United States Legal Federal Holidays

Federal Legal Holidays 2007

• January 1, 2007: New Year's Day [Jan. 1 every year]
• January 2, 2007: national day of mourning, Gerald R. Ford
• January 15, 2007: Martin Luther King Day [3rd monday in Jan]
• February 19, 2007: Presidents Day (observed) [3rd monday in Feb]
note: Presidents Day is also Washington's Birthday (observed)
• May 28, 2007: Memorial Day (observed) [last monday in May]
• July 4, 2007: Independence Day [July 4 every year]
• September 3, 2007: Labor Day [1st monday in Sept]
• October 8, 2007: Columbus Day (observed) [2nd monday in Oct]
• November 11, 2007: Veterans' Day [Nov. 11 every year]
• November 22, 2007: Thanksgiving Day [4th thursday in Nov]
• December 25, 2007: Christmas Day [Dec. 25 every year]

Federal Legal Holidays 2008

• January 1, 2008: New Year's Day [Jan. 1 every year]
• January 21, 2008: Martin Luther King Day [3rd monday in Jan]
• February 18, 2008: Presidents Day (observed) [3rd monday in Feb]
note: Presidents Day is also Washington's Birthday (observed)
• May 26, 2008: Memorial Day (observed) [last monday in May]
• July 4, 2008: Independence Day [July 4 every year]
• September 1, 2008: Labor Day [1st monday in Sept]
• October 13, 2008: Columbus Day (observed) [2nd monday in Oct]
• November 11, 2008: Veterans' Day [Nov. 11 every year]
• November 27, 2008: Thanksgiving Day [4th thursday in Nov]
• December 25, 2008: Christmas Day [Dec. 25 every year]

Additional US Holidays, Celebrated Dates, Important

Days
• January 24 [every year]: Belly Laugh Day [info]
• February 2 [every year]: Groundhog Day
• February 12 [every year]: Lincoln's Birthday
• February 14 [every year]: St. Valentines Day
• February 20, 2007 [Feb 5, 2008]: Fat Tuesday (a.k.a. Paczki Day) - day before
Lent starts
• February 22 [every year]: Washington's Birthday (traditional date, not observed
date)
• March 17 [every year]: St. Patrick's Day
• April 1 [every year]: April Fool's Day
• April 6, 2007 [March 21, 2008]: Good Friday
• April 8, 2007 [March 23, 2008]: Easter Sunday
• April 22 [every year]: Earth Day
• April 25, 2007 [April 23, 2008]: Administrative Professionals Day (National
Secretary's Day)
• May 5 [every year]: Cinco de Mayo
• May 13, 2007 [May 11, 2008]: Mother's Day [2nd sunday in May]
• May 19, 2007 [May 17, 2008]: Armed Forces Day [3rd saturday in May]
• June 14 [every year]: Flag Day
• June 17, 2007 [June 15, 2008]: Father's Day [3rd sunday in June]
• July 22, 2007 [July 27, 2008]: Parents' Day [4th Sunday in July]
• Sept. 9, 2007 [Sept. 7, 2008]: Grandparents' Day [first sunday after Labor Day]
• September 16 [every year]: Stepfamily Day [info 1] [info 2]
• September 17 [every year]: Citizenship Day
• Native American Day: 4th friday in September, celebrated (observed) many
different days
• October 16 [every year]: Boss's Day (National Bosses Day)
• Oct. 20, 2007 [Oct. 18, 2008]: Sweetest Day [3rd saturday in Oct]
• October 31 [every year]: Halloween »» for costumes, decorations, music, click
here
• Nov. 6, 2007 [Nov. 11, 2008]: Election Day [first tuesday after first monday in
Nov]
• November 16, 2006 [TBA 2007]: Annual Great American Smokeout. stop smoking for
one day: details
• Dec. 5-12, 2007 [Dec. 22-29, 2008]: Chanukah/Hanukkah [info]
• December 26 - Jan 1 [every year]: Kwanzaa
• December 31 [every year]: New Year's Eve

2007 U.S. Daylight Savings Time

• STARTS: March 11, 2007 at 2am (set clocks ahead one hour)
• ENDS: November 4, 2007 at 2am (set clocks back one hour)

2008 U.S. Daylight Savings Time

• STARTS: March 9, 2008 at 2am (set clocks ahead one hour)
• ENDS: November 2, 2008 at 2am (set clocks back one hour

More American Patriotic and National Observances

• Army birthday: June 14th
• Air Force birthday: Sept. 18th bonus link: U.S. Air Force Highlights
• Navy birthday: Oct. 13th
• Marine Corps birthday: Nov. 10th

• National Freedom Day: February 1st

• National Poison Prevention Week: third week in March
• Thomas Jefferson's birthday: April 13th
• Loyalty Day: May 1st
• Law Day, U.S.A.: May 1st
• National Day of Prayer: first Thursday in May
• Police Week: week which has May 15th in it
• Peace Officers Memorial Day: May 15th. (Federal, State, and local officers killed or disabled in the
line of duty)
• National Maritime Day: May 22nd
• National Flag Week: the week in which June 14th falls
• Honor America Days: June 14th through July 4th
• National Aviation Day: August 19th
• 9/11 (911) observances & remembrances: September 11th. (World Trade Center attack in
2001)
• Constitution Week: September 17th through September 23rd
• Gold Star Mother's Day: last Sunday in September
• Child Health Day: first Monday in October
• Leif Erikson Day: October 9th
• Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: December 7th
• Wright Brothers Day: December 17th

Some Months Are Known As ...

