North & Central America and Caribbean

United States of America
Last reviewed: 23 December 2011

Country information

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Map of the USA

THE UNITED STATES TODAY

Country Facts

Area: The total area is over 9.8 million sq km
Population: 313.2 million (July 2011 est.)
Capital City: Washington, District of Columbia
People: The United States is a multicultural country with people from all over the world who have now made the USA their home. The Ethnic Groups are: White 79.96%, Black 12.85%, Asian 4.43% American Indian and Alaska native 0.97%, Native Hawaiian and Other 0.18%.
Language: The main language is English although Spanish is spoken by a sizeable minority.
Religion(s): Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, Jewish 1.7%, Muslim 0.6%, Others 2.5%, no religious affiliation 12.1%
Currency: Dollar: 1 US Dollar is made up of 100 cents.
Major Political Parties: There are two main political parties: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, both organised at State and Federal level.
Government: Constitution-based Federal Republic with a strong democratic tradition.
Head of State: President Barack Obama (January 2009); Vice President Joe Biden (January 2009).
Foreign Minister: Hillary Rodham Clinton (January 2009).
Membership of international groups/organisations: UN, NATO, NAFTA.