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america is not very good
{{other uses|America (disambiguation)}}
{{pp-pc1|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox Continent
|title = The Americas
|image = ]
|area = 42,549,000 km<sup>2</sup><br />(16,428,000 sq mi)
|population = 1,001,559,000 (])
|GDP_nominal = $24.6 trillion (])
|GDP_per_capita=$25,229 (2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/snaama/resQuery.asp|title=United Nations Statistics Division - National Accounts|website=unstats.un.org}}</ref>
|HDI = 0.736<ref>{{Cite journal|doi=10.20431/2349-0381.0401002|url=https://www.arcjournals.org/pdfs/ijhsse/v4-i1/2.pdf|title=Continental Comparison of Human Development Index (HDI)|journal=International Journal of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education|volume=4|year=2017}}</ref>
|demonym = ],<ref name="OEDAMERICAN" /> New Worlder<ref name="OED|New Worlder">{{OED|New Worlder}}</ref> (see ])
|countries = 35
|list_countries =
|dependencies =
|languages = ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]
|time = ] to ]
|cities = ]<br>]
{{collapsible list
| list_style = text-align:left;
<!--1-->|1.]<!--11,967,825-->
<!--2-->|2.]<!--8,894,412-->
<!--3-->|3.]<!--8,854,600-->
<!--4-->|4.]<!--8,550,405-->
<!--5-->|5.]<!--7,862,277-->
<!--6-->|6.]<!--6,476,631-->
<!--7-->|7.]<!--5,507,282-->
<!--8-->|8.]<!--3,971,883-->
<!--9-->|9.]<!--3,289,886-->
<!--10-->|10.]<!--3,054,267-->
}}
}}
] political map of the Americas in ]]]

The '''Americas''' (also collectively called '''America''')<ref>See for example: . Retrieved on January 27, 2008; "". Dictionary.com. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Accessed: January 27, 2008.</ref><ref>Marjorie Fee and Janice MacAlpine, ''Oxford Guide to Canadian English Usage'' (2008) page 36 says "In Canada, ''American'' is used almost exclusively in reference to the United States and its citizens." Others, including ''The New Zealand Oxford Dictionary'', ''The Canadian Oxford Dictionary'', ''The Australian Oxford Dictionary'' and ''The Concise Oxford English Dictionary'' all specify both the Americas and the United States in their definition of "American".</ref><ref name="oxfordc">"America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' ({{ISBN|0-19-214183-X}}). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: Oxford University Press, p. 33: ". Since the 16c, a name of the western hemisphere, often in the plural ''Americas'' and more or less synonymous with ''the New World''. Since the 18c, a name of the United States of America. The second sense is now primary in English:&nbsp;... However, the term is open to uncertainties:&nbsp;..."</ref> comprise the totality of the continents of ] and ] (sometimes regarded as one continent).<ref>Webster's New World College Dictionary, 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Merriam Webster dictionary|year=2013|publisher=Merriam-Webster, Incorporated|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/america|accessdate=March 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>"continent n. 5. a." (1989) '']'', 2nd edition. ] ; "continent<sup>1</sup> n." (2006) ''The ]'', 11th edition revised. (Ed.) Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson. Oxford University Press; "continent<sup>1</sup> n." (2005) ''The ]'', 2nd edition. (Ed.) ]. Oxford University Press; "continent 4 a" (1996) '']''. ] Information and Learning ; "continent" (2007) '']''. Retrieved January 14, 2007, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online.</ref> Together, they make up most of the land in Earth's ]<ref name="mwgeodict">{{citation|title=Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary|year=2001|quote=The part of the Earth comprising North and South America and surrounding waters; longitudes 20°W and 160°E are often considered its boundaries|page=1294|contribution=Western Hemisphere|edition=3rd|place=Springfield, MA|publisher=Merriam-Webster}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Chambers Dictionary|date=2011|publisher=Chambers Harrap Publishers, Ltd.|isbn=978-0-550-10237-9|edition=12|location=London|page=1780|quote=This dictionary was written with the British speaker of English in mind. ... The Western Hemisphere is the half of the world that includes North America and South America|editor1-last=O'Neal|editor1-first=Mary}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.worldbook.com|title=The World Book Dictionary|date=2003|publisher=World Book, Inc|isbn=0-7166-0299-7|location=Chicago|page=2377|quote=Western Hemisphere, the half of the world that includes North and South America.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The American Heritage College Dictionary|date=2010|publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt|isbn=978-0-618-83595-9|edition=Fourth|location=Boston|page=1557|quote=Western Hemisphere The half of the earth comprising North America, Central America, and South America}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=New Oxford American Dictionary|date=2010|publisher=Oxford University Press|edition=Third|location=New York|page=1963|quote=The Half of the earth that contains the Americas|editor1-last=Stevenson|editor1-first=Angus|editor2-last=Lindberg|editor2-first=Christine A.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Webster's New World College Dictionary|date=2014|publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt|isbn=978-0-544-16606-6|edition=Fifth|location=Boston|quote=Western Hemisphere that half of the earth which includes North & South America}}</ref> and compose the ].

Along with their ], they cover 8% of ]'s total surface area and 28.4% of its land area. The topography is dominated by the ], a long chain of mountains that runs the length of the west coast. The flatter eastern side of the Americas is dominated by large river basins, such as the ], ] / ] basin, ], and ]. Since the Americas extend {{convert|14000|km|mi|-2|abbr=on}} from north to south, the climate and ecology vary widely, from the arctic ] of ], ], and ], to the ]s in ] and South America.

Humans first ] from ] between 42,000 and 17,000 years ago. A second migration of ] followed later from Asia. The subsequent migration of the ] into the ] around 3500 BCE completed what is generally regarded as the settlement by the ].

The first known European settlement in the Americas was by the ] explorer ].<ref>{{cite news| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/erikson_leif.shtml | title = Leif Erikson (11th century) |publisher = BBC |accessdate=November 20, 2011}}</ref> However, the colonization never became permanent and was later abandoned. The ] from 1492 to 1502 resulted in permanent contact with European (and subsequently, other ]) powers, which led to the ]. Diseases introduced from ] and ] ], and the European powers ].<ref name="Taylor 2001">{{cite book|last=Taylor|first=Alan|title=American Colonies|year=2001|publisher=Penguin Books|location=New York|isbn=9780142002100}}</ref> Mass ], including large numbers of ]s, and ] largely replaced the indigenous peoples.

] began with the ] in 1776 and ] in 1791. Currently, almost all of the population of the Americas resides in independent countries; however, the legacy of the colonization and settlement by Europeans is that the Americas share many common cultural traits, most notably ] and the use of ]: primarily ], ], ], ], and to a lesser extent ].

The population is over 1 billion, with over 65% of them living in one of the three most populous countries (the ], ], and ]). As of the beginning of the 2010s, the most populous urban agglomerations are ] (Mexico), ] (U.S.), ] (Brazil), ] (U.S.), ] (Argentina) and ] (Brazil), all of them ] (metropolitan areas with ten million inhabitants or more).

== <span id="Naming">Etymology and naming</span> ==
{{main|Naming of the Americas}}
].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-04-24-america-turns-500_N.htm?csp=34 |title=Cartographer Put 'America' on the Map 500 years Ago |work=USA Today |location =Washington, D.C. |date=April 24, 2007 |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=November 30, 2008}}</ref>]]

The name ''America'' was first recorded in 1507. Julian Wilson of ] auction house said a two-dimensional globe created by ], the discovery of which was announced on November 7, 2017, was the earliest recorded use of the term. The ] purchased another version of the map in 2003.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.greensboro.com/ap/us_world/ap-exclusive-oldest-map-to-use-word-america-up-for/article_3ba3260c-d094-55de-add8-8673ca32c92e.html|title=Oldest map to use word 'America' up for sale|last=Lawless|first=Jill|work=]|agency=]|date=November 7, 2017|accessdate=November 30, 2017}}</ref>{{bad link|date=January 2018}} The name was also used (together with the related term ''Amerigen'') in the '']'', apparently written by ], in reference to South America.<ref>John R. Hebert, "The Map That Named America: Library Acquires 1507 Waldseemüller Map of the World" (), ''Information Bulletin'', Library of Congress</ref> It was applied to both North and South America by ] in 1538. ''America'' derives from ''Americus'', the ] version of Italian explorer ]'s first name. ''America'' accorded with the feminine names of ], ], and ].<ref name=Smiths>Toby Lester, "Putting America on the Map", ''Smithsonian'', 40:9 (December 2009)</ref>