• February: African American Heritage Month / American Heart Month
• March: National Women's History Month
• April: Cancer Control Month
• May: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month / Older Americans Month
• September: National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 through October 15)
• October: National Disability Employment Awareness Month
• November: National American Indian Heritage Month

Other holidays observed nationwide

Date Name Remarks

The start of the new year in the lunar calendar, often

winter, date Chinese New
associated with China or other Asian nations and a
varies Year
time to celebrate their cultures.

A festive season (Carnival) leading up to Shrove

late winter, date Mardi Gras and Tuesday or Mardi Gras. Closes with Ash Wednesday
varies Ash Wednesday (40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays), which
starts the season of Lent in the Christian calendar.

Christmas
January 7 Christmas Day as celebrated in the Orthodox tradition.
(Orthodox)

Celebrating the contributions of Afro Americans

The month of Black History
(Black Americans) (U.S. Citizens descended from
February Month
Africa) throughout U.S. History.

February 2 Groundhog Day Prediction from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania

groundhog on whether the country will have six more
 weeks of winter.

Traditional celebration of love and romance, including

February 14 Valentine's Day
the exchange of cards, candy, flowers, and other gifts.

A celebration of Irish heritage and culture, based on the

Catholic feast of St. Patrick. Primary activity is simply
March 17 St. Patrick's Day
the wearing of green clothing ("wearing o' the green"),
although drinking beer dyed green is also popular.

March 22 World Water Day A day to promote awareness of water.

A day to play tricks on family, friends, and coworkers,

April 1 April Fools Day
if so inclined.

Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ by

Pontius Pilate, believed by Christians to have taken
Date varies (6
Good Friday place (traditionally) on 3 April 33 AD. Sometimes
April for 2007)
celebrated as a "Spring holiday" for Universities and
schools in certain states.

Celebrates the Christian belief in the resurrection of

Jesus. For Christians, Easter is a day of religious
services and the gathering of family. Many Americans
follow old traditions of coloring hard-boiled eggs and
giving children baskets of candy. On the next day,
Easter Monday, the President of the United States
holds an annual Easter egg hunt on the White House
Spring Sunday,
Easter lawn for young children. The holiday is also often
date varies
celebrated as a nonsectarian spring holiday. Not
generally observed by most businesses. Some financial
markets and other businesses close on the Friday prior,
Good Friday (which is a state holiday in many states).
Roman Catholic and Protestant groups celebrate Easter
on a different Sunday (most years) than Orthodox
groups.
Last Administrative
A day for honoring secretaries and other administrative
Wednesday of Professionals
personnel, formerly Secretary's Day.
April Day

April 22 Earth Day A day used to promote environmentalism.

A day for the planting of trees, commonly the last

Spring, date
Arbor Day Friday of April but depending on the climate of the
varies
state.

Primarily a celebration of Mexican culture by

Mexican-Americans living in the United States.
Although this is the anniversary of the victory of the
Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla
May 5 Cinco de Mayo in 1862, Cinco de Mayo is far more important in the
USA than in México itself. Additionally, this "holiday"
is often mistaken by Americans as being Mexican
Independence Day, which is actually observed on
September 16.

Honors mothers and motherhood (made a "Federal

second Sunday
Mother's Day Holiday" by Presidential order, although Federal
in May
offices are already closed on Sundays)

Celebrates the United States Army, Navy, Air Force

May, third Armed Forces
Marine Corps and Coast Guard; formerly, each had
Saturday Day
separate days.

World Ocean A day to promote awareness of the world's Oceans and

June 8
Day Seas.

Honors the American flag, encourages citizens to fly

June 14 Flag Day
the flag and study its traditions.

June 19 Juneteenth Primarily an African-American holiday, honors the end

 of slavery in the United States.

third Sunday in
Father's Day Honors fathers and fatherhood.
June

depends on Traditional beginning of the Jewish High Holidays. It

Hebrew Rosh Hashanah is also celebrates the beginning of a new year on the
calendar Hebrew calendar.

depends on
Traditional end of and highest of the Jewish High
Hebrew Yom Kippur
Holidays.
calendar

September, first
Grandparents
Sunday after Honors grandparents.
Day
Labor Day

Honors the first European explorer known to have set

October 9 Columbus Day
foot on North America.

