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Last updated: April 23, 2025
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  • The native North American turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), which got its English name from its association with Turkish merchants in Europe.

    The native North American turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), which got its English name from its association with Turkish merchants in Europe.

  • Cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

    Cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

  • The lighting of this stone lantern signals the beginning of the annual Cherry Blossom festival in Washington, D.C. Japan presented it to the city on March 30, 1954, as a symbol of the enduring cultural partnership between the two countries. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

    The lighting of this stone lantern signals the beginning of the annual Cherry Blossom festival in Washington, D.C. Japan presented it to the city on March 30, 1954, as a symbol of the enduring cultural partnership between the two countries. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

  • The Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., is 169 m (555 ft) tall. A difference in the shading of the marble at approximately 48 m (150 ft) shows where construction was halted and later resumed with marble from a different source. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

    The Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., is 169 m (555 ft) tall. A difference in the shading of the marble at approximately 48 m (150 ft) shows where construction was halted and later resumed with marble from a different source. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

  • On April 13, 1943, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicated the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, which was designed by architect John Russell Pope.

    On April 13, 1943, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicated the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, which was designed by architect John Russell Pope.

  • The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., was dedicated in 1922 and is modeled after the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. It is 30 m tall (99 ft), 57.m long (190 ft), and 36.5 m wide (120 ft) and includes 36 Doric columns, one for each of the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/Carol Highsmith.

    The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., was dedicated in 1922 and is modeled after the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. It is 30 m tall (99 ft), 57.m long (190 ft), and 36.5 m wide (120 ft) and includes 36 Doric columns, one for each of the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/Carol Highsmith.

  • The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial was dedicated on 28 August 2011, the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The memorial is located in West Potomac Park at 1964 Independence Avenue, S.W., in Washington, D.C., referencing the year the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became law.

    The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial was dedicated on 28 August 2011, the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The memorial is located in West Potomac Park at 1964 Independence Avenue, S.W., in Washington, D.C., referencing the year the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became law.

  • A wall of 4,048 gold stars – each representing 100 killed – at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

    A wall of 4,048 gold stars – each representing 100 killed – at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

  • A view of Arlington House and grave markers at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D.C.

    A view of Arlington House and grave markers at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D.C.

  • Secretary of War Edwin Stanton established Arlington National Cemetery on 15 June 1864. Over 400,000 service members (and their eligible dependents) from all of America’s major wars are interred in Arlington’s 639 acres (259 ha; almost exactly 1 sq mi).

    Secretary of War Edwin Stanton established Arlington National Cemetery on 15 June 1864. Over 400,000 service members (and their eligible dependents) from all of America’s major wars are interred in Arlington’s 639 acres (259 ha; almost exactly 1 sq mi).

  • The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

    The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

  • The Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

    The Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

  • President Lyndon B. Johnson dedicated the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon on 14 May 1968 to display the name of every Medal of Honor recipient.

    President Lyndon B. Johnson dedicated the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon on 14 May 1968 to display the name of every Medal of Honor recipient.

  • The Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial, located on Columbia Island in Washington, D.C., honors sailors from the US Navy, Coast Guard, and US Merchant Marine. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    The Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial, located on Columbia Island in Washington, D.C., honors sailors from the US Navy, Coast Guard, and US Merchant Marine. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • Fourth of July fireworks in Washington, D.C., with a view of the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the US Capitol.

    Fourth of July fireworks in Washington, D.C., with a view of the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the US Capitol.

  • The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., is the largest library in the world, with more than 167 million items (as of 2018). Its collections are home to materials in over 450 languages and include books, newspapers, magazines, sheet music, sound and video recordings, photographic images, artwork, architectural drawings, and copyright data. Image courtesy of the Architect of the Capital.

    The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., is the largest library in the world, with more than 167 million items (as of 2018). Its collections are home to materials in over 450 languages and include books, newspapers, magazines, sheet music, sound and video recordings, photographic images, artwork, architectural drawings, and copyright data. Image courtesy of the Architect of the Capital.

  • The Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C. The US Congress established the Smithsonian Institution in 1846 with money from the estate of English scientist James Smithson that was provided for "the increase and diffusion of knowledge." The castle was built in 1847 and remains the Smithsonian's headquarters. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution.

    The Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C. The US Congress established the Smithsonian Institution in 1846 with money from the estate of English scientist James Smithson that was provided for "the increase and diffusion of knowledge." The castle was built in 1847 and remains the Smithsonian's headquarters. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution.

  • In 1916, Alice Paul founded the National Woman’s Party (NWP) to fight for an amendment granting women the right to vote. The NWP became an educational organization in 1997, and in 2016, the group donated its original headquarters (pictured here) in Washington, D.C., to the National Park Service. The house was named the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument, in honor of Paul and NWP president and benefactor Alva Belmont.

    In 1916, Alice Paul founded the National Woman’s Party (NWP) to fight for an amendment granting women the right to vote. The NWP became an educational organization in 1997, and in 2016, the group donated its original headquarters (pictured here) in Washington, D.C., to the National Park Service. The house was named the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument, in honor of Paul and NWP president and benefactor Alva Belmont.

  • Memorial plaza, statue, and fountain on Theodore Roosevelt Island in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

    Memorial plaza, statue, and fountain on Theodore Roosevelt Island in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

  • Statue honoring Sacagawea, a member of the Lemhi-Shoshone tribe, who was crucial to the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition (1804-06) to the Louisiana Purchase territory. Sacagawea’s granddaughter was the model for this statue that stands in the US Capitol Visitor’s Center. Photo courtesy of US Capitol Visitor's Center.

    Statue honoring Sacagawea, a member of the Lemhi-Shoshone tribe, who was crucial to the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition (1804-06) to the Louisiana Purchase territory. Sacagawea’s granddaughter was the model for this statue that stands in the US Capitol Visitor’s Center. Photo courtesy of US Capitol Visitor's Center.

  • On October 14, 1947, US Air Force Capt. Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager broke the sound barrier in level flight in this Bell X-1, a single-engine, single-seat, mid-wing rocket plane nicknamed the “Glamorous Glennis” for his wife. The X-1 is displayed at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

    On October 14, 1947, US Air Force Capt. Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager broke the sound barrier in level flight in this Bell X-1, a single-engine, single-seat, mid-wing rocket plane nicknamed the “Glamorous Glennis” for his wife. The X-1 is displayed at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

  • In April 1972, the first pandas in the United States arrived at the Smithsonian National Zoo as an act of goodwill from China after President Richard Nixon's state visit. These black-and-white bears are native to the mountain ranges and bamboo forests of south central China. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian National Zoo.

    In April 1972, the first pandas in the United States arrived at the Smithsonian National Zoo as an act of goodwill from China after President Richard Nixon's state visit. These black-and-white bears are native to the mountain ranges and bamboo forests of south central China. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian National Zoo.

  • Now a national monument, Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, is known for successfully defending Baltimore Harbor against the British navy during the War of 1812. The flying of the fort’s flag after 25 hours of continuous bombardment signaled US victory and inspired Francis Scott Key to compose the poem “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” which was later set to music and became known as “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the US national anthem.

    Now a national monument, Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, is known for successfully defending Baltimore Harbor against the British navy during the War of 1812. The flying of the fort’s flag after 25 hours of continuous bombardment signaled US victory and inspired Francis Scott Key to compose the poem “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” which was later set to music and became known as “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the US national anthem.

  • The front view of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's plantation home, near Charlottesville, Virginia. The third president of the United States completed the original house in 1772. In 1794, he began to rebuild the structure, blending his own architectural style with his favorite European designs. Remodeling continued on and off for the remainder of his life.

    The front view of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's plantation home, near Charlottesville, Virginia. The third president of the United States completed the original house in 1772. In 1794, he began to rebuild the structure, blending his own architectural style with his favorite European designs. Remodeling continued on and off for the remainder of his life.