In modern English, North and South America are generally considered separate continents, and taken together are called ''the Americas'' in the plural, parallel to similar situations such as ]. When conceived as a unitary continent, the form is generally ''the continent of America'' in the singular. However, without a clarifying context, singular ''America'' in English commonly refers to the ].<ref name=oxfordc />

In some countries of the world (including ], ], ], ], ], ], and the countries of ]), America is considered a continent encompassing the ] and ] ]s,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/continents.htm | title = The Continents of the World |publisher = nationsonline.org|quote=Africa, the Americas, Antarctica, Asia, Australia together with Oceania, and Europe are considered to be Continents.|accessdate=September 2, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/contnent.htm | title = Map And Details Of All 7 Continents |publisher = worldatlas.com|quote=In some parts of the world students are taught that there are only six continents, as they combine North America and South America into one continent called the Americas.|accessdate=September 2, 2016}}</ref> as well as ].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://central-america.org/ | title = CENTRAL AMERICA |publisher = central-america.org|quote=Central America is not a continent but a subcontinent since it lies within the continent America.|accessdate=September 18, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Six or Seven Continents on Earth|url=http://geography.about.com/od/learnabouttheearth/qt/qzcontinents.htm|accessdate=December 18, 2016|language=English}} "In Europe and other parts of the world, many students are taught of six continents, where North and South America are combined to form a single continent of America. Thus, these six continents are Africa, America, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, and Europe."</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Continents|url=http://www.worldometers.info/geography/continents/|accessdate=December 18, 2016|language=English}} "six-continent model (used mostly in France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Romania, Greece, and Latin America) groups together North America+South America into the single continent America."</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=AMÉRIQUE|url=http://www.universalis.fr/encyclopedie/amerique-structure-et-milieu-geographie/|accessdate=December 18, 2016|language=French}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=America|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/america_%28Dizionario-di-Storia%29/|accessdate=December 18, 2016|language=Italian}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of the Americas}}

=== Settlement ===
{{details|topic=theories of Paleo-Indian migration|Models of migration to the New World}}

] based on the ].<ref>{{cite book|first=Göran |last=Burenhult|title= Die ersten Menschen|publisher= Weltbild Verlag|year= 2000|isbn= 3-8289-0741-5}}</ref>]]
] migrated into the Americas from Asia. Habitation sites are known in ] and the ] from at least 20,000 years ago, with suggested ages of up to 40,000 years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Introduction |work=Government of Canada |publisher=Parks Canada |url=http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/docs/r/pfa-fap/sec1.aspx |year=2009 |accessdate=January 9, 2010 |quote=Canada's oldest known home is a cave in Yukon occupied not 12,000 years ago like the U.S. sites, but at least 20,000 years ago |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424103401/http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/docs/r/pfa-fap/sec1.aspx |archivedate=April 24, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pleistocene Archaeology of the Old Crow Flats |publisher=Vuntut National Park of Canada |url=http://yukon.taiga.net/vuntutrda/archaeol/info.htm |year=2008 |accessdate=January 10, 2010 |quote=However, despite the lack of this conclusive and widespread evidence, there are suggestions of human occupation in the northern Yukon about 24,000 years ago, and hints of the presence of humans in the Old Crow Basin as far back as about 40,000 years ago. |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022085345/http://yukon.taiga.net/vuntutrda/archaeol/info.htm |archivedate=October 22, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="kind">{{cite web|url=http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/journey/|title=Journey of mankind|work=Brad Shaw Foundation|accessdate=November 17, 2009}}</ref>
Beyond that, the specifics of the ] migration to and throughout the Americas, including the dates and routes traveled, are subject to ongoing research and discussion.<ref name="national">{{cite web|url=https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/atlas.html?era=e003|title=Atlas of the Human Journey-The Genographic Project|date=1996–2008|publisher=National Geographic Society.|accessdate=October 6, 2009|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501094643/https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/atlas.html?era=e003|archivedate=May 1, 2011}}</ref> Widespread habitation of the Americas occurred during the ], from 16,000 to 13,000 years ago.<ref name="kind" /><ref>{{cite journal|last2=Salzano|first2=FM|year=1997|title=A single and early migration for the peopling of the Americas supported by mitochondrial DNA sequence data|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America|publisher=National Academy of Sciences|volume=94|issue=5|pages=1866–71|doi=10.1073/pnas.94.5.1866|pmc=20009|pmid=9050871|last1=Bonatto|first1=SL|bibcode=1997PNAS...94.1866B}}</ref>

], in ], ]]]
The traditional theory has been that these early migrants moved into the ] land bridge between eastern Siberia and present-day Alaska around 40,000–17,000 years ago,<ref name="SpencerWells2">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WAsKm-_zu5sC&lpg=PP1&dq=The%20Journey%20of%20Man&pg=PA138#v=onepage&q&f=true|title=The Journey of Man – A Genetic Odyssey|last2=Read|first2=Mark|publisher=Random House|year=2002|isbn=0-8129-7146-9|pages=138–140|format=Digitised online by Google books|first1=Spencer|last1=Wells|accessdate=November 21, 2009}}</ref> when sea levels were significantly lowered during the ].<ref name="national" /><ref name=Smithsonian>{{cite web|first1=Drs. William |last1=Fitzhugh |first2=Ives |last2=Goddard |first3=Steve |last3=Ousley |first4=Doug |last4=Owsley |first5=Dennis |last5=Stanford |url=http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/origin.htm |title=Paleoamerican |publisher=Smithsonian Institution Anthropology Outreach Office |accessdate=January 15, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105215737/http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI//nmnh/origin.htm |archivedate=January 5, 2009 |deadurl=yes }}
</ref> These people are believed to have followed herds of now-extinct ] along ''ice-free corridors'' that stretched between the ] and ] ice sheets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.physorg.com/news169474130.html |title=The peopling of the Americas: Genetic ancestry influences health|work=Scientific American|accessdate=November 17, 2009}}</ref> Another route proposed is that, either on foot or using ], they migrated down the Pacific coast to South America.<ref>{{cite journal|year=1979|title=Alternate Migration Corridors for Early Man in North America|volume=44|issue=1|pages=55–69|doi=10.2307/279189|jstor=279189|work=American Antiquity, Vol. 44, No. 1 (Jan., 1979), p2|last1=Fladmark|first1=K. R.}}</ref> Evidence of the latter would since have been covered by a ] of hundreds of meters following the last ice age.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2009/01/sea-will-rise-to-levels-of-last-ice-age/|title=68 Responses to "Sea will rise 'to levels of last Ice Age'"|work=Center for Climate Systems Research, Columbia University |accessdate=November 17, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091027133849/http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2009/01/sea-will-rise-to-levels-of-last-ice-age/| archivedate= October 27, 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref> Both routes may have been taken, although the genetic evidences suggests a single founding population.<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090108/full/news.2009.7.html | title = Earliest Americans took two paths | journal = Nature | last = Ledford | first = Heidi | date = January 8, 2009 | doi=10.1038/news.2009.7}}</ref> The ] diversity and distributions specific to ] indicates that certain populations have been isolated since the initial colonization of the region.<ref name=subclades>{{cite web|title=Summary of knowledge on the subclades of Haplogroup Q |url=http://64.40.115.138/file/lu/6/52235/NTIyMzV9K3szNTc2Nzc=.jpg?download=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510204204/http://64.40.115.138/file/lu/6/52235/NTIyMzV9K3szNTc2Nzc%3D.jpg?download=1 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=May 10, 2011 |publisher=Genebase Systems |year=2009 |accessdate=November 22, 2009 }}</ref>