Celebrates All Hallow's Eve, decorations include jack

o'lanterns, costume wearing parties, and candy such as
October 31 Halloween candy corn are also part of the holiday. Kids go trick-
or-treating to neighbors who give away candy. Not
generally observed by businesses.

first Tuesday
after the first Observed by the federal and state governments in
Election Day
Monday in applicable years; legal holiday in some states.
November

This was a day when women would ask men for dates,
Saturday that
Sadie Hawkins usually to a dance or other social, breaking with
follows
Day tradition. Named for the character "Sadie Hawkins"
November 9
from the long-running comic strip Li'l Abner.
December 26
African American holiday celebration created in 1966
through Kwanzaa
by a college professor
January 1

COUNTRY FACTS

• Full name: United States of America

• Population: 300 million (US Census Bureau estimate, 2006)
• Capital: Washington DC
• Largest city: New York City
• Area: 9.8 million sq km (3.8 million sq miles)
• Major language: English
• Major religion: Christianity
• Life expectancy: 75 years (men), 80 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 US dollar = 100 cents
• Main exports: Computers and electrical machinery, vehicles, chemical
products, food and live animals, military equipment and aircraft
• GNI per capita: US $43,740 (World Bank, 2006)
• Internet domain: .us
• International dialling code: +1
• Location: North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific
Ocean, between Canada and Mexico

President : George W Bush

Vice president: Dick Cheney
Secretary of state: Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of defence: Robert Gates
Attorney-general: Alberto Gonzales
Homeland security secretary: Michael Chertoff
National security adviser: Stephen Hadley

The press
USA Today - national daily
Wall Street Journal - business daily
Christian Science Monitor - church-owned daily
Los Angeles Times - daily
Washington Post - daily
Boston Globe - daily
New York Post - daily
New York Times - daily
Philadelphia Inquirer - daily
 Baltimore Sun - daily
Chicago Tribune - daily
Newsweek - news weekly
Time - news weekly
U.S.News & World Report - news weekly

Television
ABC - major commercial network

CBS - major commercial network

NBC - major commercial network
Fox - major commercial network
CNN - pioneer of 24-hour rolling TV news, operates domestic and international
streams
MTV - pioneer of music television
HBO (Home Box Office) - pay-TV network; originator of some of American
TV's most critically-acclaimed programmes
PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) - public TV, serves some 350 non-
commercial member stations

Radio
NPR (National Public Radio) - non-commercial network of member stations;
news, information and cultural programmes
Clear Channel - America's largest commercial radio operator, owns more than
1,200 stations
CBS Radio - major commercial operator with nearly 180 stations in major
markets
ABC Radio Networks - operates flagship stations coast-to-coast

External broadcasting

Voice of America - government-funded, programmes for global audiences in

many languages
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - government-funded, targets eastern
Europe, former Soviet Union and the Caucasus in local languages
Radio Free Asia - government funded, targets China, North Korea and
southeast Asia
Al-Hurra - government-funded, satellite TV for Middle East
Radio Sawa - government-funded, Arabic-language radio for Middle East
 Radio Farda - government-funded, Persian-language radio
Radio and TV Marti - government-funded services for Cuba