  • The Mayflower II at State Pier in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The ship is a replica of the 17th-century Mayflower that transported the Pilgrims to the New World.

    The Mayflower II at State Pier in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The ship is a replica of the 17th-century Mayflower that transported the Pilgrims to the New World.

  • Built between 1872 and 1877, Trinity Church in Boston, Massachusetts, has been honored as one of the "Ten Most Significant Buildings in the United States."

    Built between 1872 and 1877, Trinity Church in Boston, Massachusetts, has been honored as one of the "Ten Most Significant Buildings in the United States."

  • The USS Constitution, docked at Pier 1 of the Charleston Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest floating commissioned naval vessel in the world. Launched in 1797, it was one of the six original frigates built for the US Navy.

    The USS Constitution, docked at Pier 1 of the Charleston Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest floating commissioned naval vessel in the world. Launched in 1797, it was one of the six original frigates built for the US Navy.

  • Statue of Paul Revere in front of the Old North Church in Boston, Massachusetts. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    Statue of Paul Revere in front of the Old North Church in Boston, Massachusetts. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • On 17 June 1775, the American Revolution’s first major battle occurred outside Boston, Massachusetts, and was dubbed “The Battle of Bunker Hill,” even though the original objective of both sides was nearby Breed’s Hill. The Bunker Hill Monument, built between 1825 and 1843 on Breed’s Hill, is a 67-m (221-ft) high granite obelisk with a statue of William Prescott, the leader of the American troops.

    On 17 June 1775, the American Revolution’s first major battle occurred outside Boston, Massachusetts, and was dubbed “The Battle of Bunker Hill,” even though the original objective of both sides was nearby Breed’s Hill. The Bunker Hill Monument, built between 1825 and 1843 on Breed’s Hill, is a 67-m (221-ft) high granite obelisk with a statue of William Prescott, the leader of the American troops.

  • Walden Pond, a 26-ha (64-acre) body of water near Concord, Massachusetts. Writer Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862), spent two years, two months, and two days living in a cabin next to the pond, which provided the foundation for his famous 1854 work, Walden or Life in the Woods.

    Walden Pond, a 26-ha (64-acre) body of water near Concord, Massachusetts. Writer Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862), spent two years, two months, and two days living in a cabin next to the pond, which provided the foundation for his famous 1854 work, Walden or Life in the Woods.

  • A replica of the Henry David Thoreau cabin at Walden Pond near Concord, Massachusetts.

    A replica of the Henry David Thoreau cabin at Walden Pond near Concord, Massachusetts.

  • The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor was originally a dull copper color, but shortly after 1900, a green patina caused by the oxidation of the copper skin began to spread. As early as 1902 it was mentioned in the press; by 1906 it had entirely covered the statue. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

    The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor was originally a dull copper color, but shortly after 1900, a green patina caused by the oxidation of the copper skin began to spread. As early as 1902 it was mentioned in the press; by 1906 it had entirely covered the statue. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

  • The entrance to the main building of the Ellis Island National Immigration Museum in New York. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    The entrance to the main building of the Ellis Island National Immigration Museum in New York. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • This statue in Seneca Falls, New York, depicts the first meeting of the two iconic leaders of the American women's suffrage movement, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    This statue in Seneca Falls, New York, depicts the first meeting of the two iconic leaders of the American women's suffrage movement, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was the scene of the signing of both the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. Two buildings flank the hall: Congress Hall, on the right, housed the US Congress from 1790 to 1800, and to the left is Old City Hall, where the US Supreme Court presided in the 1790s. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was the scene of the signing of both the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. Two buildings flank the hall: Congress Hall, on the right, housed the US Congress from 1790 to 1800, and to the left is Old City Hall, where the US Supreme Court presided in the 1790s. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • The Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, served as the meeting place for the state assembly until the state capital was moved in 1799. In 1776, the Continental Congress declared the United States independent in this room, and in 1787, the US Constitution was debated and signed here. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    The Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, served as the meeting place for the state assembly until the state capital was moved in 1799. In 1776, the Continental Congress declared the United States independent in this room, and in 1787, the US Constitution was debated and signed here. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • The Moravian Church Settlements can be found in Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Bethlehem settlement’s waterworks (pictured) became America’s first pumped municipal water system when it was built in 1762, and it remained in use until the 1830s.

    The Moravian Church Settlements can be found in Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Bethlehem settlement’s waterworks (pictured) became America’s first pumped municipal water system when it was built in 1762, and it remained in use until the 1830s.

  • A view of the Round Tops as seen from a cannon in Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The three-day Battle of Gettysburg (1-3 July 1863) in the US Civil War was the largest ever battle fought in the Western Hemisphere, involving roughly 175,000 Union and Confederate soldiers. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    A view of the Round Tops as seen from a cannon in Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The three-day Battle of Gettysburg (1-3 July 1863) in the US Civil War was the largest ever battle fought in the Western Hemisphere, involving roughly 175,000 Union and Confederate soldiers. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • A view of the modern palisades marking the 1607 James Fort location at the Jamestown National Historic Site in Virginia. The statue inside the fort is of John Smith, who played an important role in establishing Jamestown as the first permanent English settlement in America. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

    A view of the modern palisades marking the 1607 James Fort location at the Jamestown National Historic Site in Virginia. The statue inside the fort is of John Smith, who played an important role in establishing Jamestown as the first permanent English settlement in America. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

  • Statue of John Smith at Jamestown National Historic Site, Virginia. Smith was a leader of the Virginia colony from September 1608 to August 1609 and was the first English explorer to map the Chesapeake Bay area. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

    Statue of John Smith at Jamestown National Historic Site, Virginia. Smith was a leader of the Virginia colony from September 1608 to August 1609 and was the first English explorer to map the Chesapeake Bay area. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

  • The Yorktown Victory Monument in Yorktown, Virginia, commemorates the decisive 1781 battle of the Revolutionary War in which the combined forces of the United States and France defeated those of Great Britain and set the stage for British recognition of American independence. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

    The Yorktown Victory Monument in Yorktown, Virginia, commemorates the decisive 1781 battle of the Revolutionary War in which the combined forces of the United States and France defeated those of Great Britain and set the stage for British recognition of American independence. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

  • The entrance to Berkeley Plantation in Virginia, which was the birthplace of Benjamin Harrison V, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a governor of Virginia; the birthplace of William Henry Harrison, the ninth US president; and the ancestral home of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president.

    The entrance to Berkeley Plantation in Virginia, which was the birthplace of Benjamin Harrison V, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a governor of Virginia; the birthplace of William Henry Harrison, the ninth US president; and the ancestral home of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president.

  • A memorial to the composition "Taps" at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia, where it was first played. During the Civil War, Union General Daniel Butterfield and his bugler O.W. Norton wrote "Taps" while camped here, to honor the troops. The plaintive military tune is now played at the end of day and at funerals.

    A memorial to the composition "Taps" at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia, where it was first played. During the Civil War, Union General Daniel Butterfield and his bugler O.W. Norton wrote "Taps" while camped here, to honor the troops. The plaintive military tune is now played at the end of day and at funerals.

  • In 1781, representatives from the American, British, and French armies (the latter allies to the Americans) met at Moore House (pictured) in Yorktown, Virginia, to negotiate surrender terms to end the Revolutionary War. On October 19, 1781, American General George Washington and British Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis signed the Articles, directing the disposition of troops, artillery, and arms.

    In 1781, representatives from the American, British, and French armies (the latter allies to the Americans) met at Moore House (pictured) in Yorktown, Virginia, to negotiate surrender terms to end the Revolutionary War. On October 19, 1781, American General George Washington and British Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis signed the Articles, directing the disposition of troops, artillery, and arms.

  • John Brown’s Fort in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The building was originally constructed in 1848 for use as a guard and fire engine house. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

    John Brown’s Fort in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The building was originally constructed in 1848 for use as a guard and fire engine house. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

  • On 17 December 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright flew the first successful manned, powered, controlled, heavier-than-air flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The Wright Brothers National Memorial, in Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, is located where the brothers tested their flying machines for three years before the successful 1903 flight.