A second migration occurred after the initial peopling of the Americas;<ref name="Meltzer2009">{{cite book |last=Meltzer |first=David J. |title=First Peoples in a New World: Colonizing Ice Age America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rnc-bg2voI8C&pg=PA146|date=May 27, 2009|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-25052-9|page=146}}</ref> ] found predominantly in North American groups at varying genetic rates with the highest frequency found among the ] at 42% derive from this second wave.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Reich|first=David |date=August 16, 2012|title=Reconstructing Native American population history|url=http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v488/n7411/full/nature11258.html|archive-url=https://archive.is/20130104022456/http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v488/n7411/full/nature11258.html|dead-url=yes|archive-date=January 4, 2013|journal=]|volume=488|issue=7411|pages=370–374|display-authors=etal|doi=10.1038/nature11258|pmc=3615710|bibcode=2012Natur.488..370R|pmid=22801491}}</ref> ] and ]s have reached a similar conclusion based on analysis of ] and ] distributions.<ref name="Meltzer2009" /><ref>{{cite book|title=An introduction to the languages of the world|first=Anatole |last=Lyovi|url=https://books.google.com/?id=y6Y-L4ogfhIC&pg=PA309&dq=Indigenous+languages+of+the+Americas&q=|year=1997|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=309|isbn=0-19-508115-3 |accessdate=March 25, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Mithun|first=Marianne|year=1990|title=Studies of North American Indian Languages|url=http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.an.19.100190.001521|journal=Annual Review of Anthropology|volume=19|issue=1|pages=309–330|doi=10.1146/annurev.an.19.100190.001521}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Vajda|first=Edward|year=2010|title=A Siberian link with Na-Dene languages|url=http://scholar.googleusercontent.com/scholar?q=cache:G4veoXaTjUAJ:scholar.google.com/&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5|publisher=Anthropological Papers of the University of Alaska|volume=5}}{{Dead link|date=November 2015}}</ref> Then the people of the ] a broad cultural entity that developed along the ], around ], and on the eastern shores of the Bering Strait around 2,500&nbsp;BCE (4,500&nbsp;years ago) moved into North America.<ref name="Fagan">{{cite book
|last=Fagan
|first=Brian M.
|title=Ancient North America: The Archaeology of a Continent.
|edition=4
|year=2005
|publisher=Thames & Hudson Inc.
|location=New York
|pages=390, p396
|isbn=0-500-28148-3
}}</ref> The Arctic small tool tradition, a ] culture branched off into two cultural variants, including the ], and the ] of Greenland.<ref name="YoungBjerregaard2008" /> The descendants of the Pre-Dorset cultural group, the ] was displaced by the final migrants from the Bering sea coast line the ancestors of modern ], the ] by 1000&nbsp;] (CE).<ref name="YoungBjerregaard2008">{{cite book|author1=T. Kue Young|author2=Peter Bjerregaard|title=Health Transitions in Arctic Populations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uTim7CZnKGEC&pg=PA121|date=June 28, 2008|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-0-8020-9401-8|page=121}}</ref> Around the same time as the Inuit migrated into Greenland, ] began arriving in ] in 982 and ] shortly thereafter, establishing a settlement at ], near the northernmost tip of ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/education/teacher-resources/oracles/archaeology/rmcghee/vinland |title=Vinland |publisher=Canadian Museum of Civilization |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110020418/http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/education/teacher-resources/oracles/archaeology/rmcghee/vinland |archivedate=November 10, 2010 }}</ref> The Viking settlers quickly abandoned Vinland, and disappeared from Greenland by 1500.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greenland-guide.gl/leif2000/history.htm|title=The Norse settlers in Greenland – A short history|publisher=Greenland Guide – The Official Travel Index}}</ref>

=== Pre-Columbian era ===
{{Main|Pre-Columbian era}}
], a Mississippian site in Arkansas, circa 1539]]
]

The ] incorporates all ] in the ] before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continents, spanning the time of the ] in the ] to ] during the ]. The term ''Pre-Columbian'' is used especially often in the context of the great ], such as those of ] (the ], the ], the ], the ], the ], the ], and the ]) and the ] (], ], ], ]s).

Many pre-Columbian ]s established characteristics and hallmarks which included permanent or urban settlements, agriculture, civic and monumental architecture, and ]. Some of these civilizations had long faded by the time of the first permanent European arrivals (c. late 15th–early 16th centuries), and are known only through ] investigations. Others were contemporary with this period, and are also known from historical accounts of the time. A few, such as the Maya, had their own written records. However, most Europeans of the time viewed such texts as pagan, and much was destroyed in Christian pyres. Only a few hidden documents remain today, leaving modern historians with glimpses of ancient culture and knowledge.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mann |first=Charles C. |authorlink=Charles C. Mann |year=2005 |title=] |location=New York |publisher=] |isbn=978-1-4000-4006-3 |oclc=56632601 }}</ref>

=== European colonization ===
{{Main|European colonization of the Americas}}

Although there had been previous ], large-scale European colonization of the Americas began with the first voyage of ] in 1492. The first Spanish settlement in the Americas was ] in northern ]. This town was abandoned shortly after in favor of ], founded in 1496, the oldest American city of European foundation. This was the base from which the Spanish monarchy administered its new colonies and their expansion. On the continent, ] on the Pacific coast of Central America, founded on August 5, 1519, played an important role, being the base for the Spanish conquest of South America. The spread of new diseases brought by Europeans and Africans killed many of the inhabitants of North America and South America,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Thornton|first=Russell|year=1997|title=Aboriginal North American Population and Rates of Decline, c.a. A.D. 1500–1900|url=https://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=intitle%3AAboriginal+North+American+Population+and+Rates+of+Decline%2C+c.a.+A.D.+1500+-+1900&as_publication=Current+Anthropology&as_ylo=1997&as_yhi=1997&btnG=Search|archive-url=https://archive.is/20120530061946/http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=intitle:Aboriginal+North+American+Population+and+Rates+of+Decline,+c.a.+A.D.+1500+-+1900&as_publication=Current+Anthropology&as_ylo=1997&as_yhi=1997&btnG=Search|dead-url=yes|archive-date=2012-05-30|journal=Current Anthropology|volume=38|issue=2|pages=310–315|doi=10.1086/204615|jstor=00113204}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Crosby|first=Alfred W.|date=April 1976|title=Virgin Soil Epidemics as a Factor in the Aboriginal Depopulation in America|journal=David and Mary Quarterly|volume=33|issue=2|pages=289–299|doi=10.2307/1922166|jstor=1922166}}</ref> with a general ] occurring in the mid-16th century, often well ahead of European contact.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Dobyns|first=Henry F.|year=1993|title=Disease Transfer at Contact|journal=Annual Review of Anthropology|volume=22|issue=1|pages=273–291|doi=10.1146/annurev.an.22.100193.001421|jstor=2155849|authorlink=Henry F. Dobyns}}</ref> European immigrants were often part of state-sponsored attempts to found colonies in the Americas. Migration continued as people moved to the Americas fleeing ] or seeking economic opportunities. Millions of individuals were forcibly transported to the Americas as ]s, prisoners or ]s.

] or parts of countries with a capital outside the Americas.]]

] began with the ] and the ] in the late 1700s. This was followed by numerous ] in the early 1800s. Between 1811 and 1825, ], ], ], ], the ], ], ], ], and ] gained independence from Spain and Portugal in armed revolutions. After the ], it was re-annexed by Spain in 1861, but reclaimed its independence in 1865 at the conclusion of the ]. The last violent episode of decolonization was the ] which became the ], which resulted in the independence of ] in 1898, and the transfer of sovereignty over ] from Spain to the United States.

Peaceful decolonization began with the purchase by the ] of ] in 1803, ] in 1819, of ] in 1867, and the ] in 1916. ] became independent of the United Kingdom, starting with the ], ], and ending with the ] in 1982. The ] similarly achieved partial independence under the Balfour Declaration and Statute of Westminster, but was re-absorbed into the United Kingdom in 1934. It was subsequently ] in 1949.

The remaining European colonies in the Caribbean began to achieve peaceful independence well after ]. ] and ] became independent in 1962, and ] and ] both achieved independence in 1966. In the 1970s, the ], ], ], ], and ] all became independent of the United Kingdom, and ] became independent of the Netherlands. ], ], and ] achieved independence from the United Kingdom in the 1980s.

== Geography ==
{{Further|Geography of North America|Geography of South America}}

]

=== Extent ===
The northernmost point of the Americas is ], which is the most northerly point of land on Earth.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Burress |first=Charles |url = http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/06/17/BAG4J779M31.DTL&type=science|title = Romancing the north Berkeley explorer may have stepped on ancient Thule|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date = June 17, 2004}}</ref> The southernmost point is the islands of ], although they are sometimes considered part of ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coolantarctica.com/Travel/south_georgia_south_sandwich_islands.htm|title=South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Antarctica – Travel|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219114729/http://www.coolantarctica.com/Travel/south_georgia_south_sandwich_islands.htm |archivedate=February 19, 2015}}</ref> The mainland of the Americas is the world's longest north-to-south landmass. The distance between its two polar extremities, the ] in northern Canada and ] in Chilean ], is roughly {{convert|14000|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref name="worldbook">{{cite encyclopedia|title = America|encyclopedia = The World Book Encyclopedia|volume = 1|pages = 407|publisher = World Book, Inc|year = 2006|isbn = 0-7166-0106-0}}</ref> The mainland's most westerly point is the end of the ] in Alaska; ], further off the Alaskan coast to the west, is considered the westernmost point of the Americas. ] in northeastern Brazil forms the easternmost extremity of the mainland,<ref name="worldbook" /> while ], in Greenland, is the most easterly point of the continental shelf.

