# California

> state of the United States of America

**Wikidata**: [Q99](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q99)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/california

## Summary
California is a state of the United States of America, located primarily in North America. It is the world's oldest surviving federation and a global superpower with the largest economy by nominal GDP, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and a leader in technological, cultural, and military influence.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name**: United States of America
- **Form of Government**: Federal presidential constitutional republic
- **Independence**: Declared July 4, 1776; recognized September 3, 1783 (Treaty of Paris)
- **Constitution**: Ratified June 21, 1788; in effect March 4, 1789
- **Capital**: Washington, D.C. (since November 17, 1800)
- **Population**: 340,110,988 (July 1, 2024 estimate)
- **Area**: 9,826,675 km² (total, including water)
- **Coordinates**: Geographic center at 44.967243394444°N, 103.77155634167°W (since 1959)
- **Borders**: Canada (north), Mexico (south); maritime borders with Russia, Cuba, Bahamas, and others
- **Currency**: United States dollar (USD)
- **Calling Code**: +1
- **Internet TLD**: .us, .gov, .mil, .edu
- **ISO Codes**: Alpha-2: US, Alpha-3: USA, Numeric: 840
- **Motto**: "In God We Trust" (official since 1956); "E pluribus unum" (de facto, 1776–1956)
- **Anthem**: "The Star-Spangled Banner" (since March 3, 1931)
- **Flag**: 50 stars representing states; 13 stripes representing original colonies
- **Coat of Arms**: Great Seal of the United States
- **Demonym**: American
- **Official Language**: English (de facto); no federal official language
- **Time Zones**: UTC−12:00 to UTC+12:00 across states/territories
- **Driving Side**: Right
- **Emergency Number**: 911
- **Highest Point**: Denali (Mount McKinley), Alaska, 6,190 m
- **Lowest Point**: Badwater Basin, California, −86 m
- **Coastline**: 95,471 miles (including Great Lakes)
- **Median Income**: $43,585 (2020, 2016–2020 ACS)
- **Per Capita Income**: $35,384 (2020, 2016–2020 ACS)
- **Human Development Index (HDI)**: 0.921 (2021, "Very High")
- **Inequality-Adjusted HDI**: 0.819 (2021)
- **Life Expectancy**: 77 years (2022)
- **Birth Rate**: 11 per 1,000 (2022)
- **Death Rate**: 9.8 per 1,000 (2022)
- **Suicide Rate**: 14.5 per 100,000 (2019)
- **Gini Coefficient**: 47.7 (2011, income inequality)
- **Literacy Rate**: 99.4% (1979)
- **Urban Population**: 276,895,219 (2022)
- **Rural Population**: 56,376,192 (2022)
- **Number of Households**: 122,354,219 (2020, ACS)
- **Head of State & Government**: President (currently Donald Trump, since January 20, 2025)
- **Legislative Body**: United States Congress (bicameral: House of Representatives, Senate)
- **Judicial Authority**: Supreme Court of the United States
- **Central Bank**: Federal Reserve System (since 1913)
- **Aircraft Registration Prefix**: N
- **Mobile Country Codes**: 310, 311, 312, 313, 316
- **Maritime Identification Digits**: 338, 366, 367, 368, 369
- **Licence Plate Code**: USA (since 1952)
- **Top-Level Internet Domain**: .us

## FAQs
**What type of government does the United States have?**
The United States is a federal presidential constitutional republic. It operates under a system of checks and balances among three co-equal branches: executive (President), legislative (Congress), and judicial (Supreme Court). The federal government shares sovereignty with 50 state governments.

**What is the current population and demographic profile?**
As of July 1, 2024, the estimated population is 340,110,988. The population is majority urban (81.5% in 2022). The largest ethnic groups are White Americans (72.4% in 2010), African Americans (12.6%), Asian Americans (4.8%), and Native Americans (1.1%). The median age is 38.2 years (2020).

