United States (US) Demographics

What is the population of United States (US)?

Population	341,963,408
Population: Male/Female	male: 168,598,780 female: 173,364,628
Population Growth Rate	0.67%
Population Distribution	large urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western tier states; mountainous areas, principally the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian chain, deserts in the southwest, the dense boreal forests in the extreme north, and the central prarie states are less densely populated; Alaska's population is concentrated along its southern coast - with particular emphasis on the city of Anchorage - and Hawaii's is centered on the island of Oahu
Urban Population	urban population: 83.3% of total population rate of urbanization: 0.96% annual rate of change
Population in Major Urban Areas	18.937 million New York-Newark, 12.534 million Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, 8.937 million Chicago, 6.707 million Houston, 6.574 million Dallas-Fort Worth, 5.490 million WASHINGTON, D.C. (capital)
Nationality Noun	noun: American(s) adjective: American
Ethnic Groups	White 61.6%, Black or African American 12.4%, Asian 6%, Indigenous and Alaska native 1.1%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.2%, other 8.4%, two or more races 10.2%
Language Note	English only 78.2%, Spanish 13.4%, Chinese 1.1%, other 7.3%

What is school like in United States (US)?

Classroom

Because schools are funded at the state and local levels, the quality of the structures and classroom resources can vary significantly. Most schools try to hold their class size to 20 students or less, but occasionally resources require larger class enrollments.

Because students are at school for an average of seven to eight hours per day (depending on local guidelines), they will usually eat lunch during school hours. They may bring a lunch from home, or buy lunch at school for a very reasonable cost (about US $2.00). Dietary guidelines for lunches available at the school are established by the national government (administered by the Department of Agriculture), but local schools decide what foods to serve to meet those guidelines. A typical lunch might consist of a hamburger or slice of pizza, a drink, fruit, and a cookie. For lower-income families, the lunches are free or reduced in price. In the 2004-2005 school year, six out of every ten students in the United States received a free or reduced-price lunch.

Education Culture

The United States does not have a national school system; however, there are federal support programs and educational guidelines, in addition to state and local guidelines. Between 85 to 90% of children under the age of 18 attend public schools. Although the age limit varies by state, all children in the United States have the right to receive at least 11 years of public-funded education. These public schools are funded by local and state taxes and are under those jurisdictions. A fairly small segment of public schooling consists of charter schools, which are public schools that are turned over to a local community or group of parents to operate. Of those children who do not attend public schools, most enroll in private schools, which must be paid for by the families of the students. 80% of private schools in the United States are operated by religious groups. A third educational option taken advantage of by only a small percentage is a home school, which means that the parents teach the children themselves at home. The number of home-schooled children exceeded one million for the first time in 2003.

Kindergarten is usually available for one year prior to entrance into elementary school, which begins at age six. School systems usually include grades one through six in elementary school, seven through eight or nine in junior high (sometimes called middle school), and grades nine or ten through twelve in high school. In smaller, rural communities, it is not uncommon for elementary school to include grades one through eight, with high school covering the remaining grades through twelve. 

With the influx of non-English-speaking people over the past 20 years, traditional educational models have been expanded to include content and methods from many of the major subcultures of the United States.

Like most industrialized nations, approximately one-third of young adults entering the workforce are college educated. Increasingly, a college education is required to obtain a job supporting the standard of living to which many families have become accustomed.

Learning

Children are in school for an average of seven to eight hours per day (depending on state and local regulations), Monday through Friday, for approximately 180 days per year. Most schools have a long break of about two and a half months during the summer season, which is much longer than in many other nations.

School uniforms are not required for most public schools in the United States (3% had uniforms in 1997, whereas some studies claimed up to 21% in 2000). However, there is usually some sort of dress code that prohibits clothes that expose too much skin or undergarments, are gang-related, or are otherwise just not safe. In private schools, uniforms are quite common, consisting of collared shirts of specific colors with pants or skirts also of specific colors. Some private schools prefer a more formal uniform of blazer and tie for boys and culottes or skirts for girls.

Although the school curriculum changes from state to state, nearly all elementary schools will teach mathematics, language arts (such as reading and writing), science, social studies (including history and geography), and physical education. Most schools today will also teach basic computer skills, which is becoming a critical part of education in all fields of study and general life skills. Secondary schools will teach increasingly focused aspects of these general subject areas and often include additional elective courses such as drama, choral and instrumental music, life skills (such as cooking or personal finances), foreign languages, athletics, publishing, and technical skills (such as auto mechanics, welding, or carpentry).

Most states assign performance grades using a series of letters: traditionally A meant exceptional; B, above average; C, average; D, below average; and F was a failing grade that required repetition of the course until mastery was obtained. However, grade inflation has become such a common practice that today a B is more typical of average performance, and a C is passing but substandard work.

To School

Some children ride bikes to school or walk, some ride buses provided by the school, others will take advantage of the public transportation systems available in many metropolitan areas, and yet others will ride in a carpool or with a parent. The method of transportation often depends on whether the school is in an urban or rural setting, the time of year, and the economic status of the parents.

What are the health conditions in United States (US)?

Life Expectancy at Birth	total population: 80.9 years male: 78.7 years female: 83.1 years
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population	8.5
Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births	total: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Health Expenditures - percent of GDP	18.8%
Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population	2.61
Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population	2.9
Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved	improved: urban: 99.9% of population rural: 99.7% of population total: 99.9% of population unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population rural: 0.3% of population total: 0.1% of population
Tobacco Use	total: 23% male: 28.4% female: 17.5%
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births	21
Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)	27
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49	73.9%
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman	1.84
Gross reproduction rate	1
Obesity - adult prevalence rate	36.2%
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved	improved: urban: 99.8% of population rural: 98.9% of population total: 99.7% of population unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population rural: 11.1% of population total: 0.3% of population
Underweight - percent of children under five years	0.4%
Alcohol consumption per capita	total: 8.93 liters of pure alcohol beer: 3.97 liters of pure alcohol wine: 1.67 liters of pure alcohol spirits: 3.29 liters of pure alcohol other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol
Currently married women (ages 15-49)	51.9%

How long do people live in United States (US)?

Life Expectancy at Birth	total population: 80.9 years male: 78.7 years female: 83.1 years
Median Age	total: 38.9 years male: 37.8 years female: 40 years
Gross reproduction rate	1
Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49	73.9%
Infant Mortality Rate	total: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births	21
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman	1.84

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population	12
Median Age	total: 38.9 years male: 37.8 years female: 40 years
Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population	3
Population Growth Rate	0.67%
Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female
Age Structure	0-14 years: 18.1% (male 31,618,532/female 30,254,223) 15-64 years: 63.4% (male 108,553,822/female 108,182,491) 65 years and over: 18.5% (2024 est.) (male 28,426,426/female 34,927,914)
Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49	73.9%
Gross reproduction rate	1
Infant Mortality Rate	total: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births	21
Mother's mean age at first birth	27
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman	1.84

What are the health conditions in United States (US)?

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

18.8%

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

2.9

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

2.61

What is school like in United States (US)?

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP	6.1%
Literacy Definition	Age 15 and over can read and write
Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)	total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years

Can people in United States (US) read?

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write