|
|
Background:
|
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
|
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
38 00 N, 97 00 W
|
|
Map references:
|
|
|
Area:
|
total: 9,631,420 sq km
land: 9,161,923 sq km
water: 469,497 sq km
note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia
|
|
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; almost two and a half times the size of the
European Union |
|
Land boundaries:
|
total: 12,034 km
border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with
Alaska), Mexico 3,141 km
note: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US
and is part of Cuba; the base boundary is 29 km
|
|
Coastline:
|
19,924 km
|
|
Maritime claims:
|
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: not specified
|
|
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 |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m
|
|
Natural resources:
|
coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold,
iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum,
natural gas, timber |
|
Land use:
|
arable land: 18.01%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 81.78% (2005)
|
|
Irrigated land:
|
223,850 sq km (2003)
|
|
Natural hazards:
|
tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin;
hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes in
the midwest and southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires in the
west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska, a major impediment to
development |
|
Environment - current issues:
|
air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US
is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of
fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers;
limited natural fresh water resources in much of the western part of the
country require careful management; desertification
|
|
Environment - international agreements:
|
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes |
|
Geography - note:
|
world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by
population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley is highest point in
North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent |
|
Population:
|
298,444,215 (July 2006 est.)
|
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 20.4% (male 31,095,847/female 29,715,872)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 100,022,845/female 100,413,484)
65 years and over: 12.5% (male 15,542,288/female 21,653,879)
(2006 est.)
|
|
Median age:
|
total: 36.5 years
male: 35.1 years
female: 37.8 years (2006 est.)
|
|
Population growth rate:
|
0.91% (2006 est.)
|
|
Birth rate:
|
14.14 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
|
|
Death rate:
|
8.26 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
|
|
Net migration rate:
|
3.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
|
|
Sex ratio:
|
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
|
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total: 6.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
|
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 77.85 years
male: 75.02 years
female: 80.82 years (2006 est.)
|
|
Total fertility rate:
|
2.09 children born/woman (2006 est.)
|
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
0.6% (2003 est.)
|
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
950,000 (2003 est.)
|
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
14,000 (2003 est.)
|
|
Nationality:
|
noun: American(s)
adjective: American
|
|
Ethnic groups:
|
white 81.7%, black 12.9%, Asian 4.2%, Amerindian and Alaska native 1%,
native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.2% (2003 est.)
note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the
US Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean a person of Latin American
descent (including persons of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican origin)
living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group (white, black,
Asian, etc.) |
|
Religions:
|
Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%,
other 10%, none 10% (2002 est.)
|
|
Languages:
|
English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and
Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)
|
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
|
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: United States of America
conventional short form: United States
abbreviation: US or USA
|
|
Government type:
|
Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition
|
|
Capital:
|
Washington, DC
|
|
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 |
|
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
note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; it entered into a political
relationship with all four political units: the Northern Mariana Islands
is a commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November
1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free
Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986); the Federated
States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US
(effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free
Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994) |
|
Independence:
|
4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)
|
|
National holiday:
|
Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
|
|
Constitution:
|
17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789
|
|
Legal system:
|
federal court system based on English common law; each state has its own
unique legal system, of which all but one (Louisiana's) is based on
English common law; judicial review of legislative acts |
|
Suffrage:
|
18 years of age; universal
|
|
Executive branch:
|
chief of state: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001);
Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January
2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same
ticket by a college of representatives who are elected directly from
each state; president and vice president serve four-year terms (eligible
for a second term); election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held
4 November 2008)
election results: George W. BUSH reelected president; percent of
popular vote - George W. BUSH (Republican Party) 50.9%, John KERRY
(Democratic Party) 48.1%, other 1.0% |
|
Legislative branch:
|
bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats, one-third are
renewed every two years; 2 members are elected from each state by
popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives
(435 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held on
7 November 2006); House of Representatives - last held 2 November 2004
(next to be held on 7 November 2006)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats
by party - Republican Party 55, Democratic Party 44, independent 1;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party
- Republican Party 231, Democratic Party 200, undecided 4 |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme Court (its nine justices are appointed for life on condition of
good behavior by the president with confirmation by the Senate); United
States Courts of Appeal; United States District Courts; State and County
Courts |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
Democratic Party [Howard DEAN]; Green Party; Libertarian Party [Steve
DAMERELL]; Republican Party [Ken MEHLMAN]
|
|
Political pressure groups and leaders:
|
NA
|
|
International organization participation:
|
AfDB, ANZUS, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner),
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS (observer), CE (observer), CERN (observer),
CP, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-5, G-7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAFTA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG,
OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SPC, UN, UN
Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMOVIC,
UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
|
Flag description:
|
13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with
white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing
50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal
rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars;
the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13
original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been
the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia,
Malaysia, and Puerto Rico |
|
Economy - overview:
|
The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the
world, with a per capita GDP of $42,000. In this market-oriented
economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the
decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and
services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms
enjoy greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and
Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers,
and to develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers
to enter their rivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering US
markets. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological
advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and
military equipment; their advantage has narrowed since the end of World
War II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual
development of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom
lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the
top and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health
insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the
gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. The
response to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 showed the
remarkable resilience of the economy. The war in March-April 2003
between a US-led coalition and Iraq, and the subsequent occupation of
Iraq, required major shifts in national resources to the military. The
rise in GDP in 2004 and 2005 was undergirded by substantial gains in
labor productivity. Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage in the
Gulf Coast region in August 2005, but had a small impact on overall GDP
growth for the year. Soaring oil prices in 2005 and 2006 threatened
inflation and unemployment, yet the economy continued to grow through
mid-2006. Imported oil accounts for about two-thirds of US consumption.
Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economic
infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging
population, sizable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation of family
income in the lower economic groups. |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity):
|
$12.36 trillion (2005 est.)
|
|
GDP (official exchange rate):
|
$12.49 trillion (2005 est.)
|
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
3.5% (2005 est.)
|
|
GDP - per capita (PPP):
|
$41,800 (2005 est.)
|
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 1%
industry: 20.4%
services: 78.7% (2005 est.)
|
|
Labor force:
|
149.3 million (includes unemployed) (2005 est.)
|
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
farming, forestry, and fishing 0.7%, manufacturing, extraction,
transportation, and crafts 22.9%, managerial, professional, and
technical 34.7%, sales and office 25.4%, other services 16.3%
note: figures exclude the unemployed (2005)
|
|
Unemployment rate:
|
5.1% (2005 est.)
|
|
Population below poverty line:
|
12% (2004 est.)
|
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 30.5% (1997)
|
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|
45 (2004)
|
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
3.2% (2005 est.)
|
|
Investment (gross fixed):
|
16.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
|
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $2.119 trillion
expenditures: $2.466 trillion; including capital expenditures of
$NA (2005 est.)
|
|
Public debt:
|
64.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
|
|
Agriculture - products:
|
wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork,
poultry, dairy products; fish; forest products
|
|
Industries:
|
leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and
technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace,
telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer
goods, lumber, mining |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
3.2% (2005 est.)
|
|
Electricity - production:
|
3.892 trillion kWh (2003)
|
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
3.656 trillion kWh (2003)
|
|
Electricity - exports:
|
23.97 billion kWh (2003)
|
|
Electricity - imports:
|
30.39 billion kWh (2003)
|
|
Oil - production:
|
7.61 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
|
|
Oil - consumption:
|
20.03 million bbl/day (2003 est.)
|
|
Oil - exports:
|
1.048 million bbl/day (2004)
|
|
Oil - imports:
|
13.15 million bbl/day (2004)
|
|
Oil - proved reserves:
|
22.45 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
|
|
Natural gas - production:
|
539 billion cu m (2003 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - consumption:
|
633.6 billion cu m (2003 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - exports:
|
24.19 billion cu m (2004)
|
|
Natural gas - imports:
|
114.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - proved reserves:
|
5.353 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
|
|
Current account balance:
|
-$829.1 billion (2005 est.)
|
|
Exports:
|
$927.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
|
|
Exports - commodities:
|
agricultural products (soybeans, fruit, corn) 9.2%, industrial supplies
(organic chemicals) 26.8%, capital goods (transistors, aircraft, motor
vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications equipment) 49.0%, consumer
goods (automobiles, medicines) 15.0% (2003) |
|
Exports - partners:
|
Canada 23.4%, Mexico 13.3%, Japan 6.1%, China 4.6%, UK 4.3% (2005)
|
|
Imports:
|
$1.727 trillion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
|
|
Imports - commodities:
|
agricultural products 4.9%, industrial supplies 32.9% (crude oil 8.2%),
capital goods 30.4% (computers, telecommunications equipment, motor
vehicle parts, office machines, electric power machinery), consumer
goods 31.8% (automobiles, clothing, medicines, furniture, toys) (2003)
|
|
Imports - partners:
|
Canada 16.9%, China 15%, Mexico 10%, Japan 8.2%, Germany 5% (2005)
|
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|
$86.94 billion (2004 est.)
|
|
Debt - external:
|
$8.837 trillion (30 June 2005 est.)
