Flag of US

United States

Constitutional Federal RepublicPop338.0MGDP (PPP)$25.7TCI73BetaCP−3.2Beta

Overview

Background
Thirteen of Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. Two of the most traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65), in which a northern Union of states defeated a secessionist Confederacy of 11 southern slave states, and the Great Depression of the 1930s, an economic downturn during which about a quarter of the labor force lost its jobs. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful nation state. Since the end of World War II, the economy has achieved relatively steady growth, low unemployment, and rapid advances in technology.

Geography

Area

Land
9,147,593 sq km
Note
note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia, no overseas territories
Water
685,924 sq km
Total
9,833,517 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
Terrain
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

Land Use

Other
18.7% (2023 est.)
Forest
33.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land
46.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 29.2% (2023 est.)
Location
North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
Coastline
19,924 km

Elevation

Note
note 1: Mount McKinley is one of the most striking features on the entire planet; at 20,310 feet, it is the crowning peak of the Alaska Range and the highest mountain on North America; it towers three and one-half vertical miles above its base, making it a mile taller from base to summit than Mt. Everest; McKinley's base sits at about 2,000 feet above sea level and rises over three and one-half miles to its 20,310 foot summit; Everest begins on a 14,000-foot high plain, then summits at 29,028 feet

note 2:
the peak of Mauna Kea (4,207 m above sea level) on the island of Hawaii rises about 10,200 m above the Pacific Ocean floor; by this measurement, it is the world's tallest mountain -- higher than Mount Everest (8,850 m), which is recognized as the tallest mountain above sea level
Lowest point
Death Valley (lowest point in North America) -86 m
Highest point
Mount McKinley 6,190 m (highest point in North America)
Mean elevation
760 m
Irrigated land
234,782 sq km (2017)
Major aquifers
Northern Great Plains Aquifer, Cambrian-Ordovician Aquifer System, Californian Central Valley Aquifer System, Ogallala Aquifer (High Plains), Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains Aquifer
Map references
North America

Land Boundaries

Note
note: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US and is part of Cuba; the base boundary is 28.5 km
Total
12,002 km
Border countries
Canada 8,891 km (including 2,475 km with Alaska); Mexico 3,111 km

Maritime Claims

Contiguous zone
24 nm
Territorial sea
12 nm
Continental shelf
not specified
Exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
tsunamis; volcanoes; earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of America coasts; tornadoes in the Midwest and Southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska is a major impediment to development

volcanism: volcanic activity in the Hawaiian Islands, Western Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and in the Northern Mariana Islands; Mauna Loa (4,170 m) in Hawaii and Mount Rainier (4,392 m) in Washington have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Pavlof (2,519 m) is the most active volcano in Alaska's Aleutian Arc and poses a significant threat to intercontinental air travel; St. Helens (2,549 m), famous for the devastating 1980 eruption, remains active today; other historically active volcanoes are mostly concentrated in the Aleutian arc and Hawaii, including (in Alaska) Aniakchak, Augustine, Chiginagak, Fourpeaked, Iliamna, Katmai, Kupreanof, Martin, Novarupta, Redoubt, Spurr, Wrangell, Trident, Ugashik-Peulik, Ukinrek Maars, Veniaminof, (in Hawaii) Haleakala, Kilauea, Loihi, (in the Northern Mariana Islands) Anatahan, (in the Pacific Northwest) Mount Baker, and Mount Hood; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography note
note 1: world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley is the highest point (6,190 m; 20,308 ft) in North America, and Death Valley is the lowest point (-86 m; -282 ft)

note 2: the western US coast and the southern coast of Alaska lie along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes

note 3: the Aleutian Islands are a chain of volcanic islands that divide the Bering Sea (north) from the main Pacific Ocean (south); they extend about 1,800 km (1,118 mi) westward from the Alaskan Peninsula; the archipelago consists of 14 larger islands, 55 smaller islands, and hundreds of islets; there are 41 active volcanoes on the islands, which together form a large northern section of the Ring of Fire

note 4: Mammoth Cave, in west-central Kentucky, is the world's longest known cave system with more than 650 km (405 miles) of surveyed passageways, which is nearly twice as long as the second-longest cave system, the Sac Actun underwater cave in Mexico (see "Geography - note" under Mexico)