=== Geology ===
South America broke off from the west of the ] ] around 135&nbsp;million years ago, forming its own continent.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Story|first=Brian C.|date=September 28, 1995|title=The role of mantle plumes in continental breakup: case histories from Gondwanaland|journal=Nature|volume=377|issue=6547|pages=301–309|doi=10.1038/377301a0|bibcode=1995Natur.377..301S}}</ref> Around 15&nbsp;million years ago, the collision of the ] and the ] resulted in the emergence of a series of volcanoes along the border that created a number of islands. The gaps in the archipelago of Central America filled in with material eroded off North America and South America, plus new land created by continued volcanism. By three million years ago, the continents of North America and South America were linked by the ], thereby forming the single landmass of the Americas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/andes/bridge.html |title=Land bridge: How did the formation of a sliver of land result in major changes in biodiversity |publisher=Public Broadcasting Corporation |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011111949/http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/andes/bridge.html |archivedate=October 11, 2007 }}</ref> The ] resulted in many species being spread across the Americas, such as the ], ], ]s, ]s and ]s.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=16401 |title=Panama: Isthmus that Changed the World |accessdate=July 1, 2008 |publisher=] Earth Observatory |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070802015424/http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=16401 |archivedate=August 2, 2007 }}</ref>

=== Topography ===
], in ], is the highest peak in the Americas]]

The geography of the western Americas is dominated by the ], with the ] running along the west coast of South America<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/andes.htm|title=Andes Mountain Range|publisher=|accessdate=September 8, 2014}}</ref> and the ] and other ] ranges running along the western side of North America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biology.usgs.gov/s+t/SNT/noframe/wm146.htm |title=Rocky Mountains |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714142008/http://biology.usgs.gov/s%2Bt/SNT/noframe/wm146.htm |archivedate=July 14, 2007 }}</ref> The {{convert|2300|km|mi|adj=mid|-long|sp=us}} ] run along the east coast of North America from ] to ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=2067 |title=Appalachian Mountains |publisher=Ohio History Central |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070501041411/http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=2067 |archivedate=May 1, 2007 }}</ref> North of the Appalachians, the ] runs along the eastern coast of Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.evergreen.ca/nativeplants/learn-more/arctic-cordillera.php|title=Arctic Cordillera|work=evergreen.ca}}</ref>

The largest mountain ranges are the ] and ]. The ] and the ] reach similar altitudes as the ], but are significantly smaller. In North America, the greatest number of ]s are in the United States, and more specifically in the U.S. state of ]. The highest peaks of the Americas are located in the ], with ] of ] being the highest; in North America ] (Mount McKinley) in the U.S. state of ] is the tallest.

Between its coastal mountain ranges, North America has vast flat areas. The ] spread over much of the continent, with low relief.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWith/VolcanicPast/Notes/interior_plains_region.html|title=Interior Plains Region|publisher=|accessdate=September 8, 2014|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809003610/http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWith/VolcanicPast/Notes/interior_plains_region.html|archivedate=August 9, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The ] covers almost 5 million km² of North America and is generally quite flat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://redpath-museum.mcgill.ca/Qbp/Natural%20History/nat_hist.html|title=Natural History of Quebec|publisher=|accessdate=September 8, 2014}}</ref> Similarly, the north-east of South America is covered by the flat ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazonconservation.org/home/strategy.html |title=Strategy |publisher=Amazon Conservation Association |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403082802/http://www.amazonconservation.org/home/strategy.html |archivedate=April 3, 2007 }}
</ref> The ] on the east coast are fairly smooth but show some variations in landform, while farther south the ] and ] are broad ]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/southAmerica.htm|title=South America images|publisher=|accessdate=September 8, 2014}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
] system.]]
The climate of the Americas varies significantly from region to region. ] occurs in the latitudes of the ], American ]s, Florida and ]. In the ] and ], dry and continental climates are observed. Often the higher altitudes of these mountains are snow-capped.

Southeastern North America is well known for its occurrence of ] and ], of which the vast majority of tornadoes occur in the United States' ].<ref name="Science News 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20020511/bob9.asp|title=Tornado Alley, USA|last=Perkins|first=Sid|date=May 11, 2002|publisher=]|pages=296–298|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060825011156/http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20020511/bob9.asp|archivedate=August 25, 2006|accessdate=May 29, 2011}}</ref> Often parts of the Caribbean are exposed to the violent effects of hurricanes. These weather systems are formed by the collision of dry, cool air from Canada and wet, warm air from the Atlantic.

=== Hydrology ===
With coastal mountains and interior plains, the Americas have several large ]s that drain the continents. The largest river basin in North America is that of the ], covering the second largest ] on the planet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biology.usgs.gov/s+t/SNT/noframe/ms137.htm |title=Mississippi River |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715014306/http://biology.usgs.gov/s%2Bt/SNT/noframe/ms137.htm |archivedate=July 15, 2007 }}</ref> The Mississippi-Missouri river system drains most of 31 states of the U.S., most of the ], and large areas between the Rocky and Appalachian mountains. This river is the ] and ].

In North America, to the east of the ], there are no major rivers but rather a series of rivers and streams that flow east with their terminus in the Atlantic Ocean, such as the ], ], and ]. A similar instance arises with central Canadian rivers that drain into ]; the largest being the ]. On the west coast of North America, the main rivers are the ], ], ], ], and ].

The Colorado River drains much of the ] and parts of the Great ]. The river flows approximately {{convert|1450|mi|km|sp=us}} into the ],<ref name=largest>{{cite web |last= Kammerer |first= J.C. |title= Largest Rivers in the United States |url= http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1987/ofr87-242/ |publisher= United States Geological Survey |accessdate=July 2, 2010}}</ref> during which over time it has carved out natural phenomena such as the ] and created phenomena such as the ]. The Columbia is a large river, {{convert|1243|mi|km}} long, in central western North America and is the most powerful river on the West Coast of the Americas. In the far northwest of North America, the Yukon drains much of the Alaskan peninsula and flows {{convert|1980|mi|km}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yukoninfo.com/yukonriver/ |title=Yukoninfo.com |publisher=Yukoninfo.com |accessdate=January 30, 2012}}</ref> from parts of Yukon and the Northwest Territory to the Pacific. Draining to the Arctic Ocean of Canada, the ] drains waters from the Arctic Great Lakes of Arctic Canada, as opposed to the Saint-Lawrence River that drains the Great Lakes of Southern Canada into the Atlantic Ocean. The Mackenzie River is the largest in Canada and drains {{convert|1805200|km2|mi2|sp=us}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9110728 |title=Mackenzie River |work=Encyclopædia Britannica |accessdate=September 8, 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081118141110/http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9110728 |archivedate=November 18, 2008 }}</ref>

The largest river basin in South America is that of the ], which has the highest volume flow of any river on Earth.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.greatestplaces.org/notes/amazon.htm|title = Greatest Places: Notes: Amazonia}}</ref> The second largest watershed of South America is that of the ], which covers about 2.5 million km².<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nature.org/wherewework/greatrivers/samerica/|title=Great Rivers Partnership – Paraguay-Parana|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105102114/http://www.nature.org/wherewework/greatrivers/samerica/ |archivedate=January 5, 2011}}</ref>

=== Ecology ===
North America and South America began to develop a shared population of flora and fauna around 2.5 million years ago, when ] brought the two continents into contact via the ]. Initially, the exchange of biota was roughly equal, with North American genera migrating into South America in about the same proportions as South American genera migrated into North America. This exchange is known as the ]. The exchange became lopsided after roughly a million years, with the total spread of South American genera into North America far more limited in scope than the spread on North American genera into South America.<ref>{{cite journal | title = Ecogeography and the Great American Interchange | last = Webb | first = S. David | journal = Paleobiology | volume = 17 | number = 3 | year = 1991 | publisher = Paleontological Society | jstor=2400869}}</ref>

== Countries and territories ==
{{See also|List of sovereign states and dependent territories in the Americas}}