|
|
Economic aid - donor:
|
ODA, $6.9 billion (1997)
|
|
Currency (code):
|
US dollar (USD)
|
|
Exchange rates:
|
British pounds per US dollar - 0.5500 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125
(2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001); Canadian dollars per US dollar -
1.2118 (2005), 1.3010 (2004), 1.4011 (2003), 1.5693 (2002), 1.5488
(2001); Japanese yen per US dollar - 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004),
115.93 (2003), 125.39 (2002), 121.53 (2001); euros per US dollar -
0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.8866 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175
(2001); Chinese yuan per US dollar - 8.1943 (2005), 8.2768 (2004),
8.2770 (2003), 8.2770 (2002), 8.2271 (2001) |
|
Fiscal year:
|
1 October - 30 September
|
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
268 million (2003)
|
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
194,479,364 (2005)
|
|
Telephone system:
|
general assessment: a large, technologically advanced,
multipurpose communications system
domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio
relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form of
telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile
telephone traffic throughout the country
international: country code - 1; 24 ocean cable systems in use;
satellite earth stations - 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific
Ocean), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific
and Atlantic Ocean regions) (2000) |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
AM 4,789, FM 8,961, shortwave 19 (2006)
|
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
2,218 (2006)
|
|
Internet country code:
|
.us
|
|
Internet hosts:
|
195,138,696 (2004)
|
|
Internet users:
|
203,824,428 (2005)
|
|
Airports:
|
14,893 (2005)
|
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total: 5,120
over 3,047 m: 191
2,438 to 3,047 m: 223
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,402
914 to 1,523 m: 2,355
under 914 m: 949 (2005)
|
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total: 9,773
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 156
914 to 1,523 m: 1,736
under 914 m: 7,873 (2005)
|
|
Heliports:
|
153 (2005)
|
|
Pipelines:
|
petroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km (2003)
|
|
Railways:
|
total: 226,605 km
standard gauge: 226,605 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)
|
|
Roadways:
|
total: 6,407,637 km
paved: 4,164,964 km (including 74,950 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,242,673 km (2004)
|
|
Waterways:
|
41,009 km (19,312 km used for commerce)
note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint
Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with Canada (2004)
|
|
Merchant marine:
|
total: 470 ships (1000 GRT or over) 10,698,467 GRT/13,466,359 DWT
by type: barge carrier 7, bulk carrier 65, cargo 93, chemical
tanker 20, container 82, passenger 19, passenger/cargo 56, petroleum
tanker 76, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 28, specialized tanker
1, vehicle carrier 20
foreign-owned: 48 (Australia 2, Canada 6, Denmark 20, Greece 3,
Malaysia 3, Netherlands 4, Norway 2, Sweden 4, Taiwan 1, UK 2, US 1)
registered in other countries: 659 (Antigua and Barbuda 7,
Australia 3, The Bahamas 121, Belize 2, Bermuda 26, Bolivia 1, Cambodia
6, Canada 2, Cayman Islands 42, China 1, Comoros 2, Cyprus 6, Finland 1,
Gibraltar 2, Honduras 2, Hong Kong 19, Ireland 1, Isle of Man 3, Italy
15, North Korea 4, Liberia 77, Luxembourg 3, Malta 4, Marshall Islands
131, Federated States of Micronesia 2, Netherlands 11, Netherlands
Antilles 1, Norway 13, Panama 97, Peru 1, Philippines 4, Puerto Rico 2,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 21, Singapore 6, Spain 6, Sweden 1,
Tonga 1, Trinidad and Tobago 1, UK 6, US 1, Vanuatu 1, Venezuela 1,
Wallis and Futuna 1, unknown 1) (2005) |
|
Ports and terminals:
|
Corpus Christi, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long Beach, Los Angeles,
New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, Texas City
note: 13 ports north of New Orleans (South Louisiana Ports) on
the Mississippi River handle 290,000,000 tons of cargo annually
|
|
Military branches:
|
Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard; note - Coast
Guard administered in peacetime by the Department of Homeland Security,
but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy |
|
Military service age and obligation:
|
18 years of age; 17 years of age with written parental consent (2006)
|
|
Manpower available for military service:
|
males age 18-49: 67,742,879
females age 18-49: 67,070,144 (2005 est.)
|
|
Manpower fit for military service:
|
males age 18-49: 54,609,050
females age 18-49: 54,696,706 (2005 est.)
|
|
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
|
males age 18-49: 2,143,873
females age 18-49: 2,036,201 (2005 est.)
|
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$518.1 billion (FY04 est.) (2005 est.)
|
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
4.06% (FY03 est.) (2005 est.)
|
|
Disputes - international:
|
prolonged drought, population growth, and outmoded practices and
infrastructure in the border region strain water-sharing arrangements
with Mexico; the US has stepped up efforts to stem nationals from
Mexico, Central America, and other parts of the world from crossing
illegally into the US from Mexico; illegal immigrants from the
Caribbean, notably Haiti and the Dominican Republic, attempt to enter
the US through Florida by sea; 1990 Maritime Boundary Agreement in the
Bering Sea still awaits Russian Duma ratification; managed maritime
boundary disputes with Canada at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of
Juan de Fuca, and around the disputed Machias Seal Island and North
Rock; US and Canada seek greater cooperation in monitoring people and
commodities crossing the border; The Bahamas and US have not been able
to agree on a maritime boundary; US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is
leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area
can terminate the lease; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island; US
has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right
to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other state; Marshall
Islands claims Wake Island |
|
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
|
refugees (country of origin): the US admitted 52,868 refugees
during FY03/04 including: 13,331 (Somalia), 6,000 (Laos), 3,482
(Ukraine), 2,959 (Cuba), 1,787 (Iran); note - 32,229 refugees had been
admitted as of 30 June 2005 |
|
Illicit drugs:
|
world's largest consumer of cocaine, shipped from Colombia through
Mexico and the Caribbean; consumer of heroin, marijuana, and
increasingly methamphetamine from Mexico; consumer of high-quality
Southeast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana,
depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine;
money-laundering center |
|
