Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/246.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 18KB | 381 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\USA.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"United States"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of the United States, click {z,"-124.992798,15.144337,-64.778020,60.035723",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean,
between Canada and Mexico

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 9,372,610 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 9,166,600 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} about one-half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about
one-half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly smaller than China;
about two and one-half times the size of Western Europe
{3}note:{4} includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia

{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 12,248 km
{3}border countries:{4} Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Cuba 29 km (US Naval
Base at Guantanamo Bay), Mexico 3,326 km
{3}note:{4} Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba

{2}Coastline:{4} 19,924 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
contiguous zone: 12 nm
{3}continental shelf:{4} not specified
{3}exclusive economic zone:{4} 200 nm
{3}territorial sea:{4} 12 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} maritime boundary disputes with Canada (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea,
Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island); US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from
Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti
claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right
to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other nation; Republic of Marshall Islands
claims Wake Island

{2}Climate:{4} mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida and 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

{2}Terrain:{4} 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
{3}lowest point:{4} Death Valley -86 m
{3}highest point:{4} Mount McKinley 6,194 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron,
mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 20%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 0%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 26%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 29%
{3}other:{4} 25%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} 181,020 sq km (1989 est.)

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest
single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of
pesticides and fertilizers; very limited natural fresh water resources in much of the western part of
the country require careful management; desertification

{2}natural hazards:{4} tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes
along the Atlantic coast; tornadoes in the midwest; mud slides in California; forest fires in the
west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska is a major impediment to development

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic Treaty,
Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-
Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Tropical Timber 94

{2}Geographic note:{4} world's fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and China)


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 266,476,278 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 22% (male 29,718,390; female 28,335,934)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 65% (male 86,225,056; female 87,411,573)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 13% (male 13,850,234; female 20,021,655) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 0.91% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 14.8 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 8.8 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} 3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 0.99 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.69 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 75.95 years
{3}male:{4} 72.65 years
{3}female:{4} 79.41 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 2.06 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} American(s)
{3}adjective:{4} American

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} white 83.4%, black 12.4%, Asian 3.3%, Native American 0.8% (1992)

{2}Religions:{4} Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%, none 10% (1989)

{2}Languages:{4} English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 97%
{3}male:{4} 97%
{3}female:{4} 97%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} United States of America
{3}conventional short form:{4} United States
abbreviation: US or USA

{2}Type of government:{4} federal republic; strong democratic tradition

{2}Capital:{4} Washington, DC

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California,
Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia,
Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Dependent areas: American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston
Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll,
Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
{3}note:{4} from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered the Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship with all four political units: the
Northern Mariana Islands is a Commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November
1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994);
the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association 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)

{2}Independence:{4} 4 July 1776 (from England)

{2}National holiday:{4} Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

{2}Constitution:{4} 17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789

{2}Legal system:{4} based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
chief of state and head of government: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January
1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) were elected for four-year
terms by a college of representatives elected directly from each state; election last held 3
November 1992 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - William Jefferson CLINTON
(Democratic Party) 43.2%, George BUSH (Republican Party) 37.7%, Ross PEROT (independent)
19.0%, other 0.1%
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet was appointed by the president with Senate approval

{2}Legislative branch:{4} bicameral Congress
Senate: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) Republican Party 54, Democratic Party 46
House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November
1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (435 total) Republican Party 231, Democratic
Party 203, independent 1

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court, justices are appointed for life by the president with confirmation
by the Senate

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} Republican Party, Haley BARBOUR, national committee chairman
and Jeanie AUSTIN, co-chairman; Democratic Party, David C. WILHELM, national committee
chairman; several other groups or parties of minor political significance

{2}International organization participation:{4} AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, CCC, CP, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, FAO, G- 2, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS,
OECD, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU,
WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

{2}Flag:{4} thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue
rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine
offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars
represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the
design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including Chile, Liberia,
Malaysia, and Puerto Rico


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced
economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $27,500, the largest among major industrial
nations. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the
decisions, and government purchases of goods and services are made predominantly in the
marketplace. US business firms enjoy considerably greater flexibility than their counterparts in
Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, lay off surplus workers, and
develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to entry in their rivals' home
markets than the barriers to entry of foreign firms in US markets. In all economic sectors, US
firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers, medical
equipment, and aerospace, although their advantage has steadily narrowed since the end of World
War II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor
market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and professional/technical skills of those
at the top and, more and more, fail to get pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other
benefits. The years 1994-95 witnessed moderate gains in real output, low inflation rates, and a
drop in unemployment below 6%. The capture of both houses of Congress by the Republicans in
the elections of 8 November 1994 has intensified the debate over how the US should address its
major economic problems. These problems include inadequate investment in economic
infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs of an aging population, sizable budget and trade
deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups. The outlook for 1996 is for
continued moderate growth, low inflation, and about the same level of unemployment.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $7.2477 trillion (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 2.1% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $27,500 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 2%
{3}industry:{4} 23%
{3}services:{4} 75% (1995 est.)