There are 35 sovereign states in the Americas, as well as an ] of ], three ]s of ], three ] of France,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outre-mer.gouv.fr/?les-collectivites.html|title=Les Collectivités|publisher=]|accessdate=August 30, 2012}}</ref> and one uninhabited territory of France, eight ] of the ], three ] of the ], three ] of the Netherlands, two ] of the ], and one uninhabited territory of the United States.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm | title = Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings | date = September 20, 2011 |accessdate=August 30, 2012 | publisher = United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="border:1px solid #aaa;"
|- style="background:#ececec;"
! Country or territory
! ]<br />(km²)<ref>Unless otherwise noted, land area figures are taken from {{Cite journal|year=2008|title=Demographic Yearbook—Table 3: Population by sex, rate of population increase, surface area and density|url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2008/Table03.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=United Nations Statistics Division|accessdate=October 14, 2010}}</ref>
! ]<br /><ref group=note>See ] for references.</ref>
! Pop. <br /> ]<br />(per km²)
! Languages (official in '''bold''')
! Capital
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Anguilla|{{Flag|Anguilla}} (])}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|91}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|13452}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|164.8}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Antigua and Barbuda|{{Flag|Antigua and Barbuda}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|442}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|86295}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|199.1}}
| ],<ref>{{cite book |last=Kras |first=Sara Louise | title = Antigua and Barbuda | publisher = Marshall Cavendish | year = 2008 | isbn = 0-7614-2570-5 | page = 95}}</ref> '''English'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Argentina|{{flag|Argentina}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|2766890}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|42669500}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|14.3}}
| ]
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Aruba|{{Flag|Aruba}} (])}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|180}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|101484}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|594.4}}
| ''']''', Spanish,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cbs.aw/cbs/manageDocument.do?dispatch=view&id=1621 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121113145540/http://www.cbs.aw/cbs/manageDocument.do?dispatch=view&id=1621 | dead-url = yes | archive-date = 2012-11-13 | title = Aruba Census 2010 Languages spoken in the household | publisher = Central Bureau of Statistics}}</ref> '''Dutch'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Bahamas|{{Flag|Bahamas, The}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|13943}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|351461}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|24.5}}
| ],<ref>{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Paul M. | url = http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=BS | title = Languages of Bahamas | publisher = Ethnologue | year = 2009 | location = Dallas}}</ref> '''English'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Barbados|{{Flag|Barbados}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|430}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|285000}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|595.3}}
| ],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=BB | title = Languages of Barbados | editor = Paul M. Lewis | year = 2009 | publisher = Ethnologue: Languages of the World | location = Dallas}}</ref> '''English'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Belize|{{Flag|Belize}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|22966}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|349728}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|13.4}}
| ], Kriol, '''English'''<ref name="2000 Belize Census">{{cite web |url=http://celade.cepal.org/cgibin/RpWebEngine.exe/PortalAction?&MODE=MAIN&BASE=CPVBLZ2000&MAIN=WebServerMain.inl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220091841/http://celade.cepal.org/cgibin/RpWebEngine.exe/PortalAction?&MODE=MAIN&BASE=CPVBLZ2000&MAIN=WebServerMain.inl |dead-url=yes |archive-date=December 20, 2008 |title=Belize 2000 Housing and Population Census |accessdate=June 24, 2011 |year=2000 |publisher=Belize Central Statistical Office}}</ref>
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Bermuda|{{Flag|Bermuda}} (United Kingdom)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|54}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|64237}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|1203.7}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Bolivia|{{flag|Bolivia}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|1098580}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|10027254}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|8.4}}
| ''']''' and '''36 indigenous languages'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ] and ] <ref>] is the administrative capital of ]; ] is the judicial seat.<br /></ref>
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Bonaire|{{Flag|Bonaire}} (Netherlands)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|294}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|12093}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|41.1}}
| ''']''', Spanish, '''Dutch'''<ref name="NetherlandAntillesCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.cw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103:households-by-the-most-spoken-language-in-the-household&catid=48:household-characteristics&Itemid=82 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029064510/http://www.cbs.cw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103%3Ahouseholds-by-the-most-spoken-language-in-the-household&catid=48%3Ahousehold-characteristics&Itemid=82 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=October 29, 2012 |title=Households by the most spoken language in the household Population and Housing Census 2001 |publisher=Central Bureau of Statistics }}</ref>
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Brazil|{{flag|Brazil}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|8514877}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|203106000}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|23.6}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|British Virgin Islands|{{Flag|British Virgin Islands}} (United Kingdom)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|151}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|29537}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|152.3}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Canada|{{Flag|Canada}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|9984670}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|35427524}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|3.4}}
| ''']''', ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Cayman Islands|{{Flag|Cayman Islands}} (United Kingdom)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|264}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|55456}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|212.1}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Chile|{{flag|Chile}}}}<ref>Includes ] in the ], a ]an territory frequently reckoned in ]. ] is the administrative capital of Chile; ] is the site of legislative meetings.<br /></ref>
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|756950}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|17773000}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|22}}
| ]
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Clipperton Island|{{Flag|Clipperton Island}} (])}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|6}}<ref name="areacia">Land area figures taken from {{cite web | title=The World Factbook: 2010 edition | url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2147.html | publisher=Government of the United States, Central Intelligence Agency | accessdate=October 14, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|0}}<ref name="popcia">These population estimates are for 2010, and are taken from {{cite web | title=The World Factbook: 2010 edition | url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html | publisher=Government of the United States, Central Intelligence Agency | accessdate=October 14, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|0.0}}
| Uninhabited
| style="text-align:left;" | &nbsp;—
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Colombia|{{flag|Colombia}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|1138910}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|47757000}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|40}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Costa Rica|{{Flag|Costa Rica}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|51100}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|4667096}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|89.6}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Cuba|{{Flag|Cuba}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|109886}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|11167325}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|102.0}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Curacao|{{Flag|Curaçao}} (Netherlands)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|444}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|150563}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|317.1}}
| ], '''Dutch'''<ref name="NetherlandAntillesCensus" />
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Dominica|{{Flag|Dominica}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|751}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|71293}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|89.2}}
| ], '''English'''<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=dm | title = Languages of Dominica |editor1=Paul M. Lewis |editor2=M. Paul | year = 2009 | publisher = Ethnologue: Languages of the World | location = Dallas |accessdate=August 30, 2012}}</ref>
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Dominican Republic|{{Flag|Dominican Republic}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|48671}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|10378267}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|207.3}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Ecuador|{{flag|Ecuador}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|283560}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|15819400}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|53.8}}
| ''']''', Quechua<ref>{{cite book |last=Levinson |first=David | title = Ethnic Groups Worldwide: A Ready Reference Handbook | publisher = Greenwood Publishing Group | year = 1998 | isbn = 1-57356-019-7 | page = 347}}</ref>
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|El Salvador|{{Flag|El Salvador}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|21041}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|6401240}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|293.0}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Falkland Islands|{{flag|Falkland Islands}}}} (United Kingdom)<ref>Claimed by ].<br /></ref>
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|12173}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|3000}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|0.26}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|French Guiana|{{flag|French Guiana}}}} (])
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|91000}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|237549}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|2.7}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Greenland|{{Flag|Greenland}} (])}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|2166086}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|56483}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|0.026}}
| ''']''', '''Danish'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ] (])
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Grenada|{{Flag|Grenada}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|344}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|103328}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|302.3}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Guadeloupe|{{Flag|Guadeloupe}} (France)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|1628}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|405739}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|246.7}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Guatemala|{{Flag|Guatemala}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|108889}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|15806675}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|128.8}}
| ''']''', Garifuna and 23 Mayan languages
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Guyana|{{flag|Guyana}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|214999}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|784894}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|3.5}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Haiti|{{Flag|Haiti}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|27750}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|10745665}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|361.5}}
| ''']''', '''French'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Honduras|{{Flag|Honduras}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|112492}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|8555072}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|66.4}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Jamaica|{{Flag|Jamaica}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|10991}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|2717991}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|247.4}}
| ], '''English'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Martinique|{{Flag|Martinique}} (France)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|1128}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|392291}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|352.6}}
| ],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=mq | title = Languages of Martinique | publisher = Ethnologue | editor = Paul M. Lewis | year = 2009 | location = Dallas}}</ref> '''French'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Mexico|{{Flag|Mexico}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|1964375}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|119713203}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|57.1}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Montserrat|{{Flag|Montserrat}} (United Kingdom)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|102}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|4922}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|58.8}}
| ], '''English'''<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=MS | title = Languages of Montserrat | publisher = Ethnologue | editor = Paul M. Lewis | year = 2009 | location = Dallas}}</ref>
| style="text-align:left;" | ]; ]<ref>Ongoing activity of the ] beginning in July 1995 destroyed much of Plymouth; government offices were relocated to Brades. Plymouth remains the ''de jure'' capital.</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Navassa Island|{{Flag|Navassa Island}} (United States)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|5}}<ref name="areacia" />
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|0}}<ref name="popcia" />
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|0.0}}
| Uninhabited
| style="text-align:left;" | &nbsp;—
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Nicaragua|{{Flag|Nicaragua}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|130373}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|6071045}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|44.1}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Panama|{{Flag|Panama}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|75417}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|3405813}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|45.8}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Paraguay|{{flag|Paraguay}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|406750}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|6783374}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|15.6}}
| ''']''', '''Spanish'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Peru|{{flag|Peru}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|1285220}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|30814175}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|22}}
| ''']''', Quechua, Aymara
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Puerto Rico|{{Flag|Puerto Rico}} (United States)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|8870}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|3615086}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|448.9}}
| ''']''', '''English'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Saba|{{Flag|Saba}} (Netherlands)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|13}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|1537}}<ref name="nethant">Population estimates are taken from the {{cite web |author=Central Bureau of Statistics Netherlands Antilles | title=Statistical information: Population | url=http://www.cbs.an/population/population_b2.asp | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706074029/http://www.cbs.an/population/population_b2.asp | archivedate=July 6, 2011 | publisher=Government of the Netherlands Antilles | accessdate=October 14, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|118.2}}
| ], '''Dutch'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Saint Barthelemy|{{Flag|Saint Barthélemy}} (France)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|21}}<ref name="areacia" />
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|8938}}<ref name="popcia" />
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|354.7}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Saint Kitts and Nevis|{{Flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|261}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|55000}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|199.2}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Saint Lucia|{{Flag|Saint Lucia}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|539}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|180000}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|319.1}}
| ''']''', French Creole
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Saint Martin|{{Flag|Saint Martin}} (France)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|54}}<ref name="areacia" />
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|36979}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|552.2}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Saint Pierre and Miquelon|] ] (France)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|242}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|6081}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|24.8}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|{{Flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|389}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|109000}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|280.2}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Sint Eustatius|{{Flag|Sint Eustatius}} (Netherlands)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|21}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|2739}}<ref name="nethant" />
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|130.4}}
| ''']''', '''English'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Sint Maarten|{{Flag|Sint Maarten}} (Netherlands)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|34}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|37429}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|1176.7}}
| ''']''', Spanish, '''Dutch'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands|{{flagicon|South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands}} ] (UK)}}<ref>Claimed by Argentina; the ] in the ] are commonly associated with ] (for its proximity) and have no permanent population, only hosting a periodic contingent of about 100 researchers and visitors.<br /></ref>
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|3093}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|20}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|0.01}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Suriname|{{flag|Suriname}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|163270}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|534189}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|3}}
| ''']''' and others<ref>{{cite web | last = Lewis | first = Paul | year = 2009 | publisher = Ethnologue | location = Dallas, Texas | url = http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=SR|title=Languages of Suriname}}</ref>
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Trinidad and Tobago|{{Flag|Trinidad and Tobago}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|5130}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|1328019}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|261.0}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Turks and Caicos Islands|{{Flag|Turks and Caicos Islands}} (UK)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|948}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|31458}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|34.8}}
| ], '''English'''<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ethnologue.org.uk/show_country.asp?name=TC | archive-url = https://archive.is/20121224000547/http://www.ethnologue.org.uk/show_country.asp?name=TC | dead-url = yes | archive-date = 2012-12-24 | last = Lewis | first = M. Paul | year = 2009 | work = Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Sixteenth edition | title = Languages of Turks and Caicos Islands | location = Dallas | publisher= SIL International}}</ref>
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|United States|{{Flag|United States}}<ref group=note>Includes the US state of Hawaii, which is distant from the North American landmass in the Pacific Ocean and therefore more commonly associated with the other territories of Oceania.</ref>}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|9629091}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|320206000}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|34.2}}
| ], Spanish
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|U.S. Virgin Islands|{{Flag|U.S. Virgin Islands}} (United States)}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|347}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|106405}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|317.0}}
| ], Spanish
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Uruguay|{{flag|Uruguay}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|176220}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|3286314}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|19.4}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | {{sort|Venezuela|{{flag|Venezuela}}}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|916445}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|30206307}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|30.2}}
| ''']'''
| style="text-align:left;" | ]
|- class="sortbottom"
! Total
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|42320985}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|973186925}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|21.9}}
|
|
|}