note 5: Kazumura Cave on the island of Hawaii is the world's longest and deepest lava-tube cave; it has been surveyed at 66 km (41 mi) long and 1,102 m (3,614 ft) deep

note 6: Bracken Cave outside San Antonio, Texas is the world's largest bat cave and the summer home to the largest colony of bats in the world; an estimated 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats roost in the cave from March to October, making it the world's largest known concentration of mammals
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
Area comparative
about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; more than twice the size of the European Union
Geographic coordinates
38 00 N, 97 00 W
Population distribution
large urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western-tier states; mountainous areas such as the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians, deserts in the southwest, the dense boreal forests in the extreme north, and the central prairie states are less densely populated; Alaska's population is concentrated along its southern coast, particularly around Anchorage, and Hawaii's is centered on the island of Oahu

Major Lakes (Area Sq Km)

Salt water lake(s)
Great Salt – 4,360 sq km; Pontchartrain – 1,620 sq km;  Selawik – 1,400 sq km; Salton Sea – 950 sq km
Fresh water lake(s)
Michigan – 57,750 sq km; Superior* – 53,348 sq km; Huron* – 23,597 sq km; Erie* – 12,890 sq km; Ontario* – 9,220 sq km; Lake of the Woods – 4,350 sq km; Iliamna – 2,590 sq km; Okeechobee – 1,810 sq km; Belcharof – 1,190 sq km; Red – 1,170 sq km; Saint Clair – 1,113 sq km; Champlain – 1,100 sq km
note - Great Lakes* area shown as US waters

Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)

Note
note: watersheds shared with Canada shown with *
Pacific ocean drainage
Yukon* (847,620 sq km, US only 23,820 sq km); Colorado (703,148 sq km); Columbia* (657,501 sq km, US only 554,501 sq km)
Atlantic ocean drainage
(Gulf of America) Mississippi* (3,202,185 sq km); Rio Grande (607,965 sq km); (Gulf of Saint Lawrence) Saint Lawrence* (1,049,636 sq km total, US only 505,000 sq km)
Major rivers (BY length in km)
Missouri - 3,768 km; Mississippi - 3,544 km; Yukon river mouth (shared with Canada [s]) - 3,190 km; Saint Lawrence (shared with Canada) - 3,058 km; Rio Grande river source (mouth shared with Mexico) - 3,057 km; Colorado river source (shared with Mexico [m]) - 2,333 km; Arkansas - 2,348 km; Columbia river mouth (shared with Canada [s]) - 2,250 km; Red - 2,188 km; Ohio - 2,102 km); Snake - 1,670 km

note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

People & Society

Languages
English only (official) 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.)

Sex Ratio

At birth
1.05 male(s)/female
0 14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
15 64 years
1 male(s)/female
Total population
0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.81 male(s)/female
Birth rate
10.75 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
8.76 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male
37.8 years
Total
39.5 years (2025 est.)
Female
40 years

Population

Male
167,543,554
Total
338,016,259 (2025 est.)
Female
170,472,705

Nationality

Noun
American(s)
Adjective
American

Tobacco Use

Male
27.7% (2025 est.)
Total
22.1% (2025 est.)
Female
16.7% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population
83.3% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization
0.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years
18.1% (male 31,618,532/female 30,254,223)
15 64 years
63.4% (male 108,553,822/female 108,182,491)
65 years and over
18.5% (2024 est.) (male 28,426,426/female 34,927,914)
Ethnic groups
White 61.6%, Black or African American 12.4%, Asian 6%, Indigenous and Alaska native 1.1%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.2%, other 8.4%, two or more races 10.2% (2020 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio
56 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio
26.8 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio
3.4 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio
29.2 (2025 est.)
Physician density
3.68 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
16.6% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
24.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
2.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
2.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.63 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
11.3% national budget (2021 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male
5.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Total
5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female
4.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.45% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.02 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
large urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western-tier states; mountainous areas such as the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians, deserts in the southwest, the dense boreal forests in the extreme north, and the central prairie states are less densely populated; Alaska's population is concentrated along its southern coast, particularly around Anchorage, and Hawaii's is centered on the island of Oahu