    On 17 December 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright flew the first successful manned, powered, controlled, heavier-than-air flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The Wright Brothers National Memorial, in Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, is located where the brothers tested their flying machines for three years before the successful 1903 flight.

  • Biltmore House is the largest privately owned home in the United States and is also a historic house museum. Built for George Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895, this French-Renaissance-style chateau with 250 rooms is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville, North Carolina.

    Biltmore House is the largest privately owned home in the United States and is also a historic house museum. Built for George Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895, this French-Renaissance-style chateau with 250 rooms is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville, North Carolina.

  • Marker in Key West, Florida, proclaiming the southernmost point in the continental United States. (The southernmost point in the entire country is in Hawaii.)

    Marker in Key West, Florida, proclaiming the southernmost point in the continental United States. (The southernmost point in the entire country is in Hawaii.)

  • The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, the iconic symbol of the city. The monument honors the westward expansion of the United States, much of which began in this city. Built between 1963 and 1965 (but not opened to the public until 1967), the stainless steel-sheathed structure is hollow to accommodate a unique tram system that takes visitors to an observation deck at the top.

    The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, the iconic symbol of the city. The monument honors the westward expansion of the United States, much of which began in this city. Built between 1963 and 1965 (but not opened to the public until 1967), the stainless steel-sheathed structure is hollow to accommodate a unique tram system that takes visitors to an observation deck at the top.

  • Stalactites and stalagmites made of travertine can be seen on the Frozen Niagara tour of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Travertine, or traveling stone, is made of limestone that has crystalized from dripping water. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    Stalactites and stalagmites made of travertine can be seen on the Frozen Niagara tour of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Travertine, or traveling stone, is made of limestone that has crystalized from dripping water. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota features the sculptures of four US presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Gutzon Borglum sculpted the monument between 1927 and 1941 but never finished it. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota features the sculptures of four US presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Gutzon Borglum sculpted the monument between 1927 and 1941 but never finished it. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • Close-up of Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. The park is home to some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) archaeological sites in the US. Cliff Palace was continuously occupied from about 1190 to 1260 and abandoned around 1300. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    Close-up of Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. The park is home to some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) archaeological sites in the US. Cliff Palace was continuously occupied from about 1190 to 1260 and abandoned around 1300. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Service/ Annie Scott.

    Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Service/ Annie Scott.

  • Part of the Red Rocks sandstone formation in the Sedona area of Arizona. The rocks appear to glow reddish orange in the early morning or evening sunlight.

    Part of the Red Rocks sandstone formation in the Sedona area of Arizona. The rocks appear to glow reddish orange in the early morning or evening sunlight.

  • Completed in 1935, Hoover Dam on the Colorado River straddles the Arizona-Nevada border.

    Completed in 1935, Hoover Dam on the Colorado River straddles the Arizona-Nevada border.

  • View of Marble Canyon, which marks the beginning of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, from near the mouth of Nautiloid Canyon. Image courtesy of the USGS.

    View of Marble Canyon, which marks the beginning of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, from near the mouth of Nautiloid Canyon. Image courtesy of the USGS.

  • A view of the Grand Canyon, Arizona.

    A view of the Grand Canyon, Arizona.

  • Ten-Mile Rock is a slab of sandstone in middle of the Colorado River in the Marble Canyon section of the Grand Canyon. Image courtesy of the USGS.

    Ten-Mile Rock is a slab of sandstone in middle of the Colorado River in the Marble Canyon section of the Grand Canyon. Image courtesy of the USGS.

  • Horseshoe Bend is a meander of the Colorado River that is located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near the town of Page, Arizona. Tower Butte can be seen at center of the photo. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/Brent & Dawn Davis.

    Horseshoe Bend is a meander of the Colorado River that is located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near the town of Page, Arizona. Tower Butte can be seen at center of the photo. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/Brent & Dawn Davis.

  • Stars of the Milky Way shine above The Battleship, a butte near Crystal Forest in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Jacob Holgerson.

    Stars of the Milky Way shine above The Battleship, a butte near Crystal Forest in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Jacob Holgerson.

  • The Joshua tree is native to the arid southwestern United States, specifically California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada, and to northwestern Mexico. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Robb Hannawacker.

    The Joshua tree is native to the arid southwestern United States, specifically California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada, and to northwestern Mexico. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Robb Hannawacker.

  • View of Mt. St. Helens during a minor eruption. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Survey/ Lyn Topinka.

    View of Mt. St. Helens during a minor eruption. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Survey/ Lyn Topinka.

  • Rain forest in Olympic National Park, Washington. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

    Rain forest in Olympic National Park, Washington. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

  • The Space Needle in Seattle, Washington, officially opened to the public on 21 April 1962 as part of the Century 21 Exposition, a space-age-themed world's fair. The iconic steel structure stands 184 m (605 ft) tall and offers 360-degree views.

    The Space Needle in Seattle, Washington, officially opened to the public on 21 April 1962 as part of the Century 21 Exposition, a space-age-themed world's fair. The iconic steel structure stands 184 m (605 ft) tall and offers 360-degree views.

  • A view from the shore of Crater Lake, Oregon, with Llao Rock in the distance. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    A view from the shore of Crater Lake, Oregon, with Llao Rock in the distance. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • A view from the West Rim at Crater Lake in Oregon, taken near the Lightning Springs Picnic Area. It is the deepest lake in the United States. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    A view from the West Rim at Crater Lake in Oregon, taken near the Lightning Springs Picnic Area. It is the deepest lake in the United States. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • The Phantom Ship rock formation in Crater Lake, Oregon, as seen from the Sun Notch Trail. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    The Phantom Ship rock formation in Crater Lake, Oregon, as seen from the Sun Notch Trail. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • Yosemite National Park in California is best known for its waterfalls, and Yosemite Falls is among the 20 highest in the world. The upper falls plunges 436 m (1,430 ft), with a combined drop of 739 m (2,425 ft) for the upper, middle, and lower sections.

    Yosemite National Park in California is best known for its waterfalls, and Yosemite Falls is among the 20 highest in the world. The upper falls plunges 436 m (1,430 ft), with a combined drop of 739 m (2,425 ft) for the upper, middle, and lower sections.

  • Granitic rocks of different compositions are juxtaposed on the southeast face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California. The monolith is about 914 m (3,000 ft) from base to summit along its tallest face. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    Granitic rocks of different compositions are juxtaposed on the southeast face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California. The monolith is about 914 m (3,000 ft) from base to summit along its tallest face. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • Rising nearly 1,500 m (5,000 ft) above Yosemite Valley in California, Half Dome is a Yosemite National Park icon. This view is looking eastward and shows Stoneman Bridge. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    Rising nearly 1,500 m (5,000 ft) above Yosemite Valley in California, Half Dome is a Yosemite National Park icon. This view is looking eastward and shows Stoneman Bridge. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, California. At 86 m (282 ft) below sea level, Death Valley is one of the hottest, driest places on the planet. On average, the area sees only about 5 cm (2 in) of rain a year, and summer temperatures routinely soar above 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit). Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Survey/ Paul Stone.

    The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, California. At 86 m (282 ft) below sea level, Death Valley is one of the hottest, driest places on the planet. On average, the area sees only about 5 cm (2 in) of rain a year, and summer temperatures routinely soar above 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit). Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Survey/ Paul Stone.

  • Natural Bridge Canyon, Death Valley, California.

    Natural Bridge Canyon, Death Valley, California.

  • Ubehebe Crater in northern Death Valley National Park, California, is one of about a dozen craters in the Ubehebe volcanic field. The crater is approximately 0.8 km (0.5 mi) in diameter and ranges from 152 to 237 m (500-777 ft) deep. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    Ubehebe Crater in northern Death Valley National Park, California, is one of about a dozen craters in the Ubehebe volcanic field. The crater is approximately 0.8 km (0.5 mi) in diameter and ranges from 152 to 237 m (500-777 ft) deep. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • Bison cows and calves make their way through Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

    Bison cows and calves make their way through Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

  • Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third-largest in the world. The vivid colors in the spring are the result of microbial mats around the edges of the mineral-rich water. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Jim Peaco.

    Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third-largest in the world. The vivid colors in the spring are the result of microbial mats around the edges of the mineral-rich water. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Jim Peaco.

  • Steam rises from Lion Geyser at sunset in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

    Steam rises from Lion Geyser at sunset in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.

  • Morning Glory Pool is a hot spring in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The distinct color of the pool is due to thermophiles (bacteria that thrive in hot water). Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Jim Peaco.

    Morning Glory Pool is a hot spring in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The distinct color of the pool is due to thermophiles (bacteria that thrive in hot water). Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Jim Peaco.

  • Sequoia National Park in California is notable for its giant sequoia trees, including the General Sherman, the largest tree and the largest organism on earth. The General Sherman tree, shown here in the winter, grows in the Giant Forest, which contains five of the ten largest trees in the world. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

    Sequoia National Park in California is notable for its giant sequoia trees, including the General Sherman, the largest tree and the largest organism on earth. The General Sherman tree, shown here in the winter, grows in the Giant Forest, which contains five of the ten largest trees in the world. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

  • The General Sherman Tree is located in Sequoia National Park in California. The tree is the largest in the world as measured by wood volume and is approximately 2,200 years old. It stands 83 m (275 ft) tall and is over 11 m (36 ft) in diameter at the base. Photograph courtesy of the National Park Service.

    The General Sherman Tree is located in Sequoia National Park in California. The tree is the largest in the world as measured by wood volume and is approximately 2,200 years old. It stands 83 m (275 ft) tall and is over 11 m (36 ft) in diameter at the base. Photograph courtesy of the National Park Service.

  • Skull Rock at Joshua Tree National Park, California. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Robb Hannawacker.

    Skull Rock at Joshua Tree National Park, California. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Robb Hannawacker.

  • Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay, Alaska.

    Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay, Alaska.

  • View of Barry Glacier in Alaska, from Prince William Sound. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Survey/ Drake Singleton.

    View of Barry Glacier in Alaska, from Prince William Sound. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Survey/ Drake Singleton.

  • Alaska is home to North America’s highest peak, Mount McKinley, seen in the background in this picture. McKinley stands 6,190 m (20,310 ft) above sea level and is the third-highest of the Seven Summits (the tallest peaks on all seven continents). It has five large glaciers flowing off its slopes.

    Alaska is home to North America’s highest peak, Mount McKinley, seen in the background in this picture. McKinley stands 6,190 m (20,310 ft) above sea level and is the third-highest of the Seven Summits (the tallest peaks on all seven continents). It has five large glaciers flowing off its slopes.

  • Multicolored cinder cones in Haleakala (House of the Sun) Crater on the island of Maui in Hawaii. The tallest peak on the mountain is 3,055 m (10,023 ft) above sea level, and the volcano forms three-quarters of the island. The oblong crater is roughly 11 km (7 mi) long, 3 km (2 mi) wide, and 800 m (2,600 ft) deep.

    Multicolored cinder cones in Haleakala (House of the Sun) Crater on the island of Maui in Hawaii. The tallest peak on the mountain is 3,055 m (10,023 ft) above sea level, and the volcano forms three-quarters of the island. The oblong crater is roughly 11 km (7 mi) long, 3 km (2 mi) wide, and 800 m (2,600 ft) deep.

  • A black sand beach in Hawaii.

    A black sand beach in Hawaii.

  • Petroglyphs at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.

    Petroglyphs at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.

  • Pahoehoe lava wall at Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.

    Pahoehoe lava wall at Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.

  • The Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, is considered one of the most important astronomical viewing sites in the world. The white patch in the foreground is snow.

    The Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, is considered one of the most important astronomical viewing sites in the world. The white patch in the foreground is snow.

  • Late afternoon sun on the channel between Lahaina, Maui, and the island of Lanai in Hawaii.

    Late afternoon sun on the channel between Lahaina, Maui, and the island of Lanai in Hawaii.

  • A bald eagle – the national symbol of the United States – perched in a tree in Alaska. Photo courtesy of NOAA.

    A bald eagle – the national symbol of the United States – perched in a tree in Alaska. Photo courtesy of NOAA.

  • The native North American turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), which got its English name from its association with Turkish merchants in Europe.

    The native North American turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), which got its English name from its association with Turkish merchants in Europe.