**What are the key economic indicators?**
The United States has the world's largest nominal GDP, estimated at $28.75 trillion in 2024. The Gini coefficient was 47.7 in 2011, indicating significant income inequality. The unemployment rate was 6.7% in December 2013, and the per capita personal income was $35,384 in 2020.

**What international organizations is the United States a member of?**
The United States is a founding member of the United Nations (1945) and a permanent member of its Security Council. It belongs to NATO (1949), the Organization of American States (1948), the World Trade Organization (1995), the G7, the G20, APEC, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. It is also part of numerous security alliances like AUKUS and Five Eyes.

**What is the United States' human development status?**
The United States has a "Very High" Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.921 (2021), ranking it among the top 20 globally. Its Inequality-Adjusted HDI is 0.819 (2021). Life expectancy at birth was 77 years in 2022.

**What are the major geographic features?**
The United States spans the North American continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific, including Alaska (northwest) and Hawaii (central Pacific). It has diverse geography: major mountain ranges (Rockies, Appalachians), large river systems (Mississippi, Missouri), and varied climates. The total area is 9,826,675 km², with a coastline of 95,471 miles.

**How is the United States administratively divided?**
The United States is composed of 50 states, the federal district of Washington, D.C., and 16 inhabited territories (including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Each state has its own government and constitution. The territories have varying levels of self-governance.

**What is the significance of the United States in global affairs?**
The United States is a global superpower with dominant economic, military, and cultural influence. It leads in technological innovation, higher education, and soft power. Its foreign policy and military alliances shape international security, while its market drives global trade. It plays a central role in international institutions and sets precedents in democracy, human rights, and environmental policy.

## Why It Matters
The United States matters as the world's oldest surviving federation and a paradigm of constitutional democracy. Its economic engine—the largest single national economy—drives global markets, innovation, and financial systems. Militarily, it maintains the world's most powerful armed forces and a network of alliances (NATO, Japan, South Korea) that underpins international security. Culturally, American media, technology, and academia exert immense soft power, shaping global trends in entertainment, language, and lifestyle. Politically, its model of federalism, individual rights, and rule of law has been emulated worldwide. The U.S. dollar's role as the primary global reserve currency gives it unparalleled financial leverage. Its scientific and technological leadership (from the internet to space exploration) drives global progress. Domestically, its size, diversity, and internal market make it a critical test case for managing pluralistic, complex societies. Its historical role in World Wars, the Cold War, and as a promoter of liberal international order continues to define global geopolitics. Challenges like political polarization, inequality, and climate change also make its domestic trajectory globally significant.