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male
78.7 years
Female
83.1 years
Total population
80.9 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
17 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural
rural: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total
total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban
urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural
rural: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total
total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban
urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer
3.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine
1.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total
8.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits
3.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas population
18.937 million New York-Newark, 12.534 million Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, 8.937 million Chicago, 6.707 million Houston, 6.574 million Dallas-Fort Worth, 5.490 million WASHINGTON, D.C. (capital) (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate
36.2% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
27.5 years (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15 49)
52.1% (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
0.4% (2018 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male
15 years (2022 est.)
Total
16 years (2022 est.)
Female
17 years (2022 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

Head of StateDonald TrumpExecutive of United StatescabinetHouse of RepresentativesLower chamber · 435 seatsSupreme CourtjudiciarySenateUpper chamber · 100 seatsHead of GovernmentDonald TrumpVice PresidentJD VanceSecretary of StateMarco RubioSecretary of the TreasuryScott BessentSecretary of DefensePete HegsethAttorney GeneralPam BondiSpeaker of the HouseMike JohnsonSenate Majority LeaderJohn ThunePresident pro temporeChuck GrassleyChief JusticeJohn Roberts
ExecutiveLegislativeJudicial
Flag
description: 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

meaning: the stars represent the 50 states, and the stripes represent the 13 original colonies; blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship; red for courage, zeal, and fervency; white for purity and rectitude of conduct

Capital

Name
Washington, D.C.
Etymology
named after George WASHINGTON (1732-1799), the first president of the United States
Time zone note
the 50 United States cover six time zones
Time difference
UTC-5 (during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time
+1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November; note - no DST for Hawaii and most of Arizona
Geographic coordinates
38 53 N, 77 02 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Citizenship BY birth
yes
Citizenship BY descent only
yes
Dual citizenship recognized
no, but the US government acknowledges such situtations exist; US citizens are not encouraged to seek dual citizenship since it limits protection by the US
Residency requirement for naturalization
5 years

Constitution

History
previous 1781 (Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union); latest drafted July - September 1787, submitted to the Congress of the Confederation 20 September 1787, submitted for states' ratification 28 September 1787, ratification completed by nine of the 13 states 21 June 1788, effective 4 March 1789
Amendment process
proposed as a "joint resolution" by Congress, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by at least two thirds of the state legislatures; passage requires ratification by three fourths of the state legislatures or passage in state-held constitutional conventions as specified by Congress; the US president has no role in the constitutional amendment process

Country Name

Etymology
the name America was first used in 1507 and is derived from the first name of Amerigo VESPUCCI (1454-1512), an Italian explorer, navigator, and cartographer; the name United States first appeared in a document subtitle during the discussions that led to the Declaration of Independence in 1776
Abbreviation
US or USA
Conventional long form
United States of America
Conventional short form
United States
Independence
4 July 1776 (declared independence from Great Britain); 3 September 1783 (recognized by Great Britain)
Legal system
common law system based on English common law at the federal level; state legal systems based on common law, except Louisiana, where state law is based on Napoleonic civil code; judicial review of legislative acts
Dependent areas
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, Wake Island (14)
Government type
constitutional federal republic

Judicial Branch

Note
note: the US court system consists of the federal court system and the state court systems; each court system is responsible for hearing certain types of cases, but neither is completely independent of the other, and the systems often interact
Highest court(s)
US Supreme Court (consists of 9 justices -- the chief justice and 8 associate justices)
Subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal (includes the US Court of Appeal for the Federal District and 12 regional appeals courts); 94 federal district courts in 50 states and territories
Judge selection and term of office
president nominates and, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints Supreme Court justices; justices serve for life

Executive Branch

Note
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president, approved by the Senate
Chief of state
President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
Election results

2024:
Donald J. TRUMP elected president; electoral vote - Donald J. TRUMP (Republican Party) 312, Kamala HARRIS (Democratic Party) 226; percent of direct popular vote - Donald J. TRUMP 49.8%, Kamala HARRIS 48.3%, other 1.9%