1 of 91

  • The lawn and southern façade of the White House in Washington, D.C.
  • Cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
  • The lighting of this stone lantern signals the beginning of the annual Cherry Blossom festival in Washington, D.C. Japan presented it to the city on March 30, 1954, as a symbol of the enduring cultural partnership between the two countries. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
  • The Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., is 169 m (555 ft) tall. A difference in the shading of the marble at approximately 48 m (150 ft) shows where construction was halted and later resumed with marble from a different source. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
  • On April 13, 1943, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicated the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, which was designed by architect John Russell Pope.
  • The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., was dedicated in 1922 and is modeled after the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. It is 30 m tall (99 ft), 57.m long (190 ft), and 36.5 m wide (120 ft) and includes 36 Doric columns, one for each of the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/Carol Highsmith.
  • The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial was dedicated on 28 August 2011, the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The memorial is located in West Potomac Park at 1964 Independence Avenue, S.W., in Washington, D.C., referencing the year the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became law.
  • A wall of 4,048 gold stars – each representing 100 killed – at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
  • A view of Arlington House and grave markers at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D.C.
  • Secretary of War Edwin Stanton established Arlington National Cemetery on 15 June 1864. Over 400,000 service members (and their eligible dependents) from all of America’s major wars are interred in Arlington’s 639 acres (259 ha; almost exactly 1 sq mi).
  • The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
  • The Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington, D.C.
  • President Lyndon B. Johnson dedicated the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon on 14 May 1968 to display the name of every Medal of Honor recipient.
  • The Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial, located on Columbia Island in Washington, D.C., honors sailors from the US Navy, Coast Guard, and US Merchant Marine. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • Fourth of July fireworks in Washington, D.C., with a view of the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the US Capitol.
  • The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., is the largest library in the world, with more than 167 million items (as of 2018). Its collections are home to materials in over 450 languages and include books, newspapers, magazines, sheet music, sound and video recordings, photographic images, artwork, architectural drawings, and copyright data. Image courtesy of the Architect of the Capital.
  • The Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C. The US Congress established the Smithsonian Institution in 1846 with money from the estate of English scientist James Smithson that was provided for "the increase and diffusion of knowledge." The castle was built in 1847 and remains the Smithsonian's headquarters. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution.
  • In 1916, Alice Paul founded the National Woman’s Party (NWP) to fight for an amendment granting women the right to vote. The NWP became an educational organization in 1997, and in 2016, the group donated its original headquarters (pictured here) in Washington, D.C., to the National Park Service. The house was named the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument, in honor of Paul and NWP president and benefactor Alva Belmont.
  • Memorial plaza, statue, and fountain on Theodore Roosevelt Island in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
  • Statue honoring Sacagawea, a member of the Lemhi-Shoshone tribe, who was crucial to the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition (1804-06) to the Louisiana Purchase territory. Sacagawea’s granddaughter was the model for this statue that stands in the US Capitol Visitor’s Center. Photo courtesy of US Capitol Visitor's Center.
  • On October 14, 1947, US Air Force Capt. Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager broke the sound barrier in level flight in this Bell X-1, a single-engine, single-seat, mid-wing rocket plane nicknamed the “Glamorous Glennis” for his wife. The X-1 is displayed at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
  • In April 1972, the first pandas in the United States arrived at the Smithsonian National Zoo as an act of goodwill from China after President Richard Nixon's state visit. These black-and-white bears are native to the mountain ranges and bamboo forests of south central China. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian National Zoo.
  • Now a national monument, Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, is known for successfully defending Baltimore Harbor against the British navy during the War of 1812. The flying of the fort’s flag after 25 hours of continuous bombardment signaled US victory and inspired Francis Scott Key to compose the poem “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” which was later set to music and became known as “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the US national anthem.
  • The front view of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's plantation home, near Charlottesville, Virginia. The third president of the United States completed the original house in 1772. In 1794, he began to rebuild the structure, blending his own architectural style with his favorite European designs. Remodeling continued on and off for the remainder of his life.
  • The Mayflower II at State Pier in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The ship is a replica of the 17th-century Mayflower that transported the Pilgrims to the New World.
  • Built between 1872 and 1877, Trinity Church in Boston, Massachusetts, has been honored as one of the "Ten Most Significant Buildings in the United States."
  • The USS Constitution, docked at Pier 1 of the Charleston Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest floating commissioned naval vessel in the world. Launched in 1797, it was one of the six original frigates built for the US Navy.
  • Statue of Paul Revere in front of the Old North Church in Boston, Massachusetts. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • On 17 June 1775, the American Revolution’s first major battle occurred outside Boston, Massachusetts, and was dubbed “The Battle of Bunker Hill,” even though the original objective of both sides was nearby Breed’s Hill. The Bunker Hill Monument, built between 1825 and 1843 on Breed’s Hill, is a 67-m (221-ft) high granite obelisk with a statue of William Prescott, the leader of the American troops.
  • Walden Pond, a 26-ha (64-acre) body of water near Concord, Massachusetts. Writer Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862), spent two years, two months, and two days living in a cabin next to the pond, which provided the foundation for his famous 1854 work, Walden or Life in the Woods.
  • A replica of the Henry David Thoreau cabin at Walden Pond near Concord, Massachusetts.
  • The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor was originally a dull copper color, but shortly after 1900, a green patina caused by the oxidation of the copper skin began to spread. As early as 1902 it was mentioned in the press; by 1906 it had entirely covered the statue. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
  • The entrance to the main building of the Ellis Island National Immigration Museum in New York. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • This statue in Seneca Falls, New York, depicts the first meeting of the two iconic leaders of the American women's suffrage movement, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was the scene of the signing of both the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. Two buildings flank the hall: Congress Hall, on the right, housed the US Congress from 1790 to 1800, and to the left is Old City Hall, where the US Supreme Court presided in the 1790s. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • The Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, served as the meeting place for the state assembly until the state capital was moved in 1799. In 1776, the Continental Congress declared the United States independent in this room, and in 1787, the US Constitution was debated and signed here. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • The Moravian Church Settlements can be found in Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Bethlehem settlement’s waterworks (pictured) became America’s first pumped municipal water system when it was built in 1762, and it remained in use until the 1830s.
  • A view of the Round Tops as seen from a cannon in Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The three-day Battle of Gettysburg (1-3 July 1863) in the US Civil War was the largest ever battle fought in the Western Hemisphere, involving roughly 175,000 Union and Confederate soldiers. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • A view of the modern palisades marking the 1607 James Fort location at the Jamestown National Historic Site in Virginia. The statue inside the fort is of John Smith, who played an important role in establishing Jamestown as the first permanent English settlement in America. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
  • Statue of John Smith at Jamestown National Historic Site, Virginia. Smith was a leader of the Virginia colony from September 1608 to August 1609 and was the first English explorer to map the Chesapeake Bay area. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
  • The Yorktown Victory Monument in Yorktown, Virginia, commemorates the decisive 1781 battle of the Revolutionary War in which the combined forces of the United States and France defeated those of Great Britain and set the stage for British recognition of American independence. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
  • The entrance to Berkeley Plantation in Virginia, which was the birthplace of Benjamin Harrison V, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a governor of Virginia; the birthplace of William Henry Harrison, the ninth US president; and the ancestral home of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president.
  • A memorial to the composition "Taps" at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia, where it was first played. During the Civil War, Union General Daniel Butterfield and his bugler O.W. Norton wrote "Taps" while camped here, to honor the troops. The plaintive military tune is now played at the end of day and at funerals.
  • In 1781, representatives from the American, British, and French armies (the latter allies to the Americans) met at Moore House (pictured) in Yorktown, Virginia, to negotiate surrender terms to end the Revolutionary War. On October 19, 1781, American General George Washington and British Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis signed the Articles, directing the disposition of troops, artillery, and arms.
  • John Brown’s Fort in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The building was originally constructed in 1848 for use as a guard and fire engine house. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
  • On 17 December 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright flew the first successful manned, powered, controlled, heavier-than-air flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The Wright Brothers National Memorial, in Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, is located where the brothers tested their flying machines for three years before the successful 1903 flight.
  • Biltmore House is the largest privately owned home in the United States and is also a historic house museum. Built for George Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895, this French-Renaissance-style chateau with 250 rooms is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville, North Carolina.
  • Marker in Key West, Florida, proclaiming the southernmost point in the continental United States. (The southernmost point in the entire country is in Hawaii.)
  • The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, the iconic symbol of the city. The monument honors the westward expansion of the United States, much of which began in this city. Built between 1963 and 1965 (but not opened to the public until 1967), the stainless steel-sheathed structure is hollow to accommodate a unique tram system that takes visitors to an observation deck at the top.
  • Stalactites and stalagmites made of travertine can be seen on the Frozen Niagara tour of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Travertine, or traveling stone, is made of limestone that has crystalized from dripping water. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota features the sculptures of four US presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Gutzon Borglum sculpted the monument between 1927 and 1941 but never finished it. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • Close-up of Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. The park is home to some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) archaeological sites in the US. Cliff Palace was continuously occupied from about 1190 to 1260 and abandoned around 1300. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Service/ Annie Scott.
  • Part of the Red Rocks sandstone formation in the Sedona area of Arizona. The rocks appear to glow reddish orange in the early morning or evening sunlight.
  • Completed in 1935, Hoover Dam on the Colorado River straddles the Arizona-Nevada border.
  • View of Marble Canyon, which marks the beginning of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, from near the mouth of Nautiloid Canyon. Image courtesy of the USGS.
  • A view of the Grand Canyon, Arizona.
  • Ten-Mile Rock is a slab of sandstone in middle of the Colorado River in the Marble Canyon section of the Grand Canyon. Image courtesy of the USGS.
  • Horseshoe Bend is a meander of the Colorado River that is located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near the town of Page, Arizona. Tower Butte can be seen at center of the photo. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/Brent & Dawn Davis.
  • Stars of the Milky Way shine above The Battleship, a butte near Crystal Forest in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Jacob Holgerson.
  • The Joshua tree is native to the arid southwestern United States, specifically California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada, and to northwestern Mexico. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Robb Hannawacker.
  • View of Mt. St. Helens during a minor eruption. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Survey/ Lyn Topinka.
  • Rain forest in Olympic National Park, Washington. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
  • The Space Needle in Seattle, Washington, officially opened to the public on 21 April 1962 as part of the Century 21 Exposition, a space-age-themed world's fair. The iconic steel structure stands 184 m (605 ft) tall and offers 360-degree views.
  • A view from the shore of Crater Lake, Oregon, with Llao Rock in the distance. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • A view from the West Rim at Crater Lake in Oregon, taken near the Lightning Springs Picnic Area. It is the deepest lake in the United States. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • The Phantom Ship rock formation in Crater Lake, Oregon, as seen from the Sun Notch Trail. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • Yosemite National Park in California is best known for its waterfalls, and Yosemite Falls is among the 20 highest in the world. The upper falls plunges 436 m (1,430 ft), with a combined drop of 739 m (2,425 ft) for the upper, middle, and lower sections.
  • Granitic rocks of different compositions are juxtaposed on the southeast face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California. The monolith is about 914 m (3,000 ft) from base to summit along its tallest face. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • Rising nearly 1,500 m (5,000 ft) above Yosemite Valley in California, Half Dome is a Yosemite National Park icon. This view is looking eastward and shows Stoneman Bridge. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, California. At 86 m (282 ft) below sea level, Death Valley is one of the hottest, driest places on the planet. On average, the area sees only about 5 cm (2 in) of rain a year, and summer temperatures routinely soar above 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit). Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Survey/ Paul Stone.
  • Natural Bridge Canyon, Death Valley, California.
  • Ubehebe Crater in northern Death Valley National Park, California, is one of about a dozen craters in the Ubehebe volcanic field. The crater is approximately 0.8 km (0.5 mi) in diameter and ranges from 152 to 237 m (500-777 ft) deep. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • Bison cows and calves make their way through Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.
  • Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third-largest in the world. The vivid colors in the spring are the result of microbial mats around the edges of the mineral-rich water. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Jim Peaco.
  • Steam rises from Lion Geyser at sunset in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Neal Herbert.
  • Morning Glory Pool is a hot spring in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The distinct color of the pool is due to thermophiles (bacteria that thrive in hot water). Image courtesy of the US National Park Service/Jim Peaco.
  • Sequoia National Park in California is notable for its giant sequoia trees, including the General Sherman, the largest tree and the largest organism on earth. The General Sherman tree, shown here in the winter, grows in the Giant Forest, which contains five of the ten largest trees in the world. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
  • The General Sherman Tree is located in Sequoia National Park in California. The tree is the largest in the world as measured by wood volume and is approximately 2,200 years old. It stands 83 m (275 ft) tall and is over 11 m (36 ft) in diameter at the base. Photograph courtesy of the National Park Service.
  • Skull Rock at Joshua Tree National Park, California. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service/ Robb Hannawacker.
  • Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay, Alaska.
  • View of Barry Glacier in Alaska, from Prince William Sound. Photo courtesy of the US Geologic Survey/ Drake Singleton.
  • Alaska is home to North America’s highest peak, Mount McKinley, seen in the background in this picture. McKinley stands 6,190 m (20,310 ft) above sea level and is the third-highest of the Seven Summits (the tallest peaks on all seven continents). It has five large glaciers flowing off its slopes.
  • Multicolored cinder cones in Haleakala (House of the Sun) Crater on the island of Maui in Hawaii. The tallest peak on the mountain is 3,055 m (10,023 ft) above sea level, and the volcano forms three-quarters of the island. The oblong crater is roughly 11 km (7 mi) long, 3 km (2 mi) wide, and 800 m (2,600 ft) deep.
  • A black sand beach in Hawaii.
  • Petroglyphs at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.
  • Pahoehoe lava wall at Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.
  • The Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, is considered one of the most important astronomical viewing sites in the world. The white patch in the foreground is snow.
  • Late afternoon sun on the channel between Lahaina, Maui, and the island of Lanai in Hawaii.
  • A bald eagle – the national symbol of the United States – perched in a tree in Alaska. Photo courtesy of NOAA.
  • The native North American turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), which got its English name from its association with Turkish merchants in Europe.