News agencies

Associated Press
Bloomberg Business News
UPI

STATES FACTS
States
C 1990-04- C 2000-04- E 2005-07-
Name Abbr. Status Capital A (km2)
01 01 01
Alabama AL FSt Montgomery 133,915 4,040,389 4,447,100 4,557,808
Alaska AK FSt Juneau 1,530,700 550,043 626,932 663,661
Arizona AZ FSt Phoenix 295,260 3,665,339 5,130,632 5,939,292
Arkansas AR FSt Little Rock 137,754 2,350,624 2,673,400 2,779,154
California CA FSt Sacramento 411,049 29,758,213 33,871,648 36,132,147
Colorado CO FSt Denver 269,596 3,294,473 4,301,261 4,665,177
Connecticut CT FSt Hartford 12,997 3,287,116 3,405,565 3,510,297
Delaware DE FSt Dover 5,295 666,168 783,600 843,524
District of
DC Dist Washington 178 606,900 572,059 550,521
Columbia
Florida FL FSt Tallahassee 151,939 12,938,071 15,982,378 17,789,864
Georgia GA FSt Atlanta 152,576 6,478,149 8,186,453 9,072,576
Hawaii HI FSt Honolulu 16,759 1,108,229 1,211,537 1,275,194
Idaho ID FSt Boise City 216,432 1,006,734 1,293,953 1,429,096
Illinois IL FSt Springfield 145,934 11,430,602 12,419,293 12,763,371
Indiana IN FSt Indianapolis 93,720 5,544,156 6,080,485 6,271,973
Iowa IA FSt Des Moines 145,753 2,776,831 2,926,324 2,966,334
Kansas KS FSt Topeka 213,098 2,477,588 2,688,418 2,744,687
Kentucky KY FSt Frankfort 104,661 3,686,891 4,041,769 4,173,405
Louisiana LA FSt Baton Rouge 123,677 4,220,164 4,468,976 4,523,628
Maine ME FSt Augusta 86,156 1,227,928 1,274,923 1,321,505
Maryland MD FSt Annapolis 27,092 4,780,753 5,296,486 5,600,388
Massachusetts MA FSt Boston 21,456 6,016,425 6,349,097 6,398,743
Michigan MI FSt Lansing 151,586 9,295,287 9,938,444 10,120,860
Minnesota MN FSt St. Paul 218,601 4,375,665 4,919,479 5,132,799
Mississippi MS FSt Jackson 123,516 2,575,475 2,844,658 2,921,088
Jefferson
Missouri MO FSt 180,516 5,116,901 5,595,211 5,800,310
City
Montana MT FSt Helena 380,848 799,065 902,195 935,670
Nebraska NE FSt Lincoln 200,350 1,578,417 1,711,263 1,758,787
Nevada NV FSt Carson City 286,352 1,201,675 1,998,257 2,414,807
New
NH FSt Concord 24,032 1,109,252 1,235,786 1,309,940
Hampshire
New Jersey NJ FSt Trenton 20,169 7,730,188 8,414,350 8,717,925
New Mexico NM FSt Santa Fe 314,925 1,515,069 1,819,046 1,928,384
New York NY FSt Albany 127,190 17,990,778 18,976,457 19,254,630
North
NC FSt Raleigh 136,413 6,632,448 8,049,313 8,683,242
Carolina
North Dakota ND FSt Bismarck 183,119 638,800 642,200 636,677
Ohio OH FSt Columbus 107,044 10,847,115 11,353,140 11,464,042
Oklahoma
Oklahoma OK FSt 181,186 3,145,576 3,450,654 3,547,884
City
Oregon OR FSt Salem 251,419 2,842,337 3,421,399 3,641,056
Pennsylvania PA FSt Harrisburg 117,348 11,882,842 12,281,054 12,429,616
Rhode Island RI FSt Providence 3,140 1,003,464 1,048,319 1,076,189
South
SC FSt Columbia 80,582 3,486,310 4,012,012 4,255,083
Carolina
South Dakota SD FSt Pierre 199,730 696,004 754,844 775,933
Tennessee TN FSt Nashville 109,152 4,877,203 5,689,283 5,962,959
Texas TX FSt Austin 691,030 16,986,335 20,851,820 22,859,968
Salt Lake
Utah UT FSt 219,889 1,722,850 2,233,169 2,469,585
City
Vermont VT FSt Montpelier 24,900 562,758 608,827 623,050
Virginia VA FSt Richmond 105,586 6,189,197 7,078,515 7,567,465
Washington WA FSt Olympia 176,479 4,866,669 5,894,121 6,287,759
West Virginia WV FSt Charleston 62,760 1,793,477 1,808,344 1,816,856
Wisconsin WI FSt Madison 145,436 4,891,769 5,363,675 5,536,201
Wyoming WY FSt Cheyenne 253,326 453,589 493,782 509,294
USA USA Washington 9,372,614 248,718,301 281,421,906 296,410,404
 STD CODES of USA
Code Place
001-907 ALASKA
00355 ALBANIA
00213 ALGERIA
00376 ANDORRA
00244 ANGOLA
001-264 ANANGUILLA
001-268 ANTIGUA
0054 ARGENTINA
00374 ARMENIA
00297 ARUBUA
00247 ASCENSION ISLAND
0043 ASTRIA
0061 AUSTRALIA
00351 AZORES
00684 AMERICAN SAMOA
00871 ATLANTIC OCEAN REGION EAST
00874 ATLANTIC OCEAN REGION WEST
TOP

B
Code Place
001-242 BAHAMAS
00973 BAHRAIN
00880 BANGLADESH
001-246 BARBADOS
0032 BELGIUM
00501 BELIZE
00229 BENIN
001-441 BERMUDA
00975 BHUTAN
00591 BOLIBIA
0027 BOPUTHATSWANA
00387 BOSNIA & HERZEGOBINA
00267 BOTSWANA
0055 BRAZIL
00673 BRUNEI
00359 BULGARIA
00257 BURENDI
00226 BURKINA FASSO
0095 BURMA (MYANMAR)
00375 BELARUS REPUBLIC(BYELORUSSIA)
TOP

--

C
Code Place
00237 CAMERON
001 CANADA
0034 CANARY ISLAND
00238 CAPE VERDE
001-345 CAYMAN ISLANDS
00236 CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
00235 CHAD REPUBLIC
0056 CHILE
0086 CHINA
0061 CHRISTMAS ISLAND
0027 CISKEI
0061 COCOS ISLAND
0057 COLUMBIA
00269 COMOROS
00242 CONGO PEOPLES REPUBLIC
00682 COOK ISLAND
00506 COSTARICA
00385 CROATIA
0053 CUBA
00357 CYPRUS
0042 CZECH REPUBLIC
00855 CAMBODIA
TOP

--
 D
Code Place
0045 DENMARK
00246 DIEGO GARCIA
00253 DJI BOUTI
001-767 DOMINICAN ISLAND
001-809 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
TOP

E
Code Place
00593 ECUADOR
0020 EGYPT
00503 ELSALVADOR REPUBLIC
00240 EQUITORIAL GUINEA
00372 ESTONIA
00251 ETHIOPIA
00291 ERITREA
TOP

--

F
Code Place
00298 FAROE ISLAND
0049 FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
00679 FIJI
00358 FINLAND
00500 FOLKLAND ISLANDS
0033 FRANCE
00594 FRENCH GUIANA
00689 FRENCH POLINESIA
TOP
G
Code Place
00241 GABONESE REPUBLIC
00220 GAMBIA
00502 GUATEMALA
00995 GEORGIA
00233 GHANA
00350 GIBRALTAR
0030 GREECE
00299 GREEN ISLAND
001-473 GRENADA
00590 GUADELOUPE
00671 GUAM
00224 GUINEA REPUBLIC
00245 GUINEABISSAU REPUBLIC
00592 GUYANA
TOP

