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The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in [[North America]]. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, 326 Indian reservations, and some minor possessions. With a population of over 331 million people, it is the world's third-most populous country. The capital city is Washington, D.C., and the largest city by population is New York City.
	'''The United States of America''' is a federal republic in North America. It consists of 50 states, the federal district of Washington, D.C., five major self-governing territories, and other possessions. The country borders Canada to the north and Mexico to the south, with coastlines on the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Arctic Ocean through Alaska.

== Etymology ==
The name "America" is derived from the Latin version of the name of Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. The suffix "-rica" means "land" or "place of." The United States was originally a collection of [[British]] colonies along the Atlantic coast, which declared independence from [[Great Britain]] in 1776 and formed a union of states under the United States Constitution in 1789.
	The United States is one of the world's largest countries by both land area and population. It has a highly developed economy, a large military, a major cultural export sector, and a political system built around a written constitution, federalism, separated powers, and regular elections.

== History ==
The history of the United States dates back thousands of years to the arrival of Native American tribes. The first European settlement in what is now the United States was established in 1565 by the Spanish in St. Augustine, Florida. The English Pilgrims arrived in 1620 and established the Plymouth Colony, which became the second successful English settlement after Jamestown, Virginia.
	== Name and Identity ==
	The formal name is the United States of America. Common short forms include the United States, the U.S., the US, and America. The name "America" is older than the country itself and is usually linked to Amerigo Vespucci, whose name was applied by European mapmakers to the continents of the New World.

Over the centuries, European powers, including the Spanish, French, and Dutch, established colonies and trading posts in various parts of North America. The Thirteen Colonies, primarily settled by the British, declared independence from Great Britain in 1776, leading to the American Revolutionary War. The war ended in 1783 with the recognition of the United States as an independent nation.
	The national identity is strongly shaped by the country's founding as a union of former British colonies, later expansion across North America, immigration from many parts of the world, and continuing debate over liberty, citizenship, race, federal power, and the role of the state.

The United States expanded westward throughout the 19th century, acquiring new territories, and eventually reaching the Pacific Ocean. The country experienced significant industrialization and economic growth during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It played a major role in both World Wars and emerged as a global superpower in the aftermath of World War II.
	== Geography ==
	The contiguous United States stretches from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast. Alaska lies in the north-west of North America, and Hawaii is an island state in the central Pacific. The country includes mountains, plains, deserts, forests, wetlands, major river systems, and several climate zones.

== Government and Politics ==
The United States is a federal republic and a representative democracy. It operates under a system of government established by the United States Constitution. The government is divided into three branches: the executive branch, headed by the President; the legislative branch, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and the judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court.
	Major physical regions include the Appalachian Mountains, the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River basin, the deserts of the south-west, the Pacific coast, Alaska's Arctic and subarctic landscapes, and Hawaii's volcanic islands.

The President, elected by the citizens through an electoral college system, serves as the head of state and the head of government. The legislative branch is responsible for making laws, and the judicial branch interprets those laws and resolves disputes.
	== Population ==
	The Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 estimates reported that the U.S. population grew by 0.5% between 1 July 2024 and 1 July 2025. The United States remains the third most populous country in the world after India and China.

The political system in the United States is characterized by a two-party system, with the Democratic Party and the Republican Party being the two major political parties. There are also smaller third-party and independent movements.
	The population is highly urbanised but spread across many different regional economies. New York City is the largest city by population, while Washington, D.C. is the federal capital.

== Geography ==
The United States is the fourth-largest country by land area in the world, covering approximately 9.8 million square kilometres. It is bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The country has a diverse geography, ranging from coastal plains to mountains, deserts, and forests. It is home to a variety of natural wonders, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, and the Great Lakes.
	== Government ==
	The United States is governed under the Constitution of the United States, which came into effect in 1789. The federal government is divided into three branches:

The United States has a wide range of climates, from tropical in Florida and Hawaii to arctic in Alaska. It experiences various natural hazards, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and wildfires.
	* '''Legislative''', made up of Congress, with the Senate and the House of Representatives.
	* '''Executive''', headed by the President.
	* '''Judicial''', headed by the Supreme Court and the federal court system.

	Power is divided between the federal government and the states. States have their own constitutions, governors, legislatures, courts, and areas of authority. This federal structure means that law, public services, elections, policing, education, and taxation can vary considerably between states.

	== History ==
	Indigenous peoples lived across North America for thousands of years before European colonisation. From the sixteenth century onwards, European empires established settlements and claims. The thirteen British colonies on the Atlantic coast declared independence in 1776, leading to the American Revolutionary War. Independence was recognised by Britain in 1783.

	During the nineteenth century, the United States expanded westward through purchase, settlement, treaty, war, and displacement of Indigenous peoples. Slavery and sectional conflict led to the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865. The Union victory ended secession and led to the abolition of slavery, but racial inequality and political conflict continued long after Reconstruction.

	The United States industrialised rapidly in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It became a major world power after the First World War and one of the two leading global powers after the Second World War. The Cold War, civil rights movement, Vietnam War, technological growth, immigration, and political polarisation all shaped the modern country.

== Economy ==	== Economy ==
The United States has the largest and most technologically advanced economy in the world. It is a mixed economy, with both private and public sectors playing significant roles. The country is a leading producer of goods and services and is known for its technological innovation.
	The United States has one of the world's largest economies, with major sectors in finance, technology, manufacturing, energy, healthcare, agriculture, entertainment, education, and defence. The U.S. dollar is widely used in global trade and finance.

Key sectors of the U.S. economy include finance, manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, and entertainment. The country is also a major exporter and importer of goods and services, conducting significant international trade.
	The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 1.6% in the first quarter of 2026, according to its second estimate. Economic conditions vary widely between states and regions.

== Culture ==	== Culture ==
American culture is diverse and influenced by various factors, including its immigrant population and indigenous peoples. It has made significant contributions to arts, literature, music, cinema, and popular culture. The United States is often referred to as the "land of opportunity," symbolizing the American Dream - a belief in the possibility of achieving success and prosperity through hard work and determination.
	American culture is internationally influential through film, television, music, sport, literature, technology, food, fashion, and social media. The country has strong regional identities, from New England and the South to the Midwest, Texas, California, Alaska, and Hawaii.

The country is home to a wide range of sports, including American football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. It has also been a major player in the development of the film and television industries, with Hollywood being the centre of the American entertainment industry.
	The United States has no single cultural tradition. Its public life reflects Indigenous history, European colonisation, African American experience, immigration, religious diversity, regional politics, and a long-running tension between individualism and collective public life.

	== References ==
	* [https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2026/national-state-population-estimates.html Census Bureau: 2025 population estimates]
	* [https://www.usa.gov/branches-of-government USAGov: Branches of the U.S. government]
	* [https://www.whitehouse.gov/government/ White House: Our Government]
	* [https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gross-domestic-product BEA: Gross Domestic Product]

	[[Category:Countries]]
	[[Category:North America]]