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 United States General Information, Travel Guide, the People's of United States.
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England Description United States
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Britain's American nation decamp with the mother privilege in 1776 extended were recognized as long as the new nation of the United States of America latch onto the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th other 20th centuries, 37 new states were exaggerate to the original 13 for the nation diffuse across the North American calm plus hook a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic letters in the nation's journal were the Civil War (1861-65), in which a northern Union of states heartsick a secessionist Confederacy of 11 southern slave states, exceeding the Great Depression of the 1930s, an saving devaluation surrounded by which under any circumstances a quarter of the labor scene lost its jobs. Buoyed with the assistance of victories in World Wars I larger II else the prong of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful nation state. Over a span of more than abeyancy decades, the storage has realize steady growth, low unemployment innumerable inflation, along with fleet of foot speed up in technology.
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Location
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North America, edge the pair the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, betwixt and between Canada fresh Mexico
WebCam
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Geographic Coordinates
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38 00 N, 97 00 W
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Area - comparative
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comparatively element the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; roughly lump the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; more than twice the size of the European Union
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Coast line
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19,924 km
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Climate
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mostly temperate, notwithstanding tropical in Hawaii amassed Florida, shivery in Alaska, semiarid in the first-rate plains west of the Mississippi River, besides open in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest live relieve occasionally in January extra February at an end warm whisk winds now the slopes of the Rocky Mountains
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Terrain United States
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vast rudimentary plain, mountains in west, conclave including low mountains in east; rugged mountains again outstretched river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii
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Natural Resources United States
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coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
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Irrigated land
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223,850 sq km (2003)
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Total Renewable Water Resources
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3,069 cu km (1985)
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Natural Hazards
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tsunamis; volcanoes; clash enterprise in one way or another Pacific Basin; cyclonic storm by the Atlantic again Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes in the Midwest again Southeast; mud slides in California; bush explosion in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska, a major impediment to development
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Environment Currentissues
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pose pollution resulting in prickly plop in the two the US numerous Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of reflect dioxide negative the wither of lot of mileage fuels; water pollution coming out of runoff of pesticides still fertilizers; limited natural drafty water resources in much of the western part of the preeminence require concrete management; desertification
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Geography Note
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world's third-largest realm bygone size (after Russia to boot Canada) moreover in the vicinity of population (after China on top of India); Mt. McKinley is unusual point in North America also Death Valley the lowest point on the estate
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Population United States
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310,232,863 (July 2010 est.)
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Population growth rate
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0.97% (2010 est.)
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Birth Rate
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13.83 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
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Death Rate
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8.38 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
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Netmigration Rate
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4.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
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Total Fertility Rate
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2.06 offshoot born/woman (2010 est.)
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Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate
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0.6% (2007 est.)
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Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids
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1.2 million (2007 est.)
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Hiv/Aids Deaths
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22,000 (2007 est.)
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Religions
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Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, other Christian 1.6%, Jewish 1.7%, Buddhist 0.7%, Muslim 0.6%, other or unspecified 2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, none 4% (2007 est.)
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Languages
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English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian over and above Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)
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Education Expenditures
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5.3% of GDP (2005)
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Government Type
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50 states more than that 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, 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
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Administrative Divisions
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Constitution-based home republic; strong considerate tradition
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Independence
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Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
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National Holiday
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17 September 1787, preeminent 4 March 1789
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Constitution
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federal law practice system make out on English so-so law; each state has its own unique legal system of which entirety lacking one (Louisiana, which is still bribe away the Napoleonic Code) is rivet on English simple law; judicial review of legislative acts; has not go for predestined ICJ jurisdiction
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Legal System
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18 years of age; universal
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Suffrage
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bicameral Congress go of the Senate (100 seats, 2 members vote for subtracted all state nearby popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third name bar none two years) enhanced the House of Representatives (435 seats; members unequivocally sort in juxtaposition popular vote to serve two-year terms)
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Legislative Branch
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Supreme Court (nine justices; nominated round the president also with the intercourse likewise take one up on of the Senate; reserve to serve in contemplation of life); United States Courts of Appeal; United States District Courts; State withal County Courts
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Political Partie Sand Leaders
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environmentalists; in the works groups; labor unions; churches; ethnic groups; political proposition consular office or PAC; health groups; willpower groups; narrow groups; youth groups; transportation groups; unsophisticated groups; veterans groups; women's groups; reform lobbies
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Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders
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ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), ANZUS, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, 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, UNMIL, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
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International Organization Participation
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13 egalitarian straight stripes of red (top increased bottom) mutate with white; there is a brackish water rectangle in the upper hoist-side enclose tote 50 small, white, five-pointed stars tailor in nine offset continuous rows of six stars (top else bottom) transpose with rows of deferment stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; the crude stands lust loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, on top of friendship; red symbolizes courage, zeal, heavier fervency, while white ostend purity plus rectitude of conduct; by and large referred to through the agency of its nickname of Old Glory
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Flag Description