--

H
Code Place
00509 HAITI
001-808 HAWAII
00504 HONDURAS
00852 HONGKONG
0036 HUNGERY
TOP

I
Code Place
00354 ICELAND
0062 INDONASIA
0098 IRAN
00964 IRAQ
00353 IRELAND
00972 ISRAEL
0039 ITALY
00225 IVORY COAST
00873 INDIAN OCEAN REGION
TOP

J
Code Place
001-876 JAMAICA
0081 JAPAN
00962 JORDAN
TOP

K
Code Place
007-373 KAZAKHSTAN
00254 KENYA
00996 KYRGYZSTAN
00686 KIRIBATI
00850 KORIA (NORTH) PDR
00965 KUWAIT
TOP

L
Code Place
00856 LAOS PDR
00371 LATVIA
00961 LEBANON
00266 LESOTHO
00231 LIBERIA
00218 LIBIYA
0041 LIECHTENSTEIN
00370 LITHUVANIA
00352 LUXEMBOURG
 TOP

M
Code Place
00853 MACAO
00351 MADEIRA
00261 MALAGASY (MADAGASCAR)
00265 MALAWI
0060 MALAYSIA
00960 MALDIVES
00223 MALI
00356 MALTA
00976 MANGOLIA
00670 MARIANA ISLAND
00692 MARSHAL ISLAND
00596 MARTINIQUE
00222 MAURITANIA
00230 MAURITIUS
00269 MAYOTTE
0052 MEXICO
00691 MICRONESIA
00373 MOLDAVIA
00377 MONACO
001-664 MONTESERRAT
00212 MOROCCO
00258 MOZAMBIQUE
00389 MACEDONIA
TOP

N
Code Place
00264 NAMIBIA
00674 NAURU
00977 NEPAL
00599 NETHERLAND ANTTILLES
0031 NETHERLANDS
00687 NEW CALEDONIA
0064 NEWZELAND
00505 NICARAGUA
00227 NIGER
00234 NIGERIA
00683 NIVE ISLAND
00672 NORFOLK ISLAND
0047 NORWAY
TOP

O
Code Place
00968 OMAN
TOP

P
Code Place
0092 PAKISTAN
00680 PALAU
00507 PANAMA
00675 PAPUA NEWGUINEA
00595 PARAGUAY
0051 PERU
0063 PHILLIPPINES
0048 POLAND
00351 PORTUGAL
001-787 PUERTO RICO
00872 PACIFIC OCEAN REGION
TOP

--

Q
Code Place
00974 QATAR
TOP

R
Code Place
00262 REUNION
00230 RODRIGUEZ ISLAND
0040 ROMANIA
00250 RWANDA
TOP

S
Code Place
00378 SAN MARINO
00239 SAOTOME PRINCIPE ISLAND
00966 SAUDI ARABIA
00221 SENEGAL
00248 SEYCHELLES
00232 SIERRA LEONE
0065 SINGAPORE
00386 SLOVENIA
00677 SOLOMAN ISLANDS
00252 SOMALIA
0027 SOUTH AFRICA
0082 SOUTH KOREA
0034 SPAIN
0094 SRILANKA
001-869 ST.CHRISTOPHAR(ST.KITTS/NEVIS)
00290 ST HELENA
001-758 ST LUCIA
00508 ST PIERRA AND MIQUELOS
001-784 ST VINCENT
00249 SUDAN
00597 SURINAM
00268 SWAZILAND
0046 SWEEDAN
0041 SWITZERLAND
00963 SYRIA
0042 SLOVAK REP
TOP

T
Code Place
007-377 TADZHIKSTAN
00886 TAIWAN
00255 TANZANIA
0066 THAILAND
00228 TOGOLESE REPUBLIC
00676 TONGA
0027 TRANSKEI
001-868 TRINIDALAND TOBAGO
00216 TUNISIA
0090 TURKEY
00993 TURKMEKISTAN
001-809 TURKS CYCOS ISLAND
00688 TUVALU
00690 TOKELAV (OCENIA)
TOP

U
Code Place
00971 U.A.E
001 U.S.A
00256 UGANDA
00380 UKRAINE
0044 UNITED KINGDOM
00598 URUGUAY
007 USSR (MASCOW)
00998 UZBEKISTAN
TOP
 V
Code Place
00678 VANAUTU (NEW HEBRIDES)
0039 VATICAN CITY
0027 VENDA
0058 VENEZUELA
0084 VIETNAM
001-284 VIRGIN IS (BRITISH)
001-340 VIRGIN ISLAND (USA)
TOP

W
Code Place
00685 WESTERN SAMOA
00681 WALLIS FUTUNA ISLAND
TOP

Y
Code Place
00967 YEMEN ARAB REPUBLIC (ADEN)
00381 YUGOSLAVIA
TOP

Z
Code Place
00243 ZAIRE
00260 ZAMBIA
00263 ZIMBABWE
FLAG UNITED STATES

COMPLETE COUNTRY (USA) FACTS

Introduction United States

Background: Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in

1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United
States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During
the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the
original 13 as the nation expanded across the North American
continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. The
two most traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the
Civil War (1861-65) and the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the
Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful
nation state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low
unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.
Geography United States
 Location: North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and
the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
Geographic 38 00 N, 97 00 W
coordinates:

