01
Location
The District of Columbia borders Maryland and Virginia along the Potomac River.
Local timeWashington, D.C. ·
U.S. States / South · Card 048
District of Columbia
The District of Columbia is the federal district containing Washington, the capital of the United States. It has an elected local government and is not a state.
Find District of Columbia
● Federal capital · Gold highlights District of Columbia.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
At a glance
- Federal capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Postal abbreviation
- DC
- Population
- 693,645July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
- Total area
- 177 km²68 square miles · land and water
- Capital authorized
- July 16, 1790Federal district; not a state
- Currency
- U.S. dollar (USD)
Sources: Census · population · Census · area
District of Columbia in context
Gold shows District of Columbia. The dot marks Washington, D.C..
Alaska and Hawaii are shown in separate insets at different scales.Geography & flag
02
Landscape & places
Rock Creek Park protects a wooded stream valley within Washington, D.C.
03
Land and water
The total area includes 158 km² of land and 19 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.
District flag
Three red stars above two red horizontal bars on a white field.
Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Rock Creek
History & status
Congress authorized a permanent national capital on the Potomac River in 1790. The federal government moved to Washington in 1800. The 1973 Home Rule Act established an elected mayor and council, while Congress retained oversight. The District is a federal district, not a state.
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Residence Act authorized the federal capital
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Capital authorized
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Home Rule Act established an elected local government
Sources: D.C. Council · home rule
Economy
Main activities
In 2025, government and government enterprises was the largest of the broad industry groups compared here by current-dollar output. Other major groups included professional and business services, real estate and rental and leasing, and educational services, health care, and social assistance.
Total economic output was $192.6 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Largest industry groups · 2025
- Government and government enterprises: 30.1%
- Professional and business services: 24.2%
- Real estate and rental and leasing: 8.6%
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance: 7.9%
Share of total current-dollar GDP. These figures measure output, not employment.
Sources: BEA · annual GDP by state, SAGDP2
Population & economic trends
Population, 2020–2025
Thousands of people693.642025 · thousands of people
July 1 resident population estimates, using the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 series.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau
View data table
| Year | People |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 670,958 |
| 2021 | 669,637 |
| 2022 | 674,501 |
| 2023 | 682,559 |
| 2024 | 691,310 |
| 2025 | 693,645 |
Real GDP, 2010–2025
Billions of chained 2017 dollars145.702025 · billions of chained 2017 dollars
Real GDP measures economic output adjusted for inflation. The chart uses BEA’s chained 2017 dollars.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
View data table
| Year | Millions of chained 2017 dollars |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 120,393.2 |
| 2011 | 122,636.4 |
| 2012 | 123,567.9 |
| 2013 | 124,094.8 |
| 2014 | 126,883.9 |
| 2015 | 129,110.2 |
| 2016 | 132,217.8 |
| 2017 | 134,298.8 |
| 2018 | 138,056.8 |
| 2019 | 138,909.7 |
| 2020 | 137,828.9 |
| 2021 | 143,338.7 |
| 2022 | 143,050.8 |
| 2023 | 143,179.2 |
| 2024 | 145,088.0 |
| 2025 | 145,696.5 |
Government
The District has an elected mayor and a thirteen-member Council. The Council passes local laws and approves the budget; the mayor leads the executive branch. Congress retains authority to review District legislation. D.C. has a nonvoting delegate in the U.S. House and no U.S. senators.
Sources: D.C. Council · home rule
Knowledge check
Three questions about District of Columbia.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
What is the District of Columbia’s political status?
Sources & notes
Prepared 27 September 2026. Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025, July 1 estimates for 2020–2025. Real GDP: BEA annual state accounts, SAGDP9, millions of chained 2017 dollars; industry shares: SAGDP2, current dollars. Data downloaded 27 September 2026. Area measurements include land and water.
Sources: Census · population estimates · BEA · state GDP · Census · area measurements · Natural Earth · map data
The capital clock shows current local time. Statistical figures are dated estimates and may be revised.