broke out against the United Kingdom which resulted in the establishment of a loose confederation of states. At the end of the 19th century, these states unified under a constitution. Throughout the 19th century, the United States grew in size by purchasing territories from France and Russia and winning two wars against Mexico and the United Kingdom. However, a civil war ensued in 1861 when disagreements grew regarding individual rights and the abolishment of slavery. Following the Civil War, the individual rights were granted to all of its inhabitants in 1865. At the end of the 19th century, the United States fought a war against the Spanish Empire and after defeating the Spanish Empire it gained the territories of the Philippines, Cuba, Guam and Puerto Rico as well as Hawaii. The Philippines later on gained their independence, but Puerto Rico and Hawaii remained under the influence of the United States. After joining the United Kingdom during the first world war, the United States came out victorious and after winning the second world war against imperial Japan and Nazi Germany the United States started to become a global superpower through economic and military means. However, this position is starting to decline with the rise of other states such as China, India and Russia. 

 Located in North America, and covering half of the continent, the geography of the United States is quite diverse. Its eastern part is largely covered by a high mountain range while its Western part is covered by low mountains or flat planes. Its vegetation also varies heavily and ranges from an arid desert to dense forests. Despite its size, it only borders two other states with Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. 

It is the fourth largest state in the world with a total surface area of just under 9.6 million square kilometers or 3.7 million square miles. This makes it slightly smaller than China and slightly larger than Brazil. 

Its total water surface area is 379,311 square kilometers or 145,724 square miles which makes it the third highest in the world. 

 

Below, a graph is shown which displays the absolute amount of water of each state in square kilometers and square miles.

Most of its water is derived from surface water, with roughly 30 percent coming from groundwater. It has three of the five largest lakes in the world with which it shares a border with Canada. 

The climate of the United States varies heavily. Its most northern state, Alaska, has an Arctic climate while its most southern states are considered to be tropical or subtropical. However, the average climate is a continental climate. The average temperature is 10.03 degrees Celsius or 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes the United States of America the 155th warmest state in the world. 

The average high temperature is 17.1 degrees Celsius or 63 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The average low temperature is 9.6 degrees Celsius or 49.3 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Rainfall is unevenly distributed throughout the United States with Hawaii receiving up to 10 times as much rainfall compared to states like Arizona. On average, the United States of America receives 88.4 centimetres or 34.7 inches of rainfall per year which ranks it as the 110th highest in the world. 

The capital of the United States, Washington DC, is home to roughly 2.3 million people. The closest capital is Ottawa, Canada, with a distance of 720 kilometers or 447 miles. The capital that is the furthest removed is Jakarta, Indonesia, with a distance of 16.382 kilometers or 10.179 miles.  

The economy of the United States is one of the largest economies in the world and is based on a free market economy with limited governmental interference. Because its economy is globally connected, it is also vulnerable to global fluctuations like oil and gas prices as well as the banking crisis of 2008. Its economy is also quite diverse, and it is known for its well-known brands throughout the tech industry, its banking industry, its oil industry as well as its automobile industry. It is also leading in the medical sector, the military sector and the aerospace sector. Most of its exports go to Mexico and China which combined represent nearly 40 percent of all exports. Most of its imports comes from Canada, China and Mexico as well which combined represent nearly 50 percent of all imports. 

The United States of America is a member of 17 international economic organizations. This makes it the 31st most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations: 

  • African development Bank 
  • Asian Development Bank 
  • Bank for International Settlements 
  • Financial Action Task Force 
  • Inter-American Development Bank 
  • International Development Law Organization 
  • International Monetary Fund 
  • OECD - Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development   
  • World Bank Group 
  • World Customs Organization 
  • World Trade Organization 
  • World Trade Organization 
  • Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 
  • Group of Ten (economics) 
  • International Energy Agency 
  • Nuclear Energy Agency 
  • International Renewable Energy Agency 
  • G20 

It has a GDP of US$20.8 trillion, which makes it the highest in the world and represents 24.8 percent of total global GDP.  