== Demography ==
=== Population ===
{{Further|List of countries in the Americas by population}}
The total population of the Americas is about 951 million people and is divided as follows:{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}
* North America: 565 million (includes Central America and the ])
* South America: 386 million

=== Largest urban centers ===
{{See also|Largest cities in the Americas|List of metropolitan areas in the Americas by population}}

There are three urban centers that each hold titles for being the largest population area based on the three main demographic concepts:<ref name=wider>{{cite web
|url=http://www.wider.unu.edu/stc/repec/pdfs/wp2010/wp2010-12.pdf
|title=Urban Settlement
|work=Working Paper No. 2010/12
|authors=], ], Günther Fink, Tarun Khanna, Patrick Salyer
|location=Helsinki
|publisher=]
|accessdate=May 29, 2011
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613200208/http://www.wider.unu.edu/stc/repec/pdfs/wp2010/wp2010-12.pdf
|archivedate=June 13, 2011
|deadurl=yes
}}</ref>
* ]
:A city proper is the locality with legally fixed boundaries and an administratively recognized urban status that is usually characterized by some form of local government.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kästle |first=Klaus |url=http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/most_pop_cities_usa.htm |title=United States most populated cities |publisher=Nationsonline.org |date=August 31, 2009 |accessdate=July 26, 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100722100011/http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/most_pop_cities_usa.htm| archivedate= July 22, 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://esa.un.org/unup/index.asp?panel=6 |title=World Urbanization Prospects: The 2007 Revision Population Database |publisher=United Nations |accessdate=July 26, 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100822053414/http://esa.un.org/unup/index.asp?panel=6| archivedate= August 22, 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://millenniumindicators.un.org/unsd/demographic/sconcerns/densurb/densurbanNotes.htm|title=United Nations Statistics Division – Demographic and Social Statistics|publisher=Millenniumindicators.un.org|accessdate=July 26, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Demographic Yearbook 2005, Volume 57|year=2008 |publisher= United Nations|isbn=92-1-051099-2 |page=756 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=OwfGJtkpCbwC&pg=PA241&lpg=PA241&dq=locality+with+legally+fixed+boundaries+and+an+administratively+recognized+urban+status+that+is+usually+characterized+by+some+form+of+local+government#v=onepage&q=locality%20with%20legally%20fixed%20boundaries%20and%20an%20administratively%20recognized%20urban%20status%20that%20is%20usually%20characterized%20by%20some%20form%20of%20local%20government&f=false|accessdate=July 19, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |authors=United Nations. Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs|title=Demographic yearbook, 2000 |year=2002 |publisher= United Nations Publications, 2002|isbn=92-1-051091-7 |page=23 }}</ref>
* ]
:An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets. Urban areas are created and further developed by the process of urbanization and do not include large swaths of rural land, as do metropolitan areas.
* ]
:Unlike an urban area, a metropolitan area includes not only the urban area, but also satellite cities ''plus intervening rural land'' that is socio-economically connected to the urban core city, typically by employment ties through commuting, with the urban core city being the primary labor market.

In accordance with these definitions, the three largest population centers in the Americas are: ], anchor to the largest metropolitan area in the Americas; New York City, anchor to the largest urban area in the Americas; and São Paulo, the largest city proper in the Americas. All three cities maintain ] classification and large scale influence. ] is the largest city in the Americas and the ] and ].
<gallery class="center" widths=230 heights=200 caption="Urban centers within the Americas">
Angel de la Independencia Mexico City.jpg|] – The largest metropolitan area in the Americas, with a population of 22,300,000 in 2017.
MarginalPinheiros.jpg|] – Largest city with a population of 12,038,175(city) in 2016.
Top of Rock Cropped.jpg|] – Largest urban area in the Americas, with a population of 18,351,295 in 2010.