Map North America

references:

Area: total: 9,826,630 sq km

land: 9,161,923 sq km
water: 664,707 sq km
note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia
Area - about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of
comparative: Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly larger
than Brazil); slightly larger than China; almost two and a half
times the size of the European Union
Land total: 12,034 km
boundaries: border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with
Alaska), Mexico 3,141 km
note: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the
US and is part of Cuba; the base boundary is 28 km
Coastline: 19,924 km

Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm

claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Climate: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in
Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi
River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter
temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in
January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern
slopes of the Rocky Mountains
Terrain: vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains
in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska;
rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii
Elevation lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
extremes: highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m

Natural coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite,

resources: gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc,
petroleum, natural gas, timber
 Land use: arable land: 18.01%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 81.78% (2005)
Irrigated land: 223,850 sq km (2003)

Natural tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific

hazards: Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts;
tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in
California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in
northern Alaska, a major impediment to development
Environment air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada;
- current the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the
issues: burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides
and fertilizers; limited natural fresh water resources in much of
the western part of the country require careful management;
desertification
Environment party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
- international Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
agreements: Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous
Wastes
Geography - world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada)
note: and by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley is
highest point in North America and Death Valley the lowest
point on the continent
People United States

Population: 298,444,215 (July 2006 est.)

Age 0-14 years: 20.4% (male 31,095,847/female 29,715,872)

structure: 15-64 years: 67.2% (male 100,022,845/female 100,413,484)
65 years and over: 12.5% (male 15,542,288/female
21,653,879) (2006 est.)
Median age: total: 36.5 years
male: 35.1 years
female: 37.8 years (2006 est.)
 Population 0.91% (2006 est.)
growth rate:

Birth rate: 14.14 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate: 8.26 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration 3.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

rate:

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 6.43 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality rate: male: 7.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 77.85 years
expectancy at male: 75.02 years
birth: female: 80.82 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility 2.09 children born/woman (2006 est.)

rate:

HIV/AIDS - 0.6% (2003 est.)

adult
prevalence
rate:

HIV/AIDS - 950,000 (2003 est.)

people living
with
HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - 14,000 (2003 est.)

deaths:

Nationality: noun: American(s)

adjective: American
Ethnic white 81.7%, black 12.9%, Asian 4.2%, Amerindian and Alaska
groups: native 1%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.2%
(2003 est.)
note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the
US Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean a person of
Latin American descent (including persons of Cuban, Mexican,
or Puerto Rican origin) living in the US who may be of any race
or ethnic group (white, black, Asian, etc.)
 Religions: Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish
1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10% (2002 est.)
Languages: English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%,
Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)
note: Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government United States

Country name: conventional long form: United States of America

conventional short form: United States
abbreviation: US or USA
Government Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic
type: tradition

Capital: name: Washington, DC (capital)

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: the United States is divided into six time zones
Administrative 50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,
divisions: 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 American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis
areas: Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands,
Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll,
Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US
administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; it
entered into a political relationship with all four political units:
the Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political
union with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic
of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association
 with the US (effective 21 October 1986); the Federated States
of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the
US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact
of Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994)
Independence 4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)
:

National Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

holiday:

Constitution: 17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789

Legal system: federal court system based on English common law; each state
has its own unique legal system, of which all but one
(Louisiana's) is based on English common law; judicial review
of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive chief of state: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January

branch: 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January
2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President George W. BUSH (since 20
January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20
January 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate
approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same
ticket by a college of representatives who are elected directly
from each state; president and vice president serve four-year
terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 2
November 2004 (next to be held on 4 November 2008)
election results: George W. BUSH reelected president; percent
of popular vote - George W. BUSH 50.9%, John KERRY
48.1%, other 1.0%
Legislative bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats, one-third
branch: are renewed every two years; 2 members are elected from each
state by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by
popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held
on November 2008); House of Representatives - last held 7
November 2006 (next to be held on November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats
by party - Democratic Party 49, Republican Party 49,
independent 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by
 party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 233, Republican
Party 202
Judicial Supreme Court (nine justices; nominated by the president and
branch: confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate;
appointed to serve for life); United States Courts of Appeal;
United States District Courts; State and County Courts
Political Democratic Party [Howard DEAN]; Green Party; Libertarian
parties and Party [William (Bill) Redpath]; Republican Party [Ken
leaders: MEHLMAN]

Political NA
pressure
groups and
leaders:

International AfDB, ANZUS, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN

organization (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer),
participation: CBSS (observer), CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EAPC,
EBRD, FAO, G-5, G-7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINUSTAH, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC
(observer), SECI (observer), SPC, UN, UN Security Council,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL,
UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Flag 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating
description: with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side
corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in
nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom)
alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50
states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known
as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a
number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and
Puerto Rico
Economy United States