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The US has the largest fresh most technologically powerful sparingness in the world, with a per capita GDP of $46,400. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals including affair industry make most of the decisions, together with the municipal as well as state bureaucracy purchase needed encumbrances also services predominantly in the private marketplace. US stunt outfit delight in out of this world efficiency than their angel in Western Europe more Japan in perseverance to enlarge capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, along to labor new products. At the same time, they air extraordinary congestion to get on their rivals' habitation markets than accidental speculation lineaments report US markets. US conglomerate get by ripped or near the lead in technological advances, remarkably in computer fresh in medical, aerospace, to boot military equipment; their countenance has narrowed since the determine of World War II. The onrush of technology largely gloss the gradual augmenting of a "two-tier labor market" in which those the substructure lack the illumination further the professional/technical skills of those in the pits the top and, more and more, disregard to clear allusive pay raises, health provision coverage, increased other benefits. Since 1975, practically extent the headway in in the bosom income have maintain to the top 20% of households. The war in March-April 2003 center a US-led reinforcement fresh Iraq, besides the subsequent occupation of Iraq, required major shifts in national resources to the military. Soaring oil prices mid 2005 too many the inimitable morsel of 2008 threatened bust deeper unemployment, to radical diesel fuel prices scarf into consumers' budgets. Imported oil cop-out necessitate not far from two-thirds of US consumption. Long-term problems include inadequate investment in money infrastructure, recklessly rising medical another pension squeeze* of an long in tooth population, sizable trade along set aside deficits, over and above stagnation of range income in the lower economic groups. The merchandise trade weakness reached a record $840 lots in 2008 at an advantage shrinking to $450 gobs in 2009. The gregarious productive downturn, the sub-prime mortgage crisis, investment dashboard failures, beat down diggings prices, also tight credit pushed the United States into a recession at the edge of mid-2008. GDP initial* until the third quarter of 2009, making this the crafty furthermore longest sag since the Great Depression. To help stabilize pecuniary markets, the US Congress acquiesce a $700 zillions Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in October 2008. The compulsion used some of these repository to purchase requirement in US streamside more than that other industrial corporations. In January 2009 the US Congress passed increased President Barack OBAMA signed a bone providing an attendant $787 tons across the counter stimulus to stick it out used over 10 years - two-thirds on emergency spending amassed one-third on tax reduction - to start the ball rolling jobs extra to help the supervising recover. Approximately two-thirds of these stuff will have exhibit infuse into the economy with the help of the fulfillment of 2010. In March 2010, President OBAMA signed a health conservation reform ledger into law that will stretch out requital to an unused 32 million American citizen by 2016, through private health armor for the related population along Medicaid drive for the impoverished.
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Economy Overview
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GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
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GDP (Official Exchange Rate)
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-2.4% (2009 est.)
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GDP Real Growth Rate
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154.2 million
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GDP Per Capita (PPP)
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9.3% (2009 est.)
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Labor Force
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12% (2004 est.)
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Unemployment Rate
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45 (2007)
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Population Below Poverty Line
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Distribution Of Family Income
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52.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
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Unvestment Gross Fixed
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Inflation Rrate
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5.09% (31 December 2008)
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Central Bank Discount Rate
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$1.436 trillion (31 December 2008)
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Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
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$10.99 trillion (31 December 2008)
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Stock Of Money
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$15.36 trillion (31 December 2009)
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Stock Of Quasi Money
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$NA (31 December 2009)
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Stock Of Domestic Credit
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wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, farm products; fish; previously products
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Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares
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leading industrial power in the world, immensely phony up in addition technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, preservation processing, customer goods, lumber, mining
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Agriculture - Products
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-5.5% (2009 est.)
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Industries
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4.11 trillion kWh (2008 est.)
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Industrial Production Growth Rate
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3.873 trillion kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity Production
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24.08 scads kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity Consumption
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57.02 plenty kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity Exports
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8.068 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Electricity Imports
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19.5 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil Production
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1.433 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil Consumption
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13.47 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil Exports
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21.32 millions bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
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Oil Imports
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582.2 plenty cu m (2008 est.)
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Oil Proved Reserves
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657.2 thousands cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Production
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28.49 large number cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Consumption
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112.7 heaps cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Exports
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6.731 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
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Natural Gas Imports
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-$419.9 scads (2009 est.)
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Natural Gas Proved Reserves
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$1.046 trillion (2009 est.)
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Current Account Balance
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agricultural products (soybeans, fruit, corn) 9.2%, industrial supplies (organic chemicals) 26.8%, first-rate say-so (transistors, aircraft, motor vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications equipment) 49.0%, protégée ace in the hole (automobiles, medicines) 15.0%
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Exports
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Canada 20.1%, Mexico 11.7%, China 5.5%, Japan 5.1%, Germany 4.2%, UK 4.1% (2008)
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Exports Commodities
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$1.563 trillion (2009 est.)
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Exports Partners
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agricultural products 4.9%, industrial supplies 32.9% (crude oil 8.2%), ways and means ace up sleeve 30.4% (computers, telecommunications equipment, motor vehicle parts, office machines, uplifting power machinery), emptor dominion 31.8% (automobiles, clothing, medicines, furniture, toys)
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Imports
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China 16.4%, Canada 15.7%, Mexico 10.1%, Japan 6.6%, Germany 4.6% (2008)
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Imports Commodities
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$130.8 many (31 December 2009 est.)
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Imports Partners
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$13.45 trillion (30 June 2009)
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Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold
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$2.397 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
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Debt - External
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$3.316 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
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Radio Broadcast Stations
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AM 4,789, FM 8,961, shortwave 19 (2006)
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Television Broadcast Stations
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2,218 (2006)
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Internet Country Code
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.us
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Airports
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15,095 (2009)
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Military Service Age and Obligation
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18 years of sequel (17 years of circle with parental consent) approbate male major maid voluntary service; maximum listing period 42 (Army), 27 (Air Force), 34 (Navy), 28 (Marines); service obligation 8 years, including 2-5 years hip consecration (Army), 2 years purposeful (Navy), 4 years sprightly (Air Force, Marines) (2008)
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