2020:
Joseph R. BIDEN, Jr. elected president; electoral vote - Joseph R. BIDEN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 306, Donald J. TRUMP (Republican Party) 232; percent of direct popular vote - Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. 51.3%, Donald J. TRUMP 46.9%, other 1.8%
Head of government
President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
Most recent election date
5 November 2024
Election/appointment process
president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by the Electoral College of electors chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
Expected date of next election
7 November 2028
National holiday
Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
National color(s)
red, white, blue

National Heritage

Total world heritage sites
26 (13 cultural, 12 natural, 1 mixed); note - includes one site in Puerto Rico
Selected world heritage site locales
Yellowstone National Park (n); Grand Canyon National Park (n); Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (c); Independence Hall (c); Statue of Liberty (c); Yosemite National Park (n); Papahānaumokuākea (m); Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point (c); The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright (c); Mesa Verde National Park (c); Mammoth Cave National Park (n); Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville (c); Olympic National Park (n); Everglades National Park (n); Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek (n); Redwood National and State Parks (n); Great Smoky Mountains National Park (n); La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico (c); Chaco Culture (c); Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (n); Taos Pueblo (c); Carlsbad Caverns National Park (n); Waterton Glacier International Peace Park (n); Moravian Church Settlements (c); San Antonio Missions (c); Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks (c)
Political parties
Alliance Party
Constitution Party
Democratic Party
Green Party
Libertarian Party
Republican Party
Vermont Progressive Party

Legislative Branch

Note
note: in addition to the regular members of the House of Representatives there are 6 non-voting delegates elected from the District of Columbia and the US territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands; these are single seat constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term (except for the resident commissioner of Puerto Rico who serves a 4-year term); the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote; election of delegates last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held on 3 November 2024)
Legislature name
Congress
Legislative structure
bicameral

National Anthem(s)

Title
"The Star-Spangled Banner"
History
adopted 1931; during the War of 1812, Francis Scott KEY witnessed the successful American defense of Baltimore's Fort McHenry against a British naval bombardment, later writing a poem about it that would become the US national anthem; the lyrics were set to the tune of "The Anacreontic Song;" there are four verses, but only the first verse is sung
Lyrics/music
Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH
National symbol(s)
bald eagle
Administrative divisions
50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Chamber name
House of Representatives
Term in office
2 years
Number of seats
435 (all directly elected)
Electoral system
plurality/majority
Scope of elections
full renewal
Most recent election date
11/5/2024
Expected date of next election
November 2026
Percentage of women in chamber
28.9%
Parties elected and seats per party
Republican Party (220); Democratic Party (215)

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Chamber name
Senate
Term in office
6 years
Number of seats
100 (all directly elected)
Electoral system
plurality/majority
Scope of elections
partial renewal
Most recent election date
11/5/2024
Expected date of next election
November 2026
Percentage of women in chamber
26%
Parties elected and seats per party
Republican Party (15); Democratic Party (19)
International organisations
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), ANZUS, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, EAPC, EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Quad, SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UN Security Council (permanent), UNTSO, UPU, USMCA, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
International law organization participation
withdrew acceptance of compulsory ICJ jurisdiction in 2005; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2002

Legislature

UNITED STATES · LOWER HOUSE

House of Representatives

435 seats · hover a seat for the party
ROSTRUMMAJORITY 219
Total seats
435
Majority line
219
Largest party
Republican Party
Parties
2
All political parties2 parties · 435 seats · click to dim in hemicycle
UNITED STATES · UPPER HOUSE

Senate

100 seats · hover a seat for the party
ROSTRUMMAJORITY 51
Total seats
100
Majority line
51
Largest party
Republican Party
Parties
2
All political parties2 parties · 100 seats · click to dim in hemicycle
Next election
Last: 2024

Leaders

Current

  • Donald Trump

    • Head of StateSince 2025
    • Head of GovernmentSince 2025
  • JD Vance

    • Vice PresidentSince 2025Republican Party
  • Pam Bondi

    • Attorney GeneralSince 2025Republican
  • Scott Bessent

    • Secretary of the TreasurySince 2025Republican
  • Pete Hegseth

    • Secretary of DefenseSince 2025Republican
  • Marco Rubio

    • Secretary of StateSince 2025Republican
  • John Thune

    • Senate Majority LeaderSince 2025Republican
  • Chuck Grassley

    • President Pro TemporeSince 2025Republican
  • Mike Johnson

    • Speaker of the HouseSince 2023Republican
  • John Roberts

    • Chief JusticeSince 2005

Bills

01

H.R. 3863 - VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act

This bill improves mental health services and outreach programs specifically for veterans in the VA system.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
02

H.Res. 1258 - Expressing support for the designation of May 2026 as "National Brain Tumor Awareness Month".