Economy - The US has the largest and most technologically powerful

overview: economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $43,500. In
this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business
firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state
governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in
the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy greater
flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan
 in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers,
and to develop new products. At the same time, they face
higher barriers to enter their rivals' home markets than foreign
firms face entering US markets. US firms are at or near the
forefront in technological advances, especially in computers
and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment; their
advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II. The
onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development
of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack
the education and the professional/technical skills of those at
the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises,
health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975,
practically all the gains in household income have gone to the
top 20% of households. The response to the terrorist attacks of
11 September 2001 showed the remarkable resilience of the
economy. The war in March-April 2003 between a US-led
coalition and Iraq, and the subsequent occupation of Iraq,
required major shifts in national resources to the military. The
rise in GDP in 2004-06 was undergirded by substantial gains
in labor productivity. Hurricane Katrina caused extensive
damage in the Gulf Coast region in August 2005, but had a
small impact on overall GDP growth for the year. Soaring oil
prices in 2005 and 2006 threatened inflation and
unemployment, yet the economy continued to grow through
year-end 2006. Imported oil accounts for about two-thirds of
US consumption. Long-term problems include inadequate
investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical
and pension costs of an aging population, sizable trade and
budget deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower
economic groups. The merchandise trade deficit reached a
record $750 billion in 2006.
GDP $12.98 trillion (2006 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):

GDP (official $13.22 trillion (2006 est.)

exchange
rate):

GDP - real 3.4% (2006 est.)

growth rate:

GDP - per $43,500 (2006 est.)

capita (PPP):

GDP - agriculture: 0.9%

composition industry: 20.4%
by sector: services: 78.6% (2006 est.)
 Labor force: 151.4 million (includes unemployed) (2006 est.)

Labor force - farming, forestry, and fishing 0.7%, manufacturing, extraction,

by occupation: transportation, and crafts 22.9%, managerial, professional, and
technical 34.9%, sales and office 25%, other services 16.5%
note: figures exclude the unemployed (2006)
Unemployment 4.8% (2006 est.)
rate:

Population 12% (2004 est.)

below poverty
line:

Household lowest 10%: 1.8%

income or highest 10%: 30.5% (1997)
consumption
by percentage
share:

Distribution of 45 (2004)
family income
- Gini index:

Inflation rate 2.5% (2006 est.)

(consumer
prices):

Investment 16.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

(gross fixed):

Budget: revenues: $2.409 trillion

expenditures: $2.66 trillion; including capital expenditures of
$NA (2006 est.)
Public debt: 64.7% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork,
products: poultry, dairy products; fish; forest products

Industries: leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and

technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles,
aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food
processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
Industrial 4.2% (2006 est.)
production
growth rate:

Electricity - 3.979 trillion kWh (2004)

production:

Electricity - fossil fuel: 71.4%

production by hydro: 5.6%
 source: nuclear: 20.7%
other: 2.3% (2001)
Electricity - 3.717 trillion kWh (2004)
consumption:

Electricity - 22.9 billion kWh (2004)

exports:

Electricity - 34.21 billion kWh (2004)

imports:

Oil - 7.61 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

production:

Oil - 20.73 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

consumption:

Oil - exports: 1.048 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports: 13.15 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved 22.45 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

reserves:

Natural gas - 531.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

production:

Natural gas - 635.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

consumption:

Natural gas - 24.18 billion cu m (2004 est.)

exports:

Natural gas - 120.6 billion cu m (2004 est.)

imports:

Natural gas - 5.451 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

proved
reserves:

Current $-862.3 billion (2006 est.)

account
balance:

Exports: $1.024 trillion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - agricultural products (soybeans, fruit, corn) 9.2%, industrial

commodities: supplies (organic chemicals) 26.8%, capital goods (transistors,
aircraft, motor vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications
equipment) 49.0%, consumer goods (automobiles, medicines)
15.0% (2003)
Exports - Canada 23.4%, Mexico 13.3%, Japan 6.1%, China 4.6%, UK
partners: 4.3% (2005)
 Imports: $1.869 trillion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - agricultural products 4.9%, industrial supplies 32.9% (crude

commodities: oil 8.2%), capital goods 30.4% (computers,
telecommunications equipment, motor vehicle parts, office
machines, electric power machinery), consumer goods 31.8%
(automobiles, clothing, medicines, furniture, toys) (2003)
Imports - Canada 16.9%, China 15%, Mexico 10%, Japan 8.2%,
partners: Germany 5% (2005)

Reserves of $69.19 billion (August 2006 est.)

foreign
exchange and
gold:

Debt - $10.04 trillion (30 June 2006 est.)

external:

Economic aid - ODA, $6.9 billion (1997)

donor:

Currency US dollar (USD)

(code):

Currency USD
code:

Exchange British pounds per US dollar - 0.5418 (2006), 0.5500 (2005),

rates: 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002)
: Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.1334 (2006), 1.2118
(2005), 1.3010 (2004), 1.4011 (2003), 1.5693 (2002)
: Japanese yen per US dollar - 116.18 (2006) 110.22 (2005),
108.19 (2004), 115.93 (2003), 125.39 (2002)
: euros per US dollar - .7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054
(2004), 0.8860 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)
: Chinese yuan per US dollar - 7.97 (2006), 8.1943 (2005),
8.2768 (2004), 8.2770 (2003), 8.2770 (2002)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Communications United States

