Overview of the United States
Home to half of the world’s top universities, the United States of America (US) is one of the most popular study destinations for international students. Over a million students from around the world study in the US every year, drawn to the high quality of education, highly accredited professors, and the high standard of living.
Location and Geography
The United States of America is the world’s third largest country in size and nearly the third largest in terms of population. Located in North America, the US is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east side and the Pacific Ocean on the west side of the country. It shares its northern border with Canada and its southern border with Mexico. Due to the large size of the US, its geography is extremely diverse including forests, deserts, beaches, mountains, and large bodies of water in and around the country.
States and Territories
The US consists of 50 states, a federal district (Washington, D.C.), five major territories, and various minor islands.
Washington, D.C., formally known as the District of Columbia, is the capital of the United States. Each state and territory also have their own capital cities.
More than 10 US cities are listed amongst the top 100 QS Best Student Cities (2023). The top student cities (and the state they are in) in America are: Boston (MA), New York (NY), Los Angeles (CA), San Francisco (CA); Chicago (IL), Atlanta (GA), Philadelphia (PA), Washington (DC), Pittsburg (PA), San Diego (CA), Baltimore (MD), Houston (TX), and Miami (FL).
Climate and Weather
Due to the large size of the US, it has a wide variety of weather conditions across the country at any given time. In general, the US has a continental climate, with cold winters (often frigid) and hot summers (sometimes very hot), with a different season duration depending on a region’s proximity from the equator and from the sea. However, there are some exceptions. The weather on the west coast, bordered by the Pacific Ocean, and in its southmost regions, have mediterranean and tropical climates respectively. The mountainous areas, on the other hand are cold in winter and remain cool in summer, whereas its desserts are mild in winter and extremely hot in the summer. The deserts are mostly found in the southwestern regions of the US.
You can find out more about the climate of cities in the U.S. by visiting the U.S. Climate Data website.
Demographics and Culture
According to the US Census Bureau’s Population Clock, there are over 330 million people living in the US. This makes the US the third most populated country in the world, following China and India respectively.
California is the most populous state with 39.5 million citizens, followed by Texas with a population of 28.7 million. Their most populous city is New York City with a population of 8.4 million. To put it in perspective, if California were a country, it would be the 36th most populous country in the world, slightly larger than Iraq and Poland.
The Pew Research Centre has stated that in 2015, 45 million of the population has immigrated to the US since 1965. Immigrants are primarily from Asia and Latin America. It’s estimated that immigration will increase to 19% of the population by 2060. According to the US Census Bureau, nearly 25% (~7 million) of the American population identify themselves as a racial minority. The largest racial minorities are Latin Americans, followed by African Americans.
English is the primary language spoken in the US. Spanish, Chinese, and Native American are among the top other languages spoken throughout the US.
Although the US is a predominantly Christian and Catholic country, there are many mosques, temples, and synagogues across the country. The freedom to practice one's religion is among the most important rights in the United States.