United States Factbook Data

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)
2023 population pyramid
This is the population pyramid for United States. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

38 00 N, 97 00 W

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

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, a major impediment to development

volcanism: volcanic activity in the Hawaiian Islands, Western Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and in the Northern Mariana Islands; both 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 air travel since the area constitutes a major flight path between North America and East Asia; St. Helens (2,549 m), famous for the devastating 1980 eruption, remains active today; numerous other historically active volcanoes exist, mostly concentrated in the Aleutian arc and Hawaii; they include: 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; and in the Pacific Northwest: Mount Baker, Mount Hood; see note 2 under "Geography - note"

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

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (17 years of age with parental consent) for voluntary service for men and women; no conscription (currently inactive, but males aged 18-25 must register with Selective Service in case conscription is reinstated in the future); maximum enlistment age 34 (Army), 42 (Air Force/Space Force), 39 (Navy), 28 (Marines), 31 (Coast Guard); 8-year service obligation, including 2-5 years active duty (Army), 2 years active duty (Navy), 4 years active duty (Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, Space Force) (2024)

note 1: the US military has been all-volunteer since 1973, but an act of Congress can reinstate the draft in case of a national emergency

note 2: all military occupations and positions open to women; in 2022, women comprised 17.5% of the total US regular military personnel

note 3: non-citizens living permanently and legally in the US may join as enlisted personnel; they must have permission to work in the US, a high school diploma, and speak, read, and write English fluently; minimum age of 17 with parental consent or 18 without; maximum age 29-39, depending on the service; under the US Nationality Act, honorable service in the military may qualify individuals to obtain expedited citizenship; under the Compact of Free Association, citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands may volunteer; under the Jay Treaty, signed in 1794 between Great Britain and the US, and corresponding legislation, Native Americans/First Nations born in Canada are entitled to freely enter the US and join the US military

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.

Environment - current issues

air pollution; large emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; declining natural freshwater resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; deforestation; mining; desertification; species conservation; invasive species (the Hawaiian Islands are particularly vulnerable)

Environment - international 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 expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
3.2% of GDP (2023)
3.3% of GDP (2022)
3.5% of GDP (2021)
3.6% of GDP (2020)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.8% (2022 est.)

highest 10%: 30.2% (2022 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, gas turbines, cars (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Canada 14%, Mexico 13%, China 8%, Germany 5%, Japan 4% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

Agricultural products

maize, soybeans, milk, wheat, sugar beets, sugarcane, potatoes, chicken, pork, tomatoes (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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) (2024)

note 1: the US Coast Guard is administered in peacetime by the Department of Homeland Security, but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy

note 2: the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard are reserve components of their services and operate in part under state authority; the US military also maintains reserve forces for each branch

note 3: US law enforcement personnel include those of federal agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice, the 50 states, special jurisdictions, local sheriff’s offices, and municipal, county, regional, and tribal police departments

note 4: some US states have "state defense forces" (SDFs), which are military units that operate under the sole authority of state governments; SDFs are authorized by state and federal law and are under the command of the governor of each state; most are organized as ground units, but air and naval units also exist

Budget

revenues: $5.038 trillion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $6.306 trillion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Capital

name: Washington, DC

geographic coordinates: 38 53 N, 77 02 W

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

time zone note: the 50 United States cover six time zones

etymology: named after George WASHINGTON (1732-1799), the first president of the United States

Imports - commodities

cars, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment, computers, garments (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

note: many consider Mount McKinley, the highest peak in the United States, to be the world’s coldest mountain because of its combination of high elevation and its subarctic location at 63 degrees north latitude; permanent snow and ice cover over 75 percent of the mountain, and enormous glaciers, up to 45 miles long and 3,700 feet thick, spider out from its base in every direction; it is home to some of the world’s coldest and most violent weather, where winds of over 150 miles per hour and temperatures of -93˚F have been recorded.

