UNITED STATES

United States

United States

Overview

The official name of this region is the United States of America. The fourth largest nation in the world, the United States situated on the North American continent and the contiguous portion of the country borders the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and Canada to the north. The nation's possessions also include various islands in the Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii, and the Caribbean Sea, as well as Alaska, which lies in the far north of the hemisphere and is separated from Russia to the west by the Bering Strait. Because of its large size, the United States has varied geography, with low mountains running along its eastern coast, a large, flat plains region in the centre of the country, and rugged mountains in the western portion. The islands of Hawaii are of volcanic origin, with rugged terrain, while Alaska is also characterized by mountainous terrain and river valleys. The weather varies throughout the nation. In the east and upper Midwest, the climate is temperate, while the centre of the country and south-western regions are semiarid to arid. Hawaii enjoys a tropical climate, while Alaska's weather characterized as Arctic.

According to data released in 2011 by the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of the United States stands at more than 313.2 million. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 72.4 % of the population classify themselves as white; 12.6 % as black or African American; 0.9 % as American Indian and Alaska Native; 4.8 % as Asian; 0.2 % as Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander; 6.2 % as some other race; and 2.9 % to be two or more races. Hispanics comprise around 16.3 % of the country's population; Spanish spoken by 11% of the population. The majority of Americans are Christian. Around 51 % of the population belongs to a Protestant denomination, 24% are members of the Roman Catholic Church, 2 % are Mormon, 2 % are Jewish, 1 % is Hindu, and 1% are Muslim. The average life expectancy in the United States is 78 years.

The United States has the largest economy in the world. The nation is rich in natural resources and is one of the world's leading exporters of such goods as coal, wheat, corn, and soybeans. The United States has trading partnerships with many powerful nations throughout the world. In recent years it has struggled with the rising costs of fuel needed by its many industries.United States' Current Situation and Development

The economy of United States struggled in the first half of 2011. In July 2011, unemployment in the United States had risen to 9.1 %, up from 9 % in June. The number of people out of work for more than 26 weeks increased by 361,000, reaching 6.2 million. According to the International Monetary Fund, the economy was expected to grow by 1.5 % in 2011.

In August 2011, facing fears of financial default, the nation's congress passed a highly controversial measure that raised the U.S. debt ceiling and mandated a series of spending cuts expected ...