The bill designates May 2026 as National Brain Tumor Awareness Month to increase public understanding.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
03

H.J.Res. 174 - Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide for term limits for justices of the Supreme Court.

The bill proposes a constitutional amendment to limit how long Supreme Court justices can serve on the court.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
04

H.R. 8654 - To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to reauthorize the Nita M. Lowey Community Learning Centers program for fiscal years 2026 through 2035, and for other purposes.

The bill extends federal funding for community learning centers in schools through 2035 to support after-school educational programs.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
05

H.R. 8661 - To authorize the Secretary of State to provide certain direct loans and loan guarantees for the procurement of defense articles, defense services, and design and construction services, and for other purposes.

The bill allows the State Department to provide direct loans and financing for foreign purchases of U.S. defense equipment and services.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
06

H.R. 8659 - To amend the definition of a professional student in the Higher Education Act of 1965.

The bill changes the legal definition of a professional student under federal higher education laws.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
07

H.R. 8664 - To require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to implement a certain recommendation relating to artificial intelligence adoption, and for other purposes.

The bill requires the Small Business Administration to implement recommendations promoting artificial intelligence adoption among small businesses.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
08

H.R. 8648 - To establish in the Department of State a Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology program, and for other purposes.

The bill establishes a federal program to support the safe development and deployment of small modular nuclear reactor technology.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
09

H.R. 8658 - To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to modify the notification requirement for emergency contract health services for certain beneficiaries, and for other purposes.

The bill modifies notification procedures for emergency health services provided to certain Native American beneficiaries under Indian Health Care programs.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
10

H.R. 8649 - To amend the Arms Export Control Act to authorize the use of foreign military financing for direct commercial contracts, and for other purposes.

The bill allows countries receiving U.S. military aid to use those funds for direct commercial defense purchases from American companies.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
11

H.J.Res. 173 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to the withdrawal of the rule relating to "Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2023-02: Reopening Deposit Accounts That Consumers Previously Closed".

This resolution blocks a federal rule that would withdraw public lands in Minnesota counties from development.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
12

H.R. 8653 - To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program for demonstration projects that make critical transportation infrastructure resilient to natural hazards, and for other purposes.

The bill creates federal grants for transportation infrastructure projects designed to withstand natural hazards like floods and earthquakes.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
13

H.J.Res. 175 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to the withdrawal of the rule relating to "Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2024-02: Deceptive Marketing Practices About the Speed or Cost of Sending a Remittance Transfer".

This resolution blocks a federal rule that would withdraw public lands in Minnesota counties from development.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
14

H.R. 8656 - To require the Department of Justice to procure ballistic-resistant body armor manufactured using domestic ballistic fibers.

The bill requires the Justice Department to buy body armor made from domestically produced ballistic-resistant fibers instead of imported materials.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
15

H.R. 8657 - To amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance programs for youth suicide prevention and intervention, and for other purposes.

The bill expands federal youth suicide prevention and intervention programs to help reduce suicide rates among young people.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
16

H.R. 8647 - Representative Green's Original Legislation to increase from 9 to 13 the number of justices of the Supreme Court.

The bill would expand the Supreme Court from nine justices to thirteen justices if passed.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
17

H.R. 8650 - To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to increase payments to States with respect to outreach and enrollment under the Medicaid program.

The bill would increase federal Medicaid payments to states that improve outreach and enrollment efforts for eligible program beneficiaries.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
18

H.R. 8652 - YODA

The bill's purpose cannot be determined from the acronym alone without additional context or bill text.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
19

H.R. 8651 - Advancing Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act of 2026

The bill aims to ensure safe medication options for pregnant women and nursing mothers by updating FDA approval processes and regulations.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted
20

H.R. 8663 - To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on account of sex, race, or national origin, and for other purposes.