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 2.5% (1995)

{2}Labor force:{4} 132.304 million (includes unemployed) (1995)
{3}by occupation:{4} managerial and professional 28.3%, technical, sales and administrative support
30.0%, services 13.5%, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and crafts 25.3%, farming,
forestry, and fishing 2.8%

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 5.6% (December 1995)

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $1.258 trillion
{3}expenditures:{4} $1.461 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)

{2}Industries:{4} leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and technologically advanced;
petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food
processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} 5.4% (1994 est.)

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 695,120,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 3.1 trillion kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 11,236 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} wheat, other grains, corn, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products;
forest products; fish

{2}Illicit drugs:{4} illicit producer of cannabis for domestic consumption with 1987 production estimated
at 3,500 metric tons or about 25% of the available marijuana; ongoing eradication program aimed
at small plots and greenhouses has not reduced production

{2}Exports:{4} $578 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw materials, consumer goods,
agricultural products
{3}partners:{4} Western Europe 24.3%, Canada 22.1%, Japan 10.5% (1993)

{2}Imports:{4} $751 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery, automobiles, consumer goods,
industrial raw materials, food and beverages
{3}partners:{4} Canada, 19.3%, Western Europe 18.1%, Japan 18.1% (1993)

{2}External debt:{4} $NA

{2}Economic aid:{4}
donor: ODA, $9.721 billion (1993)

{2}Currency:{4} 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

{2}Exchange rates:{4}
British pounds: (ú) per US$ - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993),
0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991)
Canadian dollars: (Can$) per US$ - 1.3666 (January 1996), 1.3724 (1995), 1.3656 (1994), 1.2901
(1993), 1.2087 (1992), 1.1457 (1991)
French francs: (F) per US$ - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993),
5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991)
Italian lire: (Lit) per US$ - 1,583.8 (January 1996), 1,629.6 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993),
1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991)
Japanese yen: (Ñ) per US$ - 105.84 (January 1996), 94.06 (1995), 102.21 (1994), 111.20 (1993),
126.65 (1992), 134.71 (1991)
German deutsche marks: (DM) per US$ - 1.4617 (January 1996), 1.4331 (1995), 1.6228 (1994),
1.6533 (1993), 1.5617 (1992), 1.6595 (1991)

{2}Fiscal year:{4} 1 October - 30 September


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 240,000 km mainline routes (nongovernment owned)
standard gauge: 240,000 km 1.435-m gauge (1989)

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 6,284,488 km
{3}paved:{4} 5,574,341 km (in 1991, included 85,267 km of expressways)
{3}unpaved:{4} 710,147 km (1993 est.)

{2}Waterways:{4} 41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of the Great Lakes

{2}Pipelines:{4} petroleum 276,000 km; natural gas 331,000 km (1991)

{2}Ports:{4} Anchorage, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Honolulu,
Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral,
Portland (Oregon), Prudhoe Bay, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Toledo

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 322 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 10,716,000 GRT/15,259,000 DWT
{3}ships by type:{4} bulk 21, cargo 20, chemical tanker 17, intermodal 125, liquefied gas tanker 14,
passenger-cargo 2, tanker 110, tanker tug-barge 13
{3}note:{4} in addition, there are 190 government-owned vessels (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 13,387
{3}with paved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 179
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 201
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 1,204
{3}with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 2,361
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 7,720
{3}with unpaved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 1
{3}with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 7
{3}with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 151
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 1,563 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 63 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 182.558 million (1987 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4}
{3}domestic:{4} large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic
satellites
{3}international:{4} 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite earth stations - 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic
Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean) (1990 est.), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat
(Pacific and Atlantic Ocean regions)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 4,987, FM 4,932, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 540.5 million (1992 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 1,092 (in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems)

{2}Televisions:{4} 215 million (1993 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (includes Marine Corps), Department
of the Air Force
{3}note:{4} the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Transportation, but in wartime reports to the
Department of the Navy

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 69,302,573
{3}males fit for military service:{4} NA
{3}males reach military age (18) annually:{4} 1,864,580 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} $272.2 billion, 3.8% of GDP (1995 est.)