Coastline

19,924 km

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

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)

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 entities: 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)

Exchange rates

British pounds per US dollar: 0.805 (2023 est.), 0.811 (2022 est.), 0.727 (2021 est.), 0.780 (2020 est.), 0.783 (2019 est.)
Canadian dollars per US dollar: 1.35 (2023 est.), 1.302 (2022 est.), 1.254 (2021 est.), 1.341 (2020 est.), 1.327 (2019 est.)
Chinese yuan per US dollar: 7.084 (2023 est.), 6.737 (2022 est.), 6.449 (2021 est.), 6.901 (2020 est.), 6.908 (2019 est.)
euros per US dollar: 0.925 (2023 est.), 0.950 (2022 est.), 0.845 (2021 est.), 0.876 (2020 est.), 0.893 (2019 est.)
Japanese yen per US dollar: 140.49 (2023 est.), 131.50 (2022 est.), 109.75 (2021 est.), 106.78 (2020 est.), 109.01 (2019 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, Costa Rica, and Panama

note 3: the following countries and territories widely accept the US dollar as a dominant currency but have yet to declare it as legal tender: Bermuda, Burma, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Somalia

Executive branch

chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)

head of government: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, approved by the Senate

elections/appointments: 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); election last held on 5 November 2024 (next to be held on 7 November 2028)

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%

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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; blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship, red symbolizes courage, zeal, and fervency, while white denotes purity and rectitude of conduct; commonly referred to by its nickname of Old Glory

note: the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico

Roadways

total: 6,586,610 km

paved: 4,304,715 km (includes 76,334 km of expressways)

unpaved: 2,281,895 km (2012)

Illicit drugs

world's largest consumer of cocaine (shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean), Colombian heroin, and Mexican heroin and marijuana; major consumer of ecstasy and Mexican methamphetamine; minor consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering center

Independence

4 July 1776 (declared independence from Great Britain); 3 September 1783 (recognized by Great Britain)

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

Waterways

41,009 km (2012) (19,312 km used for commerce; Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, is shared with Canada)

Judicial branch

highest court(s): US Supreme Court (consists of 9 justices -- the chief justice and 8 associate justices)

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

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

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

Land boundaries

total: 12,002 km

border countries (2): Canada 8,891 km (including 2,475 km with Alaska); Mexico 3,111 km

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

Land use

agricultural land: 45.1% (2022 est.)

arable land: 16.6% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0.3% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 28.2% (2022 est.)

forest: 33.9% (2022 est.)

other: 21% (2022 est.)

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

Legislative branch

legislature name: Congress

legislative structure: bicameral

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)

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: not specified

International organization participation

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, UNHRC, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (permanent), UNTSO, UPU, USMCA, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Nationality

noun: American(s)

adjective: American

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

note: the US has the world's largest coal reserves with 491 billion short tons accounting for 27% of the world's total

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) in North America, and Death Valley is the lowest point (-86 m)

note 2: the western coast of the United States and southern coast of Alaska lie along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire

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 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 -- the world's longest underwater cave system (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 of San Antonio, Texas is the world's largest bat cave; it is 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

note 7: three food crops are generally acknowledged to be native to areas of what is now the United States: cranberries, pecans, and sunflowers

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

Pipelines

1,984,321 km natural gas, 240,711 km petroleum products (2013)

Political parties

Democratic Party
Green Party
Libertarian Party
Republican Party

Railways

total: 293,564.2 km (2014)

standard gauge: 293,564.2 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: the US telecom sector adapted well to the particular demands of the pandemic, which has led to strong growth in the number of mobile, mobile broadband, and fixed broadband subscribers since 2020; the level of growth is expected to taper off from late 2022 as the demand for working and schooling from home subsides; the pandemic also encouraged the Federal government to increase its investment in broadband infrastructure; of particular note was the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of November 2021, which provided $65 billion to a range of programs aimed at delivering broadband to unserved areas, providing fiber-based broadband to upgrade existing service areas, and subsidizing the cost of services to low income households; alongside these fiscal efforts have been the several spectrum auctions undertaken during the last two years, which have greatly assisted the main licensees to improve the reach and quality of their offers based on LTE and 5G; some of this spectrum, auctioned during 2021, was only made available to licensees from February 2022; the widening availability of 5G from the main providers has resulted in a dramatic increase in mobile data traffic; in tandem with the focus on 5G, operators have closed down their GSM and CDMA networks, and have either closed down 3G networks (as AT&T did in January 2022), or plan to in coming months; given the size of the US broadband market, and the growing demand for data on both fixed and mobile networks, there is continuous pressure for operators to invest in fiber networks, and to push connectivity closer to consumers; in recent years the US has seen increased activity from regional players as well as the major telcos and cablecos; although there has been considerable investment in DOCSIS4.0, some of the cablecos are looking to ditch HFC in preference for fiber broadband; the process of migrating from copper (HFC and DSL) to fiber is ongoing, but given the scale of the work involved it will take some years; some operators have investment strategies in place through to 2025, which will see the vast majority of their fixed networks being entirely on fiber; service offerings of up to 2Gb/s are becoming more widely available as the process continues (2024)

domestic: fixed-line just over 27 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 110 per 100 (2022)

international: country code - 1; landing points for the Quintillion Subsea Cable Network, TERRA SW, AU-Aleutian, KKFL, AKORN, Alaska United -West, & -East & -Southeast, North Star, Lynn Canal Fiber, KetchCar 1, PC-1, SCCN, Tat TGN-Pacific & -Atlantic, Jupiter, Hawaiki, NCP, FASTER, HKA, JUS, AAG, BtoBE, Currie, Southern Cross NEXT, SxS, PLCN, Utility EAC-Pacific, SEA-US, Paniolo Cable Network, HICS, HIFN, ASH, Telstra Endeavor, Honotua, AURORA, ARCOS, AMX-1, Americas -I & -II, Columbus IIb & -III, Maya-1, MAC, GTMO-1, BICS, CFX-1, GlobeNet, Monet, SAm-1, Bahamas 2, PCCS, BRUSA, Dunant, MAREA, SAE x1, TAT 14, Apollo, Gemini Bermuda, Havfrue/AEC-2, Seabras-1, WALL-LI, NYNJ-1, FLAG Atalantic-1, Yellow, Atlantic Crossing-1, AE Connect -1, sea2shore, Challenger Bermuda-1, and GTT Atlantic submarine cable systems providing international connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific, & Atlantic, and Indian Ocean Islands, Central and South America, Caribbean, Canada and US; 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) (2020)

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

Government type

constitutional federal republic

Country name

conventional long form: United States of America

conventional short form: United States

abbreviation: US or USA

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

Location

North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico

Map references

North America

Irrigated land

234,782 sq km (2017)

Internet users

percent of population: 97% (2022 est.)

Internet country code

.us

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): the US admitted 25,465 refugees during FY2022, including: 7,810 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 4,556 (Syria), 2,156 (Burma), 1,669 (Sudan), 1,618 (Afghanistan), 1,610 (Ukraine)

stateless persons: 47 (2022)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$27.721 trillion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: AAA (1994)

Moody's rating: Aaa (1949)

Standard & Poors rating: AA+ (2011)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Total renewable water resources

3.07 trillion cubic meters (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years

male: 16 years

female: 17 years (2020)

Urbanization

urban population: 83.3% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Broadcast media

4 major terrestrial TV networks with affiliate stations throughout the country, plus cable and satellite networks, independent stations, and a limited public broadcasting sector that is largely supported by private grants; overall, thousands of TV stations broadcasting; multiple national radio networks with many affiliate stations; while most stations are commercial, National Public Radio (NPR) has a network of some 900 member stations; satellite radio available; in total, over 15,000 radio stations operating (2018)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 99.9% of population

rural: 99.7% of population

total: 99.9% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.1% of population

rural: 0.3% of population

total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)

National anthem

name: "The Star-Spangled Banner"

lyrics/music: Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH

note: adopted 1931; during the War of 1812, after witnessing the successful American defense of Fort McHenry in Baltimore following British naval bombardment, Francis Scott KEY wrote the lyrics to what would become the national anthem; the lyrics were set to the tune of "The Anacreontic Song"; only the first verse is sung
This is an audio of the National Anthem for United States. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

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)

International law organization participation

withdrew acceptance of compulsory ICJ jurisdiction in 2005; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2002

Physician density

3.68 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)

National symbol(s)

bald eagle; national colors: red, white, blue

Mother's mean age at first birth

27 years (2019 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

73.9% (2017/19)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 67.9% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 13.4% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 21.4% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.2% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 11% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -13.9% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 53.7

youth dependency ratio: 28

elderly dependency ratio: 25.6

potential support ratio: 3.9 (2021 est.)

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

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, principally the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian chain, deserts in the southwest, the dense boreal forests in the extreme north, and the central prarie states are less densely populated; Alaska's population is concentrated along its southern coast - with particular emphasis on the city of Anchorage - and Hawaii's is centered on the island of Oahu

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 99 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 7,249

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 889.022 million (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 42,985,300,000 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

N

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 99.8% of population

rural: 98.9% of population

total: 99.7% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.2% of population

rural: 11.1% of population

total: 0.3% of population (2020 est.)

