01
Physical geography
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.
Local timeWashington, D.C. ·
North America / North America · Card 036
United States
The United States is a federal republic in North America. Its capital is Washington, D.C.
Find United States
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers. The regional map includes the contiguous states, Alaska and Hawaii at their geographic positions. Separate territories have their own cards.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers. The regional map includes the contiguous states, Alaska and Hawaii at their geographic positions. Separate territories have their own cards.
At a glance
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Languages
- English & many other languages
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD)
- Population
- 341.8 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 9,833,517 km²The 50 states and District of Columbia, including water; overseas territories excluded.
- Independence
- 1776 / 1783Independence declared in 1776; recognized by Britain in 1783.
United States in context
North America and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Washington, D.C.; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
English was designated the official language by a federal executive order in March 2025. Spanish, Indigenous languages and many other languages are also spoken.
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Location
North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico.
Flag
13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue rectangle in the upper-left corner has 50 five-pointed white stars, arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · US National Archives · English-language executive order
History & independence
Indigenous nations lived across the continent before European colonization. Thirteen British colonies declared independence in 1776 and secured recognition after the Revolutionary War in 1783. The Constitution established the federal system. The Civil War ended in 1865, the year the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery, except as punishment for crime.
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The colonies declare independence
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Britain recognizes US independence
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The Constitution is signed
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The Civil War ends and the Thirteenth Amendment is ratified
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · US National Archives · English-language executive order
Economy
Main activities
Services dominate a highly diversified economy, including health, finance, technology, education and professional activities. Manufacturing, agriculture and energy remain important. Total GDP measures production and does not show how income is distributed among households.
Industry and production
Manufacturing includes aerospace, vehicles, electronics, chemicals and food products. Energy, mining and agricultural production are also substantial.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · US National Archives · English-language executive order
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people341.82025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 205,052,000 | 205.052 |
| 1980 | 227,225,000 | 227.225 |
| 1990 | 249,623,000 | 249.623 |
| 2000 | 282,162,411 | 282.162 |
| 2010 | 309,378,227 | 309.378 |
| 2020 | 331,578,104 | 331.578 |
| 2025 | 341,784,857 | 341.785 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Trillions of constant 2015 US dollars23.22025 · trillions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Trillions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9,785,238,027,484 | 9.785 |
| 1991 | 9,774,639,354,975 | 9.775 |
| 1992 | 10,118,950,749,880 | 10.119 |
| 1993 | 10,397,403,618,009 | 10.397 |
| 1994 | 10,816,317,372,732 | 10.816 |
| 1995 | 11,106,673,921,189 | 11.107 |
| 1996 | 11,525,703,481,708 | 11.526 |
| 1997 | 12,038,266,260,882 | 12.038 |
| 1998 | 12,577,957,790,986 | 12.578 |
| 1999 | 13,180,243,872,423 | 13.180 |
| 2000 | 13,717,679,619,695 | 13.718 |
| 2001 | 13,848,757,307,490 | 13.849 |
| 2002 | 14,084,248,131,472 | 14.084 |
| 2003 | 14,477,988,212,190 | 14.478 |
| 2004 | 15,035,068,144,287 | 15.035 |
| 2005 | 15,558,822,251,171 | 15.559 |
| 2006 | 15,992,063,823,765 | 15.992 |
| 2007 | 16,312,522,122,670 | 16.313 |
| 2008 | 16,331,051,067,548 | 16.331 |
| 2009 | 15,910,281,498,142 | 15.910 |
| 2010 | 16,339,094,225,609 | 16.339 |
| 2011 | 16,594,704,135,238 | 16.595 |
| 2012 | 16,974,575,729,645 | 16.975 |
| 2013 | 17,334,068,402,850 | 17.334 |
| 2014 | 17,771,549,056,393 | 17.772 |
| 2015 | 18,295,019,000,000 | 18.295 |
| 2016 | 18,627,887,993,796 | 18.628 |
| 2017 | 19,085,691,123,386 | 19.086 |
| 2018 | 19,651,869,117,636 | 19.652 |
| 2019 | 20,159,639,089,819 | 20.160 |
| 2020 | 19,740,041,204,593 | 19.740 |
| 2021 | 20,954,452,976,800 | 20.954 |
| 2022 | 21,483,388,181,185 | 21.483 |
| 2023 | 22,113,788,823,329 | 22.114 |
| 2024 | 22,731,468,331,925 | 22.731 |
| 2025 | 23,222,782,186,839 | 23.223 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.938Very High human developmentRank 17 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.878
20000.895
20100.919
20200.925
20230.938
79.3 yearsLife expectancy at birth
13.9 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
A federal presidential republic. An elected President heads the executive; Congress comprises the House of Representatives and Senate. The Supreme Court heads the federal judiciary. The Constitution divides powers between the federal government and the states.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · US National Archives · English-language executive order
Knowledge check
Three questions about United States.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
What is the capital of the United States?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · US National Archives · English-language executive order
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.