## Notable For
- **Global Superpower**: The world's sole superpower post-Cold War, with unmatched military, economic, and cultural reach.
- **Economic Leader**: Largest nominal GDP ($28.75T in 2024); home to most Fortune 500 companies; global financial hub (Wall Street, dollar as reserve currency).
- **Innovation Epicenter**: Birthplace of major technologies (internet, smartphones, personal computer); leading in R&D spending and Nobel laureates.
- **Cultural Exporter**: Dominant global influence in film, music, television, and digital platforms (Hollywood, Netflix, social media).
- **Higher Education**: Hosts world-leading universities (Harvard, MIT, Stanford) attracting global talent.
- **Military Might**: Largest defense budget; most advanced military technology; global network of bases.
- **Democratic Model**: Oldest surviving federal republic; influential constitutional framework with Bill of Rights.
- **Space Exploration**: First and only nation to land humans on the Moon; leading NASA and private space companies (SpaceX).
- **Soft Power**: Global appeal of American ideals, lifestyle, and brands; major destination for immigrants.
- **Diverse Society**: One of the world's most ethnically and culturally diverse nations, with a history of immigration.
- **Natural Wonders**: Vast and varied landscapes (Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Alaska, Hawaii) protected in national parks.
- **Scientific Achievement**: Leader in medical research, biotechnology, and information technology.
- **Sports Influence**: Global popularity of American sports (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) and hosting of major international events.
- **Culinary Impact**: Global diffusion of regional cuisines (fast food, fusion, craft brewing).
- **Political Polarization**: Noted for intense partisan division, making it a case study in modern democratic challenges.
- **Gun Culture**: Unique among developed nations in high civilian gun ownership and related political debates.
- **Car Dependency**: One of the world's highest rates of vehicle ownership (778 vehicles per 1,000 people in 1996).
- **Federal System**: Complex division of power between national and state governments, creating 50 distinct legal environments.
- **Historical Firsts**: First modern democracy to codify a written constitution; first to land humans on another celestial body.
- **Global Media**: Home to major international news outlets (CNN, The New York Times, Reuters) shaping global discourse.
- **Environmental Footprint**: One of the world's largest per-capita carbon emitters, making it central to climate change efforts.
- **Higher Education Hub**: Attracts over 1 million international students annually.
- **Tech Ecosystem**: Silicon Valley as the global epicenter of venture capital and tech startups.
- **Entertainment Industry**: Hollywood produces the majority of the world's box office revenue.
- **Pharmaceuticals**: World leader in drug development and biotechnology innovation.
- **Agricultural Exporter**: Largest or second-largest exporter of many agricultural commodities.
- **Space Force**: First independent space military branch (established 2019).
- **Internet Governance**: Historically pivotal role in the development and stewardship of the internet.
- **Cultural Diversity**: "Melting pot" identity with significant populations from every continent.
- **Constitutional Longevity**: One of the world's oldest written constitutions still in use.
- **Federal Reserve**: Central bank with unique structure and global monetary influence.
- **Hollywood Sign**: Iconic global symbol of the entertainment industry.
- **Statue of Liberty**: Universal symbol of freedom and immigration.
- **National Parks**: First country to establish a national park system (Yellowstone, 1872).
- **Thanksgiving**: Originated a major global holiday celebrated in multiple countries.

## References

1. [Source](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&sectionNum=SEC.%206.&article=III)
2. BnF authorities
3. CiNii Research
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. FIPS 10-4
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. MusicBrainz
8. 2000 United States Census
9. United States Census Bureau
10. [2010 United States Census](https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0100000US%241600000&y=2010&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29)
11. [Population Estimates Program](https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest.html)
12. [2020 United States Census](https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?t=Populations%20and%20People&g=0100000US,%241600000&y=2020)
13. [2016–2020 American Community Survey](https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?d=ACS%205-Year%20Estimates%20Detailed%20Tables)
14. [Motto - Eureka. 2021](https://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/state-symbols/motto-eureka/)
15. GeoNames
16. BBC Things
17. Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
18. [Source](https://ncim-stage.nci.nih.gov/ncimbrowser/pages/concept_details.jsf?dictionary=NCI%20Metathesaurus&code=C0006754&type=synonym)
19. [Source](https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/state-abbreviations.htm)
20. [Bill Text - AB-261 Mushrooms.. California State Legislature](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB261)
21. [State Symbols - California State Library](https://www.library.ca.gov/california-history/state-symbols/)
22. BabelNet
23. United States Summary: 2010, Population and Housing Unit Counts, 2000 Census of Population and Housing
24. [Source](https://www.tripadvisor.com.br/Tourism-g28926-California-Vacations.html)
25. Google Maps
26. [Source](https://catalogo.bn.gov.ar/F/?func=direct&doc_number=000042765&local_base=BNA10)
27. [2016–2020 American Community Survey](https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?t=Income%20and%20Poverty&g=0100000US,%241600000&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1902)
28. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
29. [Source](http://www.library.ca.gov/california-history/state-symbols/)
30. [Source](https://www.minimum-wage.org/wage-by-state)
31. [Source](https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/Kalifornia;3919230.html)
32. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip)
33. Golden
34. KBpedia
35. [Source](https://github.com/opencivicdata/ocd-division-ids/blob/1be9a1a8e83af5274515fca52cc7875d75174129/identifiers/country-us/states.csv)
36. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
37. museum-digital
38. Best California Posts - Reddit. Reddit
39. [Source](https://www.flickr.com/photo.gne?id=40877685753)