337 lines
27 KiB
Plaintext
337 lines
27 KiB
Plaintext
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UNITED STATES
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GEOGRAPHY
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Total area: 9,372,610 km2; land area: 9,166,600 km2; includes only
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the 50 states and District of Colombia
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Comparative area: about four-tenths the size of USSR; about
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one-third the size of Africa; about one-half the size of South America
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(or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly smaller than China; about
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two and one-half times the size of Western Europe
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Land boundaries: 12,248 km total; Canada 8,893 km (including
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2,477 km with Alaska), Mexico 3,326 km, Cuba (US naval base at
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Guantanamo) 29 km
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Coastline: 19,924 km
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Maritime claims:
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Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
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Continental shelf: not specified;
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Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;
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Territorial sea: 12 nm
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Disputes: maritime boundary disputes with Canada; US Naval Base at
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Guantanamo is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US
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abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims Navassa
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Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved
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the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other
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nation; Marshall Islands claims Wake Island
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Climate: mostly temperate, but varies from tropical (Hawaii) to
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arctic (Alaska); arid to semiarid in west with occasional warm, dry
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chinook wind
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Terrain: vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low
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mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska;
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rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii
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Natural resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates,
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uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten,
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zinc, crude oil, natural gas, timber
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Land use: arable land 20%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
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pastures 26%; forest and woodland 29%; other 25%; includes irrigated 2%
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Environment: pollution control measures improving air and water
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quality; acid rain; agricultural fertilizer and pesticide pollution;
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management of sparse natural water resources in west; desertification;
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tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin;
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continuous permafrost in northern Alaska is a major impediment to
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development
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Note: world's fourth-largest country (after USSR, Canada, and
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China)
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PEOPLE
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Population: 252,502,000 (July 1991), growth rate 0.8% (1991)
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Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1991)
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Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
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Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
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Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
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Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 79 years female (1991)
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Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1991)
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Nationality: noun--American(s); adjective--American
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Ethnic divisions: white 85%, black 12%, other 3% (1985)
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Religion: Protestant 61% (Baptist 21%, Methodist 12%, Lutheran 8%,
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Presbyterian 4%, Episcopalian 3%, other Protestant 13%), Roman Catholic
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25%, Jewish 2%, other 5%, none 7%
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Language: predominantly English; sizable Spanish-speaking minority
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Literacy: 97% (male 97%, female 97%) age 15 and over having
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completed 5 or more years of schooling (1980)
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Labor force: 126,424,000 (includes armed forces and unemployed);
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civilian labor force 124,787,000 (1990)
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Organized labor: 16,729,000 members; 16.1% of total wage and
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salary employment which was 103,905,000 (1990)
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GOVERNMENT
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Long-form name: United States of America; abbreviated US or USA
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Type: federal republic; strong democratic tradition
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Capital: Washington, DC
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Administrative divisions: 50 states and 1 district*; Alabama,
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Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware,
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District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois,
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Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
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Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana,
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Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North
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Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode
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Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont,
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Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
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Independence: 4 July 1776 (from England)
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Constitution: 17 September 1787, effective 4 June 1789
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Dependent areas: American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland
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Island; Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands,
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Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico,
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Virgin Islands, Wake Island.
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Since 18 July 1947, the US has administered the Trust Territory of the
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Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship
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with three of the four political units. The Northern Mariana Islands is
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a Commonwealth associated with the US (effective 3 November 1986). Palau
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concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US that was approved by
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the US Congress but to date the Compact process has not been completed in
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Palau, which continues to be administered by the US as the Trust
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Territory of the Pacific Islands. The Federated States of Micronesia
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signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November
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1986). The Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free
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Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986).
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Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
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legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
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National holiday: Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
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Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet
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Legislative branch: bicameral Congress consists of an upper house
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or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives
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Judicial branch: Supreme Court
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Leaders:
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Chief of State and Head of Government--President George BUSH
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(since 20 January 1989); Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since
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20 January 1989)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Republican Party, Clayton YEUTTER, national committee chairman; Jeanie
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AUSTIN, co-chairman;
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Democratic Party, Ronald H. BROWN, national committee chairman;
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several other groups or parties of minor political significance
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Suffrage: universal at age 18
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Elections:
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President--last held 8 November 1988
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(next to be held 3 November 1992);
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results--George BUSH (Republican Party) 53.37%,
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Michael DUKAKIS (Democratic Party) 45.67%, other 0.96%;
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Senate--last held 6 November 1990
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(next to be held 3 November 1992);
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results--Democratic Party 51%, Republican Party 47%, other 2%;
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seats--(100 total) Democratic Party 56, Republican Party 44;
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House of Representatives--last held 6 November 1990
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(next to be held 3 November 1992);
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results--Democratic Party 52%, Republican Party 44%, other 4%;
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seats--(435 total) Democratic Party 267, Republican Party 167,
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Socialist 1
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Communists: Communist Party (claimed 15,000-20,000 members), Gus
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HALL, general secretary; Socialist Workers Party (claimed 1,800 members),
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Jack BARNES, national secretary
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Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, BIS,
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CCC, COCOM, CP, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, FAO, ESCAP, G-2, G-5, G-7, G-8,
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G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
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IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
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NATO, NEA, OAS, OECD, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UN
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Security Council, UN Trusteeship Council, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
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WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation: US Representative to the UN,
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Ambassador Thomas R. PICKERING; Mission at 799 United Nations Plaza,
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New York, NY 10017; telephone (212) 415-4444 (afternoon hours)
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Flag: thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom)
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alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side
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corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset
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horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of
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five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes
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represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and
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colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including Chile,
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Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
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ECONOMY
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Overview: The US has the most powerful, diverse, and
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technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GNP
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of $21,800, the largest among major industrial nations. In 1989 the
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economy enjoyed its seventh successive year of substantial growth, the
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longest in peacetime history. The expansion featured moderation in
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wage and consumer price increases and a steady reduction in
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unemployment to 5.2% of the labor force. In 1990, however, growth
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slowed to 1% because of a combination of factors, such as the
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worldwide increase in interest rates, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in
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August, the subsequent spurt in oil prices, and a general decline
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in business and consumer confidence. Ongoing problems for the
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1990s include inadequate investment in education and other economic
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infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs, and sizable budget and
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trade deficits.
