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 to the original
13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most
traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65) and the Great Depression of the 1930s. 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.
The economy is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.
Location
North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
Area
Total
Land
Water
9826630 sq km
9161923 sq km
664707 sq km
Population
Number: 301139947 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14
15-64
65+
Percentage share (count, rate)
20.2% (male 31,152,050/female 29,777,438)
67.2% (male 100,995,752/female 101,365,035)
12.6% (male 15,858,477/female 21,991,195)
Population grow rate: 0.894% (2007)
Birth rate: 14.16 (2007)
Death rate: 8.26 (2007)
Net migration rate: 3.05 (2007)
Sex birth rate: 1.05 male(s)/female (2007)
Sex rate
0-14
15-64
65+
1.046 male(s)/female 0-14
0.996 male(s)/female 15-64
Infant mortality
Total
Male
Female
6.37 total
7.02 deaths/1,000 live births male
5.68 deaths/1,000 live births female
Life expectancy
Total
Male
Female
78 years total
75.15 years male
80.97 years female
2.09 (2007)
Leteracy (age 15 and over can read and write)
Total
Male
Female
99% total
99% male
99% female
Economy
Gross domestic product - Purchasing power parity: 1.306e+13 (2006)
Gross domestic product - Real growth rate: 2.9% (2006)
Gross domestic product - Per capita: 43800 (2006)
Unemployment rate: 4.8
Population below poverty line: 12
Others
Internet - Country code: us
Internet - Hosts: 195.139 million (2005)
Internet - Users: 208000000.0 (2006)