This bill would strengthen wage discrimination protections by prohibiting pay differences based on sex, race, or national origin.

U.S. CongressLast action 2026-05-04
DraftCommitteeLower FloorUpper HouseEnacted

Economy

Budget

Note
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues
$4.877 trillion (2023 est.)
Expenditures
$6.857 trillion (2023 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$3.19T
Note
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022
$3.039 trillion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$3.072 trillion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$3.191 trillion (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$4.10T
Note
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2022
$3.984 trillion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$3.857 trillion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$4.108 trillion (2024 est.)
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
Labor force
174.174 million (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled)
118.0%
Note
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2023
114.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances

Note
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
0% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
British pounds per US dollar:  0.782 (2024 est.), 0.805 (2023 est.), 0.811 (2022 est.), 0.727 (2021 est.), 0.780 (2020 est.) 
Canadian dollars per US dollar:  1.369 (2024 est.), 1.35 (2023 est.), 1.302 (2022 est.), 1.254 (2021 est.), 1.341 (2020 est.)
Chinese yuan per US dollar:  0.783 (2024 est.), 7.084 (2023 est.), 6.737 (2022 est.), 6.449 (2021 est.), 6.901 (2020 est.)
euros per US dollar:  0.924 (2024 est.), 0.925 (2023 est.), 0.950 (2022 est.), 0.845 (2021 est.), 0.876 (2020 est.)
Japanese yen per US dollar:  151.366 (2024 est.), 140.49 (2023 est.), 131.50 (2022 est.), 109.75 (2021 est.), 106.78 (2020 est.)

note 1: the following countries and territories use the US dollar officially as their legal tender: British Virgin Islands, Ecuador, El Salvador, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Timor Leste, Turks and Caicos, and islands of the Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba)

note 2: the following countries and territories use the US dollar as official legal tender alongside local currency: Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, and Panama
Economic overview
world’s largest economy by nominal GDP; largest importer and second-largest exporter; home to leading financial exchanges and global reserve currency; high and growing public debt; inflation moderating but remains above pre-pandemic levels

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled)
4.2%
Note
note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022
3.7% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
3.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
4.2% (2024 est.)
Exports partners
Canada 14%, Mexico 13%, China 8%, Germany 5%, Japan 4% (2023)
Imports partners
Mexico 15%, China 15%, Canada 14%, Germany 5%, Japan 5% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$85,810
Note
note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022
$72,700 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$74,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$75,500 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled)
2.8%
Note
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022
2.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
2.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
2.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
maize, soybeans, milk, wheat, sugar beets, sugarcane, potatoes, chicken, pork, tomatoes (2023)
Exports commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, gas turbines, cars (2023)
Imports commodities
cars, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment, computers, garments (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled)
-$1.19T
Note
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2022
-$1.012 trillion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$905.378 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
-$1.134 trillion (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
10.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$29.185 trillion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption
67.9% (2024 est.)
Government consumption
13.4% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories
0.1% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital
21.6% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services
10.9% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services
-14% (2024 est.)

Average Household Expenditures

On food
6.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco
1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled)
2.9%
Note
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
8% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
4.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.9% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
3.25% (2021 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$25.676 trillion (2024 est.)
Note
note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$24.276 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$24.977 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$25.676 trillion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male
10.4% (2024 est.)
Note
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total
9.4% (2024 est.)
Female
8.3% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$706.644 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$773.426 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$910.037 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry
17.3% (2024 est.)
Services
79.7% (2024 est.)
Agriculture
0.9% (2024 est.)

Household Income or Consumption BY Percentage Share

Note
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Lowest 10%
1.8% (2023 est.)
Highest 10%
30.4% (2023 est.)

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Note
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2023
41.8 (2023 est.)

Energy

Coal

Exports
92.28 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports
3.825 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Production
534.234 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption
495.156 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves
247.883 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Total petroleum production
20.953 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves
38.212 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption
20.307 million bbl/day (2024 est.)