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.)

note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean persons of Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin including those of Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican Republic, Spanish, and Central or South American origin living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group (White, Black, Asian, etc.); an estimated 18.7% of the total US population is Hispanic as of 2020

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.)

Languages

English only (official) 78.2%, Spanish 13.4%, Chinese 1.1%, other 7.3% (2017 est.)

note: data represent the language spoken at home; English is the official national language as of March 2025, but English previously had official status in 32 of the 50 states; Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii, and 20 indigenous languages are official in Alaska

Imports - partners

Mexico 15%, China 15%, Canada 14%, Germany 5%, Japan 5% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Communications - note

note 1: The Library of Congress, Washington DC, USA, claims to be the largest library in the world with more than 167 million items (as of 2018); its collections are universal, not limited by subject, format, or national boundary, and include materials from all parts of the world and in over 450 languages; collections include: books, newspapers, magazines, sheet music, sound and video recordings, photographic images, artwork, architectural drawings, and copyright data

note 2: Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tistan da Cunha), Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory), and at Kwajalein (Marshall Islands)

Elevation

highest point: Mount McKinley 6,190 m (highest point in North America)

lowest point: Death Valley (lowest point in North America) -86 m

mean elevation: 760 m

note: 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: 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

Literacy

total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

Current health expenditure

16.6% of GDP (2022)

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 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 (2024)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 1.31 million active-duty personnel (446,000 Army; 328,000 Navy; 317,000 Air Force; 9,000 Space Force; 167,000 Marine Corps; 40,000 Coast Guard); 330,000 Army National Guard; 105,000 Air National Guard (2024)

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 (2024)

Military deployments

the US has more than 200,000 air, ground, and naval personnel deployed overseas on a permanent or a long-term rotational (typically 3-9 months) basis; key areas of deployment include approximately 5,000 in Africa, approximately 80,000 in Europe, approximately 10-15,000 in Southwest Asia, and more than 80,000 in East Asia (2024)

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): Hizballah; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa'ida; Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LeT)

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 58.39 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 209.7 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 176.2 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 258 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 89.268 million tons (2014 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 34.6% (2014 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food: 6.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 7.18 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 5,006.3 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 685.74 megatons (2020 est.)

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

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

Major lakes (area 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

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

Major watersheds (area 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)
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)
note - watersheds shared with Canada shown with *

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)

Coal

production: 534.234 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption: 495.156 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 92.28 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 3.825 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 247.883 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 58.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear: 18.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 5.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 5.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

geothermal: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Natural gas

production: 1.072 trillion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption: 920.47 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports: 215.48 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 82.917 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 13.402 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 20.953 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 20.307 million bbl/day (2024 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 38.212 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.9 (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

51.9% (2023 est.)

Remittances

0.03% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.03% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.03% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Nuclear energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 94 (2025)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 96.95GW (2025 est.)

Percent of total electricity production: 18.5% (2023 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 41 (2025)

Space program overview

has a large and 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; has an astronaut program and a large corps of astronauts; researching and developing a broad range of other space-related capabilities and technologies, such as advanced telecommunications and optics, navigational aids, propulsion, robotics, solar sails, space-based manufacturing, and robotic satellite repair/refueling; has launched orbital or lander probes to the Sun and all planets in the solar system, as well as to asteroids and beyond the solar system; has international missions and projects with dozens of countries and organizations, including such major partners as Canada, Japan, Russia, and South Korea, as well as the European Space Agency (ESA), the EU, and their individual member states; as of January 2025, more than 50 countries had signed onto the US-led Artemis Accords, whose purpose is to establish principles, guidelines, and best practices to enhance the governance of the civil exploration and use of outer space with the intention of advancing the Artemis Program, an international effort to establish a sustainable and robust presence on the Moon and an onward human mission to Mars; the US commercial space industry is one of the world’s largest and most capable and is active across the entire spectrum of US government space programs; the majority of both NASA and US military space launches are conducted by US commercial companies; the US space economy was valued at over $200 billion in 2021 (2025)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Space launch site(s)

has 20 commercial, government, and private space ports hosting Federal Aviation Administration-licensed activity spread across 10 states (Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia) (2024)

Space agency/agencies

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA; established 1958); National Reconnaissance Office (NRO; established in 1961 and responsible for designing, building, launching, and maintaining intelligence satellites); US Space Command (USSPACECOM; established in 2019 and responsible for military operations in outer space, specifically all operations over 100 kilometers or 62 miles above mean sea level) (2024)

note: USSPACECOM was originally created in 1985 but was deactivated in 2002 and its duties were transferred to US Strategic Command

Ports

total ports: 666 (2024)

large: 21

medium: 38

small: 132

very small: 475

ports with oil terminals: 204

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

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name: House of Representatives

number of seats: 435 (all directly elected)

electoral system: plurality/majority

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 2 years

most recent election date: 11/5/2024

parties elected and seats per party: Republican Party (220); Democratic Party (215)

percentage of women in chamber: 28.9%

expected date of next election: November 2026

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name: Senate

number of seats: 100 (all directly elected)

electoral system: plurality/majority

scope of elections: partial renewal

term in office: 6 years

most recent election date: 11/5/2024

parties elected and seats per party: Republican Party (15); Democratic Party (19)

percentage of women in chamber: 26%

expected date of next election: November 2026

Labor force

170.715 million (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 7.9% (2023 est.)

male: 8.7% (2023 est.)

female: 7.1% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Net migration rate

3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 38.9 years (2022 est.)

male: 37.8 years

female: 40 years

Maternal mortality ratio

21 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$773.426 billion (2023 est.)
$706.644 billion (2022 est.)
$716.152 billion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Public debt

114.88% of GDP (2023 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Total fertility rate

1.84 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

3.63% (2023 est.)
3.65% (2022 est.)
5.35% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

total: 341,963,408 (2024 est.)

male: 168,598,780

female: 173,364,628

Carbon dioxide emissions

4.795 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.)

from consumed natural gas: 1.76 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Area

total : 9,833,517 sq km

land: 9,147,593 sq km

water: 685,924 sq km

note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia, no overseas territories

Taxes and other revenues

10.22% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$24.977 trillion (2023 est.)
$24.276 trillion (2022 est.)
$23.681 trillion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Airports

16,116 (2025)

Infant mortality rate

total: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 5.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 386 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

41.3 (2022 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.12% (2023 est.)
8% (2022 est.)
4.7% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Current account balance

-$905.378 billion (2023 est.)
-$1.012 trillion (2022 est.)
-$867.984 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$74,600 (2023 est.)
$72,800 (2022 est.)
$71,300 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 131 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 23% (2020 est.)

male: 28.4% (2020 est.)

female: 17.5% (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

36.2% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

278.474 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Death rate

8.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Birth rate

12.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 1.235 billion kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 4.085 trillion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 19.87 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 38.874 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 191.104 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 3,533 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 4, container ship 60, general cargo 96, oil tanker 68, other 3,305

note - oceangoing self-propelled, cargo-carrying vessels of 1,000 gross tons and above

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

0.4% (2017/18)

Imports

$3.857 trillion (2023 est.)
$3.984 trillion (2022 est.)
$3.419 trillion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$3.072 trillion (2023 est.)
$3.039 trillion (2022 est.)
$2.571 trillion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Heliports

8,130 (2025)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 87.987 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2023 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 8.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 3.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 1.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 3.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 78.7 years

female: 83.1 years

Real GDP growth rate

2.89% (2023 est.)
2.51% (2022 est.)
5.8% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

3.25% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.9% (2021 est.)

industry: 17.6% (2021 est.)

services: 76.4% (2021 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Revenue from forest resources

0.04% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0.2% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

6.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

0.67% (2024 est.)
Sources:
United States - US - USA - USA