</gallery>
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
!Country
!City
!City Population
!Metro Area Population
|-
|{{flag|Mexico}}||]
|8,864,000<ref>{{cite web|title=Mexico City Population 2013|url=http://www.worldpopulationstatistics.com/mexico-city-population-2013/|website=World Population Statistics|publisher=World Population Statistics|accessdate=September 6, 2014}}</ref>
|22,300,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conapo.gob.mx/work/models/CONAPO/Resource/1206/2/images/Proyecciones_de_Poblacion_ZM.xlsx|title=Proyecciones de la población de las zonas metropolitanas, 2010–2030|publisher=Consejo Nacional de Población (CONAPO)|language=Spanish|accessdate=January 9, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Brazil}}||]
|12,038,175<ref name="Sao Paulo Population 2013">{{cite web|title=Sao Paulo Population 2013|url=http://www.worldpopulationstatistics.com/sao-paulo-population-2013/|website=World Population Statistics|publisher=World Population Statistics|accessdate=September 6, 2014}}</ref>
|21,742, 939<ref>{{cite web|title=Cidade de São Paulo chega a 12 milhões de habitantes|url=http://sao-paulo.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,cidade-de-sao-paulo-chega-a-12-milhoes-de-habitantes,10000072909|publisher=Estadao|language=Portuguese|access-date=August 30, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|United States}}||]
|8,405,837<ref>{{cite web|title=New York City Population Hits Record High|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2014/03/27/new-york-city-population-hits-record-high/|website=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=September 6, 2014}}</ref>
|19,949,502<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013 – United States -- Metropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico |website=Census Bureau |publisher=Census Bureau |accessdate=September 6, 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815134909/http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk |archivedate=August 15, 2014 |df=mdy }}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Argentina}}||]
|2,776,138<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censo2010.indec.gov.ar/preliminares/cuadro_totalpais.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220143832/http://www.censo2010.indec.gov.ar/preliminares/cuadro_totalpais.asp |dead-url=yes |archive-date=December 20, 2010 |title=WebINDEC – Población / Censos / Censo 2010 |publisher= }}</ref>
|15,024,000<ref name="esa.un.org">{{cite web|url=http://esa.un.org/unpd/wup/DataQuery/|title=World Urbanization Prospects – Population Division – United Nations|work=un.org}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|United States}}||]
|3,928,864<ref> US Census Bureau</ref>
|13,131,431<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk |title=American FactFinder – Results |authors=Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS) |work=census.gov |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815134909/http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk |archivedate=August 15, 2014 |df=mdy }}</ref>
|}

=== Ethnology ===
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2014}}
The population of the Americas is made up of the descendants of four large ]s and their combinations.
* The ], being ]s, ], and ].
* Those of European ancestry, mainly Spanish, British and Irish, ], ], ], ], ], ], Russians and ]ns.
* Those of ] ancestry, mainly of West African descent.
* ], that is, those of ], ], and ]n ancestry.
* ]s (] in Canada), those of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry.
* ]es, people of mixed African and European ancestry.
* ]s (Spanish) or ]s (Portuguese), those of mixed African and Amerindian ancestry.

The majority of the population live in ], named for its predominant cultures, rooted in ] (including the two dominant languages, Spanish and ], both ]), more specifically in the ] nations of ] and Spain (hence the use of the term ] as a synonym). Latin America is typically contrasted with ], where English, a ], is prevalent, and which comprises Canada (with the exception of ] rooted in Latin Europe —see ] and ]) and the United States. Both countries are located in North America, with cultures deriving predominantly from ] and other ] roots.

=== Religion ===
{{further|Religion in Latin America|Religion in North America|Christianity in the Americas|Islam in the Americas}}
The most prevalent faiths in the Americas are as follows:
* Christianity (86 percent)<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.pewforum.org/2011/12/19/global-christianity-exec/ | work=Pew | title=Global Christianity }}</ref>
** Roman Catholicism: Practiced by 69 percent<ref name=pewlat>{{cite web |url=http://www.pewforum.org/2014/11/13/religion-in-latin-america/|title=2014 Religion in Latin America |accessdate=November 16, 2014}}</ref> of the Latin American population, 81 percent<ref name=pewlat /> in Mexico and 61 percent<ref name=pewlat /> in Brazil whose Roman Catholic population of 123 million is the greatest of any nation's; approximately 24 percent of the United States' population<ref name="CIAWFB">{{cite web | title = United States | work = CIA World Factbook | publisher = ] | date = November 16, 2010 | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html | accessdate=November 30, 2010}}</ref> and about 39 percent of Canada's.<ref name="religion2011d">{{cite web|url=http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/130508/dq130508b-eng.htm?HPA|title=Religions in Canada—Census 2011|publisher=Statistics Canada/Statistique Canada}}</ref>
** Protestantism: Practiced mostly in the United States, where half of the population are Protestant, Canada, with slightly more than a quarter of the population, and Greenland; there is a growing contingent of ] and ] movements in predominantly Catholic Latin America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1348759.htm|title=The World Today – Catholics faced with rise in Protestantism|date=April 19, 2005|publisher=ABC|location=Australia|accessdate=October 5, 2010}}</ref>
** ]: Found mostly in the United States (1 percent) and Canada; this Christian group is growing faster than many other Christian groups in Canada and now represents roughly 3 percent of the Canadian population.<ref name="religion2011d" />
** ] and other Christians (some 1,000 different Christian denominations and sects practiced in the Americas).
* ]: About 12 percent, including atheists and agnostics, as well as those who profess some form of spirituality but do not identify themselves as members of any organized religion)
* Islam: Together, Muslims constitute about 1 percent of the North American population and 0.3 percent of all Latin Americans. It is practiced by 3 percent <ref name="religion2011d" /> of Canadians and 0.6 percent of the U.S. population.<ref name="CIAWFB" /> ] has the largest Muslim population in Latin America with up to 600,000 persons, or 1.9 percent of the population.<ref name=stateirf>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71446.htm|title=Argentina|work=International Religious Freedom Report|publisher=U.S. Department of State|year=2006|accessdate=September 1, 2009}}</ref>
* Judaism (practiced by 2 percent of North Americans—approximately 2.5 percent of the U.S. population and 1.2 percent of Canadians<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jcpa.org/cjc/cjc-robinson-06.htm|title=Canadian Jewry Today: Portrait of a Community in the Process of Change – Ira Robinson|publisher=Jcpa.org|accessdate=October 5, 2010}}</ref>—and 0.23 percent of Latin Americans—Argentina has the largest Jewish population in Latin America with 200,000 members)<ref>{{cite web |last=Segal |first=Naomi |url=http://www.ujc.org/page.html?ArticleID=26170 |title=First Planeload of Jews Fleeing Argentina Arrives in Israel |publisher=Ujc.org |accessdate=October 5, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201175808/http://www.ujc.org/page.html?ArticleID=26170 |archivedate=February 1, 2008 }}</ref>