Electricity

Exports
19.87 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports
38.874 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Consumption
4.085 trillion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity
1.235 billion kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses
191.104 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Natural Gas

Exports
215.48 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports
82.917 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Production
1.072 trillion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption
920.47 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves
13.402 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Nuclear Energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors
94 (2025)
Percent of total electricity production
18.5% (2023 est.)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors
96.95GW (2025 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down
41 (2025)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population
100% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023
278.474 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Wind
9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Solar
5.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear
18.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Geothermal
0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels
58.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Hydroelectricity
5.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Biomass and waste
1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population
93% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
4 major terrestrial TV networks with affiliate stations, plus cable and satellite networks, independent stations, and a limited public broadcasting sector; thousands of TV stations broadcasting; multiple national radio networks with many affiliate stations; over 15,000 radio stations, most commercial; National Public Radio (NPR) has a network of about 900 member stations; satellite radio available (2018)
Internet country code
.us

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions
87.987 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
26 (2023 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions
391 million (2024 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
113 (2024 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total
131 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
38 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large
21
Small
132
Medium
38
Key ports
Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Chester, Cleveland, Detroit, Galveston, Houston, Los Angeles, Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP), Mobile, New Orleans, New York City, Norfolk, Oakland, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Tri-City Port
Very small
475
Total ports
666 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals
204
Airports
16,116 (2025)

Railways

Total
293,564.2 km (2014)
Standard gauge
293,564.2 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Heliports
8,130 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Note
note - oceangoing self-propelled, cargo-carrying vessels of 1,000 gross tons and above
Total
3,533 (2023)
BY type
bulk carrier 4, container ship 60, general cargo 96, oil tanker 68, other 3,305
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
N

Environment

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

Land Use

Other
18.7% (2023 est.)
Forest
33.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land
46.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 29.2% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population
83.3% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization
0.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Methane Emissions

Other
758.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste
4,974 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Energy
20,500.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Agriculture
9,063.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually
265.225 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled
14.8% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
air pollution; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; declining natural freshwater resources in the west; deforestation; mining; desertification; species conservation; invasive species 

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal
58.39 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial
209.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Agricultural
176.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions
4.795 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas
1.76 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke
777.302 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids
2.258 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
7.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
3.069 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

International Environmental Agreements

Party to
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
Signed, but not ratified
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Protocol

Military & Security

Military note
the US military's primary missions are to deter potential enemies, provide for the defense of the US, its Territories, Commonwealths and possessions, and any areas occupied by the US, and to protect US national interests; its responsibilities are worldwide and include providing humanitarian assistance, participating in international military exercises and operations, conducting military diplomacy, and fulfilling the US's alliance and treaty commitments; the US has been a leading member of NATO since the Alliance's formation in 1949

the US military has a global presence; the separate services operate jointly under 11 regional or functionally based joint service "combatant" commands: Africa Command; Central Command, Cyber Command, European Command, Indo-Pacific Command, Northern Command, Southern Command, Space Command, Special Operations Command, Strategic Command, and Transportation Command

Congress officially created the US military in September 1789; the US Army was established in June 1775 as the Continental Army; after the declaration of independence in July 1776, the Continental Army and the militia in the service of Congress became known collectively as the Army of the United States; when Congress ordered the Continental Army to disband in 1784, it retained a small number of personnel that would form the nucleus of the 1st American Regiment for national service formed later that year; both the US Navy and the US Marines were also established in 1775, but the Navy fell into disuse after the Revolutionary War, and was reestablished by Congress in 1794; the first US military unit devoted exclusively to aviation began operations in 1913 as part of the US Army; the Army Air Corps (AAC) was the US military service dedicated to aerial warfare between 1926 and 1941; the AAC became the US Army Air Forces in 1941 and remained as a combat arm of the Army until the establishment of the US Air Force in 1947 (2025)
Military deployments
the US has approximately 200,000 military personnel deployed overseas on a permanent or a long-term rotational (typically 3-9 months) basis (2025)