Nchini Marekani, ambapo nusu ya vyuo vikuu vya juu duniani viko, ni moja ya nchi maarufu zaidi kwa wanafunzi wa kimataifa. Zaidi ya wanafunzi milioni moja kutoka duniani kote kusoma katika Marekani kila mwaka, kuvutia kwa ubora wa elimu, profesa sana accredited, na kiwango cha juu cha maisha. Eneo na Jiografia Marekani ni nchi ya tatu kwa ukubwa duniani kwa ukubwa na karibu ya tatu kwa ukubwa kwa suala la idadi ya watu. Marekani iko katika Amerika ya Kaskazini, na imezungukwa na Bahari ya Atlantiki upande wa mashariki na Bahari ya Pasifiki upande wa magharibi. Ina mipaka ya kaskazini na Kanada na mipaka ya kusini na Mexico. Kwa sababu ya ukubwa mkubwa wa Marekani, jiografia yake ni tofauti sana ikiwa ni pamoja na misitu, jangwa, fukwe, milima, na miili mikubwa ya maji ndani na karibu na nchi. Marekani ina majimbo 50, wilaya moja (Washington, DC), maeneo matano makubwa na visiwa vidogo. Washington, D.C. (Jimbo la Columbia) ni mji mkuu wa Marekani. Kila jimbo na eneo pia lina miji-mji yao mikuu. Miji zaidi ya 10 ya Marekani imeorodheshwa kati ya miji 100 bora ya wanafunzi ya QS (2023). Majiji ya juu ya wanafunzi (na hali wanayo) nchini Marekani ni: Boston (MA), New York (NY), Los Angeles (CA), San Francisco (CA); Chicago (IL), Atlanta (GA), Philadelphia (PA), Washington (DC), Pittsburgh (PA), San Diego (CA), Baltimore (MD), Houston (TX), na Miami (FL). Hali ya hewa na hali ya hewa: Kwa sababu ya ukubwa mkubwa wa nchi, hali ya hewa ya Marekani ni tofauti sana katika nchi nzima. Kwa ujumla, Marekani ina hali ya hewa ya bara, na majira ya baridi (mara nyingi baridi) na majira ya joto (wakati mwingine moto sana), na muda tofauti wa msimu kulingana na ukaribu wa mkoa kutoka ikweta na kutoka bahari. Hata hivyo, kuna mambo fulani yasiyo ya kawaida. Hali ya hewa katika pwani ya magharibi, iliyozungukwa na Bahari ya Pasifiki, na katika mikoa yake ya kusini, ina hali ya hewa ya Mediterania na kitropiki. Kwa upande mwingine, maeneo ya milimani ni baridi wakati wa majira ya baridi kali na hubaki baridi wakati wa kiangazi, ilhali maeneo ya mashambani ni laini wakati wa majira ya baridi kali na moto sana wakati wa kiangazi. Jangwa hilo linapatikana hasa katika maeneo ya kusini-magharibi mwa Marekani. Unaweza kupata habari zaidi kuhusu hali ya hewa ya miji ya Marekani kwa kutembelea tovuti yetu. Tovuti ya Takwimu za Hali ya Hewa. Kulingana na Idara ya sensa ya Marekani, idadi ya watu nchini Marekani ni zaidi ya milioni 330. Hii inafanya Marekani kuwa nchi ya tatu yenye idadi kubwa ya watu duniani, ikifuatiwa na China na India. California ni jimbo lenye watu wengi zaidi na raia milioni 39.5, ikifuatiwa na Texas na idadi ya watu milioni 28.7. Jiji lenye watu wengi zaidi ni New York City lenye wakazi milioni 8.4. Kwa mfano, kama California ingekuwa nchi, ingekuwa nchi ya 36 yenye watu wengi zaidi duniani, kubwa kidogo kuliko Iraq na Poland. Kituo cha Utafiti cha Pew kimesema kuwa katika mwaka wa 2015, watu milioni 45 wamehamia Marekani tangu mwaka wa 1965. Wahamiaji hasa wanatoka Asia na Amerika ya Latini. Inakadiriwa kuwa uhamiaji utaongezeka hadi asilimia 19 ya idadi ya watu kufikia mwaka 2060. Kulingana na Idara ya sensa ya Marekani, karibu asilimia 25 ya watu wa Marekani wanajiita wachache wa rangi. Watu wa jamii ndogo-ndogo walio wengi zaidi ni Wamarekani wa Latini, wakifuatwa na Wamarekani wa Kiafrika. Kiingereza ni lugha kuu inayozungumzwa nchini Marekani. Kihispania, Kichina, na lugha za Wenyeji wa Asili wa Amerika ni miongoni mwa lugha nyingine zinazozungumzwa zaidi nchini Marekani. Ingawa Marekani ni nchi yenye Wakristo na Wakatoliki wengi, kuna misikiti, mahekalu, na masinagogi mengi kotekote nchini. Uhuru wa kuabudu ni mojawapo ya haki muhimu zaidi nchini Marekani.