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GNP: $5,465 billion, per capita $21,800; real growth rate 1.0%
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(1990)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (1990)
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Unemployment rate: 5.5% (1990)
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Budget: revenues $1,106 billion; expenditures $1,272 billion,
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including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90 est.)
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Exports: $393.9 billion (f.o.b., 1990);
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commodities--capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and
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raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products;
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partners--Western Europe 27.3%, Canada 22.1%, Japan 12.1% (1989)
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Imports: $516.2 billion (c.i.f., 1990);
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commodities--crude and partly refined petroleum, machinery,
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automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and
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beverages;
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partners--Western Europe 21.5%, Japan 19.7%, Canada 18.8% (1989)
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External debt: $581 billion (December 1989)
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Industrial production: growth rate 1.0% (1990)
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Electricity: 776,550,000 kW capacity; 3,020,000 million kWh
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produced, 12,080 kWh per capita (1990)
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Industries: leading industrial power in the world, highly
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diversified; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace,
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telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer
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goods, fishing, lumber, mining
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Agriculture: accounts for 2% of GNP and 2.8% of labor force;
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favorable climate and soils support a wide variety of crops and livestock
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production; world's second-largest producer and number-one exporter of
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grain; surplus food producer; fish catch of 5.0 million metric tons
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(1988)
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Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for domestic
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consumption with 1987 production estimated at 3,500 metric tons
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or about 25% of the available marijuana; ongoing eradication program
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aimed at small plots and greenhouses has not reduced production
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Economic aid: donor--commitments, including ODA and OOF, (FY80-89),
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$115.7 billion
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Currency: United States dollar (plural--dollars);
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1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
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Exchange rates: British pounds (L) per US$--0.5171 (January
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1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817
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(1986), 0.7714 (1985);
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Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$--1.1559 (January 1991), 1.1668
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(1990), 1.1840 (1989), 1.2307 (1988), 1.3260 (1987), 1.3895 (1986),
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1.3655 (1985);
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French francs (F) per US$--5.1307 (January 1991), 5.4453 (1990),
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6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852
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(1985);
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Italian lire (Lit) per US$--1,134.4 (January 1991), 1,198.1 (1990),
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1.372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988), 1,296.1 (1987), 1,490.8 (1986), 1,909.4
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(1985);
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Japanese yen (Y) per US$--133.88 (January 1991), 144.79 (1990),
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137.96 (1989), 128.15 (1988), 144.64 (1987), 168.52 (1986), 238.54
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(1985);
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German deutsche marks (DM) per US$--1.5100 (January 1991), 1.6157
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(1990), 1.8800 (1989), 1.7562 (1988), 1.7974 (1987), 2.1715 (1986),
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2.9440 (1985)
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Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
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COMMUNICATIONS
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Railroads: 270,312 km
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Highways: 6,365,590 km, including 88,641 km expressways
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Inland waterways: 41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive
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of the Great Lakes (est.)
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Pipelines: 275,800 km petroleum, 305,300 km natural gas (1985)
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Ports: Anchorage, Baltimore, Beaumont, Boston, Charleston,
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Cleveland, Duluth, Freeport, Galveston, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston,
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Jacksonville, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Mobile, New Orleans,
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New York, Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), Richmond (California), San
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Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Wilmington
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Merchant marine: 404 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling NA
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GRT/NA DWT); includes 3 passenger-cargo, 44 cargo, 23 bulk,
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180 tanker, 13 tanker tug-barge, 11 liquefied gas, 130
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intermodal; in addition there are 231 government-owned vessels
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Civil air: 3,297 commercial multiengine transport aircraft,
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including 2,989 jet, 231 turboprop, 77 piston (1985)
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Airports: 14,177 total, 12,417 usable; 4,820 with permanent
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surface-runways; 63 with runways over 3,659 m; 325 with runways
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2,440-3,659 m; 2,524 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
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Telecommunications: 182,558,000 telephones; stations--4,892 AM,
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5,200 FM (including 3,915 commercial and 1,285 public broadcasting),
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7,296 TV (including 796 commercial, 300 public broadcasting, and 6,200
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commercial cable); 495,000,000 radio receivers (1982); 150,000,000 TV
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sets (1982); satellite communications ground stations--45 Atlantic Ocean
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INTELSAT and 16 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT
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DEFENSE FORCES
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Branches: Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (including
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Marine Corps), Department of the Air Force
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Manpower availability: males 15-49, 66,458,000; NA fit for military
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service
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Defense expenditures: $312.9 billion, 5.7% of GNP (1990)
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