Military Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled)
3.2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures 2021
3.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures 2022
3.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures 2023
3.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures 2024
3.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures 2025
3.2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military and security forces
United States Armed Forces (aka US Military): US Army (USA), US Navy (USN; includes US Marine Corps or USMC), US Air Force (USAF), US Space Force (USSF); US Coast Guard (USCG); National Guard (Army National Guard and Air National Guard) (2025)
Military service age and obligation
17 years of age (under 18 with parental consent) for voluntary service for men and women; maximum enlistment age varies by service; 8-year initial service obligation, including 2-5 years active duty depending on the particular military service (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the US military's inventory is comprised almost entirely of domestically produced weapons systems (some assembled with foreign components) along with a smaller mix of imported equipment from a variety of countries such as Germany and the UK; the US defense industry is capable of designing, developing, maintaining, and producing the full spectrum of weapons systems; the US is the world's leading arms exporter (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 1.28 million active duty Armed Forces (450,000 Army; 334,000 Navy; 317,000 Air Force; 10,000 Space Force; 168,000 Marine Corps); 42,000 Coast Guard) (2025)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)
al-Qa'ida; Hizballah; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); La Mara Salvatruche (MS-13); Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LeT); Tren de Aragua (TdA)

Space

Space launch site(s)
has 20 government and commercial spaceports licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration spread across 10 states (Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia) (2025)
Space agency/agencies
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA; established 1958) (2025)
Space program overview
has a large, comprehensive space program and is one of the world’s top space powers; builds, launches, and operates space launch vehicles (SLVs)/rockets and the full spectrum of spacecraft, including interplanetary probes, manned craft, reusable rockets, satellites, space stations, and space planes/shuttles; has an astronaut program and a corps of astronauts; researching and developing a broad range of other space-related technologies, including advanced telecommunications and optics, navigational aids, propulsion, and robotics; has launched orbital or lander probes to the Sun and all the planets in the solar system, as well as to asteroids and beyond the solar system; has dozens of international missions and projects, including with Canada, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the ESA; as of January 2026, 60 countries had signed onto the US-led Artemis Accords to enhance the governance of civil exploration and use of outer space; the US commercial space industry is one of the world’s largest and is active across the spectrum of US government space programs; US commercial companies conduct the majority of NASA and US military space launches (2026)
Key space program milestones
1958-1963 - Project Mercury first manned space flights

1961-1963 - Project Gemini (longer-duration manned flights in preparation for Moon landings)

1963-1971 - Project Apollo Moon landings (world's first manned landing on the Moon, 1969)

1964 - launched first successful Mars probe (Mariner)

1965-1979 - operated Skylab space station  

1977 - began launching Voyager probes to Jupiter, Saturn, and beyond the solar system

1980s-2011 - operated Space Shuttle program (world’s first re-usable space orbiters)

1990 - launched Hubble Space Telescope

1993 - began participating in International Space Station project

2003 - launched surface rover vehicles (Spirit and Opportunity) to Mars 

2011 - launched orbital probe (Juno) to Jupiter 

2016 - launched OSIRIS-REx mission to retrieve asteroid sample (landed on asteroid Bennu in 2020 and returned with sample in 2023)

2017 - initiated Artemis lunar landing project

2019 - initiated Gateway lunar orbital station project

2021 - launched James Webb Space Telescope (ESA contributed launch vehicle and launch site); surface rover vehicle (Perseverance) with robot helicopter (Ingenuity) successfully landed on surface of Mars

2024 - successfully placed a commercial lander on the Moon and launched probe (Europa Clipper) to study Jupiter's Europa moon

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Idps
21,737 (2024 est.)
Refugees
3,619,495 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of
Civica Index73.0 / 100as of 2024-Q439 / 190−6.02024-Q4
Civica Pulse−3.2as of 2026-05-062026-05-06
V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.75as of 2024-Q424 / 170+0.012024-Q4
Freedom House StatusPartly Free (83/100)as of 2024-Q4−2.02024-Q4
Press Freedom (RSF)Free press (70/100)as of 20242024
Human Development Index0.927as of 20222022
Corruption Perceptions Index69 / 100as of 202324 / 1802023

Additional Indicators

Median household income
$81,604

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON
Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — United States — vintage 2026-Q1: United States factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/united-states
Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), OECD.Stat, UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, US Census Bureau, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata