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United States

North America · 335 million

About United States

United States, officially the United States of America, is a sovereign country located in North America, specifically within the North America subregion. Its capital and largest urban centre is Washington D.C., and the country is home to approximately 340 million people. In its native language, the country is known as “United States”. English serves as the primary official language, shaping daily communication, education, government, and media throughout United States. The official currency in circulation is the United States dollar ($), used for all domestic transactions and price-tagged goods. United States is widely recognised for Hollywood blockbusters, NASA space exploration and fast food culture. People from United States are referred to as American.

Geography & climate

United States covers approximately 9.53 million km² of territory, making it one of the largest countries in the world by land area. It shares land borders with 2 neighbouring countries — a position that has historically influenced migration patterns, regional politics, and cross-border commerce. Geographically, United States sits in the Northern and Western Hemisphere, at roughly 38.0° N, 97.0° W. Because of its size and geography, the country spans 11 time zones, ranging from UTC-12:00 in the west to UTC+12:00 in the east — a logistical consideration for travel, broadcasting, and commerce. The prevailing climate of United States can be summarised as: hugely varied with tropical to arctic. Local weather patterns naturally vary by altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges.

People, language & society

With roughly 340 million inhabitants, United States is among the most populous countries in the world. The principal spoken language is English, which dominates public life, schooling, signage, and the workplace. Citizens are formally known in English as American, a demonym that appears in passports, official documents, and international reporting. Economically, the United States dollar ($) is the medium of exchange used by households and businesses, with exchange rates monitored by the country's central monetary authority.

Quick facts at a glance

Practical travel & daily-life info

Visitors planning a trip to United States should familiarise themselves with the capital, Washington D.C., the relevant local time zone for their destination, the local currency (United States dollar). The international dialling prefix is +1, which is required when phoning a United States number from abroad. Vehicles drive on the right side of the road, an important detail for anyone renting a car or crossing a land border by vehicle. The country's top-level internet domain is .us, used by local businesses, government sites, and many news organisations. The working week traditionally starts on Sunday, which affects business hours, banking, and public holidays.

Government & global standing

United States is recognised internationally as a sovereign, independent state. It is a member state of the United Nations, participating in the General Assembly and various specialised UN agencies. On the global stage, United States is generally classified within the North America region and more specifically the North America subregion, alongside neighbouring states with shared geographic, historical, or economic ties.

Bordering countries

United States shares land borders with 2 countries. Click any neighbour to read about it:

Did you know?

Alaska is simultaneously the northernmost, westernmost, and — because its Aleutian Islands cross the 180° meridian — easternmost state in the US.

United States in the GlobeIQ atlas

Inside the GlobeIQ game, United States appears as an easier opening puzzle for new players. When the daily puzzle selects this country, players progressively unlock six hints — silhouette, climate and terrain, number of land borders, region, "known for" tagline, and finally the capital city — before a flag reveal confirms the answer. On its trophy card, United States carries the personality tags “🗽 Land of Freedom” and “🌆 Global Superpower”, short flavour labels chosen to evoke the country's most recognisable cultural signatures. Adding United States to your personal atlas is one of 195 small wins on the road to a complete world map. Each correctly guessed nation also contributes to your running streak and unlocks milestone celebrations at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 collected countries.

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