Its GDP per surface area is the 45th highest in the world with US$2.171.780 per square kilometer or US$5.520.853 per square mile.  

Its GDP per capita is the 8th highest in the world with US$62.841. 

The absolute earnings (GDP per capita) reflect the average yearly income. The figure below shows how much, on average, an inhabitant of another state earns for every $1 earned by a citizen of this state.

Its purchasing power parity per capita is the 11th highest in the world with US$62.616. 

The relative Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity compares the purchasing power of this state with that of the rest of the world. The graph on the left shows how much purchasing power of 1$ compared to the purchasing power of other states

It is the third most populous state in the world with a total population of around 331 million people. Because of liberal immigration policies, its ethnic makeup is quite diverse with roughly 60 percent having European origin, with a large minority from Latin America, descendants of African slaves and China. Its official language is English, but Spanish is also common along its border with Mexico. 

It has the 145th highest population density in the world with 34 people per square kilometer or 86 people per square mile.  

0.8 percent of the population, or 2.7 million people, have migrated to other states. This makes the United States the 25th state with the highest number of emigrants and represents 1.06 percent of total global emigration. The main destinations have been other developed states as well as remigration to Mexico which is solely responsible for 25 percent of all migrants. 

Immigration to the United States is represented by 13.88 percent of the population, or 45.9 million people. This ranks the United States as the state with the highest number of immigrants and represents 18.3 percent of total global immigration. The main supplier of migrants has been Mexico which is solely responsible for 25 percent of all migrants. Immigration has been increasing since the start of the 20th century when large migrations from Europe started to arrive. After the second world war, the migration policy towards other states started to become more favourable and has seen a large increase from Latin America as well as India and China over the last 70 years.  

Its education is centrally planned through the Department of Education. Education is free and compulsory between the ages of five and 16, but this differs per state. Its education is coordinated through the Department of Education which coordinates policies in regard to basic education. 

The health care system in the United States is not centrally planned and is mostly privately owned. These healthcare providers are financed through insurance companies or through governmental funding. Its health care system is among the most developed in the world, but varies depending on the location and funding. Currently, the largest health risks are related to noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers and neurological disorders. Other health risks are related to lifestyle choices, such as drug overdoses, alcohol and tobacco consumption as well as a high suicide rate. The average life expectancy is 79.1 years which is the 37th highest in the world. Women have an average life expectancy of 81.7 years, while men have an average life expectancy of 76.6 years. 

The United States provides freedom of religion towards all religions. However, there have been limitations on adherents of Islam.  

Christianity is the largest religion in the United States and is followed by 65.4 percent of the population. This makes it the 99th most Christian state in the world, but the largest in absolute numbers. Because of its population size, there are wide varieties of denominations with the Protestant church and the Catholic church being the largest. 

Islam is represented by one percent of the population which makes it the 128th most Islamic state in the world. Islam arrived in the United States through its slaves that were imported from Africa. After open migration policies during the second half of the 20th century, Muslims from other states started to arrive in large numbers. 

Buddhism is represented by 0.83 percent of the population and are mainly migrants that came from China. Most Buddhists have migrated to the West Coast of the United States or to Hawaii. 

Hinduism is represented by 0.63 percent of the population and also consists of migrants coming from South East Asia. 

Judaism is represented by 1.78 percent of the population and is the second largest religion in the United States. In absolute numbers, it is the state with the highest number of Jews, even higher than Israel. 

Other religions are represented by 0.54 percent of the population and are mainly native American religions as well as neopaganism. 

Irreligion is represented by 10.98 percent of the population. 

Islam is the second largest religion in the United Kingdom and is represented by 5.2 percent of the population. The Sunni denomination is the largest denomination and mainly comes from migrants from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh but it also houses large Turkish minorities as well as some Mali minorities. 

Buddhism is represented by 0.67 percent of the population and are mainly migrants that originated from Southeast Asia and have the Theravada denomination as the largest denomination. 

Hinduism is represented by 1.47 percent of the population and is the third largest religion in the United Kingdom. Most Hindus arrived from the Indian subcontinent as migrants following the partition of India and Pakistan.