The United States of America, commonly referred to as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a nation comprised of 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions. Encompassing an expansive area of 3.8 million square miles (9.8 million km2), the United States ranks as the world’s third or fourth largest country, slightly smaller than the entire landmass of Europe, which spans 3.9 million square miles (10.1 million km2). With a population surpassing 327 million individuals, the U.S. stands as the third most populous nation. The capital is Washington, D.C., and the largest city by population is New York City.
Among the 50 states and the federal district, 48 are contiguous within North America, positioned between Canada and Mexico. Alaska, situated in the northwest corner of North America, shares its eastern border with Canada and is separated from Russia by the Bering Strait to the west. Hawaii, an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean, completes the geographical diversity of the nation. The U.S. territories are dispersed across the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, spanning across nine official time zones.
The United States boasts highly diverse landscapes, climates, and wildlife, contributing to its status as one of the world’s 18 megadiverse nations.