Telephones - 268 million (2003)

main lines in
use:

Telephones - 219.4 million (2005)

mobile
cellular:

Telephone general assessment: a large, technologically advanced,

system: multipurpose communications system
 domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio
relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form
of telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries
mobile telephone traffic throughout the country
international: country code - 1; 24 ocean cable systems in use;
satellite earth stations - 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16
Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4
Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean regions) (2000)
Radio AM 4,789, FM 8,961, shortwave 19 (2006)
broadcast
stations:

Radios: 575 million (1997)

Television 2,218 (2006)

broadcast
stations:

Televisions: 219 million (1997)

Internet .us
country code:

Internet 195.139 million (2005)

hosts:

Internet 7,000 (2002 est.)

Service
Providers
(ISPs):

Internet 205.327 million (2005)

users:

Transportation United States

Airports: 14,858 (2006)

Airports - total: 5,119

with paved over 3,047 m: 189
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 221
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,426
914 to 1,523 m: 2,337
under 914 m: 946 (2006)
Airports - total: 9,739
with unpaved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 157
914 to 1,523 m: 1,728
under 914 m: 7,847 (2006)
 Heliports: 149 (2006)

Pipelines: petroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km (2003)

Railways: total: 226,605 km

standard gauge: 226,605 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)
Roadways: total: 6,430,366 km
paved: 4,165,110 km (including 75,009 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,265,256 km (2005)
Waterways: 41,009 km (19,312 km used for commerce)
note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint
Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with Canada (2004)
Merchant total: 465 ships (1000 GRT or over) 10,590,325
marine: GRT/13,273,133 DWT
by type: barge carrier 7, bulk carrier 67, cargo 91, chemical
tanker 20, container 76, passenger 19, passenger/cargo 58,
petroleum tanker 76, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 27,
specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 20
foreign-owned: 51 (Australia 2, Canada 4, Denmark 24,
Germany 2, Greece 1, Malaysia 4, Netherlands 4, Norway 2,
Singapore 2, Sweden 5, Taiwan 1)
registered in other countries: 700 (Antigua and Barbuda 7,
Australia 3, Bahamas 121, Belize 5, Bermuda 27, Cambodia 8,
Canada 2, Cayman Islands 41, Comoros 2, Cyprus 7, Greece 1,
Honduras 1, Hong Kong 21, Ireland 2, Isle of Man 3, Italy 15,
North Korea 3, South Korea 7, Liberia 93, Luxembourg 3,
Malta 3, Marshall Islands 143, Netherlands 13, Netherlands
Antilles 1, Norway 13, Panama 94, Peru 1, Philippines 8,
Portugal 1, Puerto Rico 3, Qatar 1, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines 21, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 7, Spain 7,
Sweden 1, Trinidad and Tobago 1, UK 6, Vanuatu 1, Wallis and
Futuna 1) (2006)
Ports and Corpus Christi, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long Beach,
terminals: Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa,
Texas City
note: 13 ports north of New Orleans (South Louisiana Ports) on
the Mississippi River handle 290,000,000 tons of cargo
annually
Military United States

Military Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard;
branches: note - Coast Guard administered in peacetime by the
Department of Homeland Security, but in wartime reports to the
Department of the Navy
 Military 18 years of age; 17 years of age with written parental consent
service age (2006)
and
obligation:

Manpower males age 18-49: 67,742,879

available for females age 18-49: 67,070,144 (2005 est.)
military
service:

Manpower fit males age 18-49: 54,609,050

for military females age 18-49: 54,696,706 (2005 est.)
service:

Manpower males age 18-49: 2,143,873

reaching females age 18-49: 2,036,201 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:

Military $518.1 billion (FY04 est.) (2005 est.)

expenditures
- dollar
figure:

Military 4.06% (2005 est.)

expenditures
- percent of
GDP:

Transnational
United States
Issues

Disputes - the U.S. has intensified domestic security measures and is

international: collaborating closely with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, to
monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and
commodities across the international borders; abundant rainfall
in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has
ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements;
1990 Maritime Boundary Agreement in the Bering Sea still
awaits Russian Duma ratification; managed maritime boundary
disputes with Canada at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of
Juan de Fuca, and around the disputed Machias Seal Island and
North Rock; The Bahamas and US have not been able to agree
on a maritime boundary; US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is
leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US
abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims
US-administered Navassa Island; US has made no territorial
claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and
does not recognize the claims of any other states; Marshall
Islands claims Wake Island; Tokelau included American
 Samoa's Swains Island among the islands listed in its 2006 draft
constitution
Refugees and refugees (country of origin): the US admitted 62,643 refugees
internally during FY04/05 including, 10,586 (Somalia), 8,549 (Laos),
displaced 6,666 (Russia), 6,479 (Cuba), 3,100 (Haiti), 2,136 (Iran) (2006)
persons:

Illicit drugs: world's largest consumer of cocaine, shipped from Colombia

through Mexico and the Caribbean; consumer of ecstasy and of
Mexican heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine; minor
consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin; illicit
producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants,
hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering center
FLAG USA