Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of United States: Washington, D.C. — Facts & Quiz

The capital of United States is Washington, D.C.. United States sits in North America, has a population of 333,287,557, and uses the USD. Official languages include English.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Washington, D.C.
  • Continent: North America
  • Population: ~333,287,557
  • Area: 9,833,517 km²
  • Population density: 33.9 people per km²
  • Official language: English
  • Currency: USD
  • ISO code: US

How big is United States?

By population, United States ranks 3rd in the world, holding roughly 4.19% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 3rd.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. United States has 33.9 people per square kilometre, which is about 1.8 times below the world average of 59.4. Its population and area ranks line up exactly, which is uncommon.

Within North America, United States is the most populous country of 23.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to United States in population are Indonesia (275,501,339) and Pakistan (235,824,862).

By land area, its closest counterparts are Canada (9,984,670 km²) and China (9,596,961 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

English is spoken officially in 58 countries in this dataset, including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados and Belize, and 52 others.

The USD is not unique to United States — it is also used by Ecuador, El Salvador, Marshall Islands and Micronesia, and 2 others. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.

How to remember United States

Washington, D.C. is named after George Washington, and 'D.C.' stands for District of Columbia: a federal district, not one of the 50 states. It sits on the Potomac River, in the Mid-Atlantic region of the East Coast. For the flag, count it out: 13 stripes for the first colonies, 50 stars for today's states.

The flag of United States: red, white and blue

🇺🇸 The flag is 13 horizontal stripes of red and white, with a blue rectangle in the top corner by the flagpole holding 50 small white stars. The 50 stars stand for the 50 states and the 13 stripes for the 13 original colonies. Blue is said to stand for loyalty, justice and friendship, red for courage, and white for purity.

Region and neighbours

United States is a large country in North America, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, with Alaska in the northwest and the islands of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. It shares land borders with 2 countries: Canada and Mexico.

Three facts about United States

  1. The United States is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C.
  2. Denali in Alaska, also called Mount McKinley, is the highest peak in the country and on the continent.
  3. By land area, the United States is the third-largest country in the world, after Russia and China.

Sources: Wikipedia: United States, Wikipedia: Flag of the United States, Wikipedia: Washington, D.C., CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on United States

United States capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of United States 🇺🇸?

    • Kingstown
    • Washington, D.C.
    • Basseterre
    • Panama City
    Show answer

    Washington, D.C.

  2. What is the capital of Mexico 🇲🇽?

    • Kingston
    • Mexico City
    • Roseau
    • San Salvador
    Show answer

    Mexico City

  3. What is the capital of Canada 🇨🇦?

    • Kingstown
    • Roseau
    • Ottawa
    • Saint George's
    Show answer

    Ottawa

  4. What is the capital of Guatemala 🇬🇹?

    • Kingstown
    • Saint George's
    • Port-au-Prince
    • Guatemala City
    Show answer

    Guatemala City

  5. What is the capital of Haiti 🇭🇹?

    • Port-au-Prince
    • Belmopan
    • Nassau
    • Saint George's
    Show answer

    Port-au-Prince

United States in North America

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Mexico, Canada, Guatemala and Haiti.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — North America is the block United States belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for United States.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of United States?

The capital of United States is Washington, D.C..

What is the population of United States?

About 333,287,557, making it the 3rd most populous country in the world.

How big is United States?

9,833,517 square kilometres, ranking 3rd by land area, at a density of 33.9 people per square kilometre.

What currency does United States use?

The USD, shared with 6 other countries.

What are the colours of the United States flag?

The flag of United States is 13 horizontal stripes of red and white, with a blue rectangle in the top corner by the flagpole holding 50 small white stars. The 50 stars stand for the 50 states and the 13 stripes for the 13 original colonies. Blue is said to stand for loyalty, justice and friendship, red for courage, and white for purity.

Which countries border United States?

United States shares land borders with Canada and Mexico.

How can I remember the capital of United States?

Washington, D.C. is named after George Washington, and 'D.C.' stands for District of Columbia: a federal district, not one of the 50 states. It sits on the Potomac River, in the Mid-Atlantic region of the East Coast. For the flag, count it out: 13 stripes for the first colonies, 50 stars for today's states.

More capitals to learn

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