Other faiths include ]; ]; ]; ]; a wide variety of indigenous religions, many of which can be categorized as ]ic; ] religions and many ] and African-derived religions. ] faiths can also be found throughout the Americas.
{{Clear}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: right"
|+ '''Religious Demographics According to 2010 censuses/estimates in each country'''
|- style="background:#e8e8e8;"
! Country
! ]
! ]s
! ]s
! None/]s/]s
! Others
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Argentina}}<ref></ref>
| 86.2% || 76.5% || 09.7% || 11.3% || 02.5%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Bolivia}}
| 95.3% || 73.7% || 21.6% || 03.7% || 01.0%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Brazil}}<ref name="Igbe Brasil 2010">{{cite web| url=ftp://ftp.ibge.gov.br/Censos/Censo_Demografico_2010/Caracteristicas_Gerais_Religiao_Deficiencia/tab1_2.pdf |publisher=Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística |title=Cor ou Raça |work=Censo Demográfico 2010: Características gerais da população, religião e pessoas com deficiência |year=2010 |accessdate=October 5, 2013}}</ref>
| 86.8% || 64.6% || 22.2% || 08.4% || 04.8%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Canada}}<ref name="religion2011d"/>
| 62.6% || 38.7% || 23.9% || 28.5% || 08.9%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Chile}}<ref name="plazapublica.cl">{{cite web|url=http://plazapublica.cl/wp-content/uploads/658799.pdf |title= Encuesta - 2015 | publisher = Plaza Publica Cadem|language=es}}</ref>
| 76.0% || 60.0% || 16.0% || 21.0% || 03.0%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Colombia}}<ref name="Latin America Public Opinion Project">{{cite web |url=http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/colombia.php|title=Colombia|publisher=Vanderbilt.edu|accessdate=17 January 2015}}</ref>
| 93.9% || 80.3% || 13.6% || 05.2% || 01.7%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Costa Rica}}<ref name="latbar">{{cite web|title=Las religiones en tiempos del Papa Francisco |url=http://www.latinobarometro.org/latNewsShow.jsp |publisher=Latinobarómetro |accessdate=April 4, 2015 |archivedate=May 10, 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510104033/http://www.latinobarometro.org/latNewsShow.jsp |page=6 |language=Spanish |format=PDF |date=April 2014 |deadurl=yes }}</ref>
| 84.3% || 70.5% || 13.8% || 11.3% || 04.3%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Dominican Republic}}<ref name=religiousfreedomreport>{{cite web|url=http://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=country&category=&publisher=&type=&coi=DOM&rid=4562d94e2&docid=4cf2d0a087&skip=0|title=2010 Report on International Religious Freedom – Dominican Republic|work=UNHCR|date=17 November 2010|accessdate=30 March 2011}}</ref>
| 87.1% || 68.3% || 18.8% || 10.6% || 02.2%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Ecuador}}<ref>{{es icon}} </ref>
| 95.6% || 87.8% || 07.7% || 03.5% || 01.0%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|El Salvador}}<ref name="CID-Gallup"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307051137/https://www.cidgallup.com/ |date=2016-03-07 }}</ref>
| 75.5% || 45.8% || 29.7% || 24.3% || 01.2%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Guatemala}}<ref name="CID-GALLUP 2010">''''.</ref>
| 79.3% || 47.6% || 31.7% || 18.3% || 02.4%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Honduras}}<ref> ''US. State''</ref>
| 83.0% || 47.9% || 35.1% || 14.3% || 02.7%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Mexico}}<ref> Religiones 2010.pdf {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021230003/http://www.inegi.org.mx/prod_serv/contenidos/espanol/bvinegi/productos/censos/poblacion/2010/panora_religion/religiones_2010.pdf |date=October 21, 2015 }}</ref>
| 92.2% || 82.7% || 08.7% || 04.9% || 02.9%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Nicaragua}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prolades.com/conela/nicaragua-stats-2010-CONELA.pdf|title=CONELA/PRLADES - 2010 - Nicaragua|publisher=}}</ref>
| 81.1% || 54.3% || 26.8% || 16.8% || 02.1%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Panama}}
| 90.0% || 75.0% || 15.0% || 07.0% || 03.0%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Paraguay}}
| 96.8% || 90.4% || 06.4% || 01.4% || 01.8%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Peru}}<ref> (original dead link: http://www.inei.gob.pe/Anexos/libro.pdf)</ref>
| 96.7% || 81.3% || 12.5% || 01.9% || 01.4%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Uruguay}}<ref name=enha_rel>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.gub.uy/enha2006/flash/Flash%206_Religion.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927091848/http://www.ine.gub.uy/enha2006/flash/Flash%206_Religion.pdf|archivedate=27 September 2013|title=Encuesta Nacional de Hogares Amplidada - 2006 | work = National Institute of Statistics | publisher = INHA |accessdate=7 September 2013|language=es}}</ref>
| 58.2% || 47.1% || 11.1% || 40.4% || 1.5%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|United States}}<ref>{{cite web|author=Carolyn Stewart, ACSD |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/religion.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990508145129/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/religion.htm |archive-date=May 8, 1999 |dead-url=yes |title=Religion - Publications - US Census Bureau |publisher= }}</ref>
| 79.9% || 25.9% || 54.0% || 15.2% || 05.0%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{flag|Venezuela}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gumilla.org/biblioteca/bases/biblo/texto/SIC2012745_211-222.pdf|title=Informe sociográfico sobre la religión en Venezuela|publisher=}}</ref>
| 89.0% || 72.0% || 17.0% || 08.0% || 03.0%
|}

=== Languages ===
{{Main|Indigenous languages of the Americas|Languages of North America|Languages of South America}}
]

Various ]s are spoken in the Americas. Some are of European origin, others are spoken by indigenous peoples or are the mixture of various idioms like the different creoles.

The most widely spoken language in the Americas is ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/american_languages.htm|title=Official Languages of the Americas and the Caribbean - Nations Online Project|first=klaus kästle -|last=nationsonline.org|website=www.nationsonline.org}}</ref> The dominant language of ] is Spanish, though the most populous nation in Latin America, ], speaks ]. Small enclaves of ]-, ]- and ]-speaking regions also exist in Latin America, notably in ], ], and ] and ] respectively. ] is dominant in the nation of ], where French is also spoken. ] are more prominent in Latin America than in ], with ], ], ] and ] as the most common. Various other native languages are spoken with less frequency across both Anglo-America and Latin America. ]s other than Haitian Creole are also spoken in parts of Latin America.

The dominant language of Anglo-America is English. French is also official in ], where it is the predominant language in ] and an official language in ] along with English. It is also an important language in ], and in parts of ], ], and ]. Spanish has kept an ongoing presence in the ], which formed part of the ], especially in ] and ], where ] spoken since the 17th century has survived. It has more recently become widely spoken in other parts of the ] because of heavy immigration from Latin America. High levels of immigration in general have brought great linguistic diversity to Anglo-America, with over 300 languages known to be spoken in the United States alone, but most languages are spoken only in small enclaves and by relatively small immigrant groups.

The nations of Guyana, Suriname, and Belize are generally considered{{by whom|date=July 2012}} not to fall into either Anglo-America or Latin America because of their language differences from Latin America, geographic differences from Anglo-America, and cultural and historical differences from both regions; English is the primary language of Guyana and Belize, and Dutch is the primary language of Suriname.

Most of the non-native languages have, to different degrees, evolved differently from the mother country, but are usually still mutually intelligible. Some have combined, however, which has even resulted in completely new languages, such as ], which is a combination of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch (representing the respective colonizers), native ], various ], and, more recently English. The ] ], a mixture of Portuguese and Spanish, is spoken in the border regions of Brazil and neighboring Spanish-speaking countries.<ref>{{Cite journal|year=2006|title=Too Close for Comfort? The Genesis of "Portuñol/Portunhol"|url=http://www.lingref.com/cpp/hls/8/abstract1251.html|journal=Selected Proceedings of the 8th Hispanic Linguistics Symposium|pages=1–22|isbn=978-1-57473-408-9|last1=Lipski|first1=John M.|editor1=Timothy L. Face|editor2=Carol A. Klee)|accessdate=November 26, 2010}}</ref> More specifically, ] is spoken by around 100,000 people in the border regions of Brazil and ]. Because of ], there are many communities where other languages are spoken from all parts of the world, especially in the United States, Brazil, ], Canada, ], ] and Uruguay—very important destinations for immigrants.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927103010/http://www.oni.escuelas.edu.ar/olimpi98/fronterasculturales/datos/cap-pop.html |date=September 27, 2011 }}</ref><ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220125802/http://www.umng.edu.co/www/resources/idsocial.doc |date=February 20, 2012 }}</ref><ref></ref>

== Terminology ==
{{Subdivisions of the Americas|100px}}
{{Further|Americas (terminology)}}

=== English ===
{{Main|American (word)}}

] generally refer to the ]es of North America and South America as ''the Americas'', the '']'', or the '']''.<ref>Burchfield, R. W. 2004. ''].'' ({{ISBN|0-19-861021-1}}) Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press; p. 48.</ref> The adjective ''American'' may be used to indicate something pertains to the Americas,<ref name="OEDAMERICAN">{{OED|American}}</ref> but this term is primarily used in English to indicate something pertaining to the United States.<ref name="OEDAMERICAN" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=american|title=American|work=The American Heritage Dictionary|publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt|accessdate=September 8, 2014}}</ref><ref name="oxfcdn" /> Some non-ambiguous alternatives exist, such as the adjective ''Pan-American'',<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pan-american|title=Pan-American – Definition from the Merriam Webster dictionary}}</ref> or ''New Worlder'' as a demonym for a resident of the closely related ].<ref name="OED|New Worlder" /> Use of ''America'' in the hemispherical sense is sometimes retained, or can occur when translated from other languages.<ref>''Reader's Digest Oxford Complete Wordfinder''. 1993. ({{ISBN|0-276-42101-9}}) New York, USA: ] Association; p. 45.</ref> For example, the ] (ANOC) in Paris maintains a single continental association for "America", represented by one of the five ].<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731072159/http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_1303.pdf |date=July 31, 2010 }} ]. 2002. Lausanne: Olympic Museum and Studies Centre. The five rings of the ] represent the five inhabited, participating continents: ( {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731072159/http://www.en.acnolympic.org/art.php?id=20008 |date=July 31, 2010 }}).{{cite web|url=http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_1303.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=February 4, 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822175428/http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_1303.pdf |archivedate=August 22, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref>

American linguist ] said, " The Latin-Americans use Norteamericano in formal writing, but, save in Panama, prefer nicknames in colloquial speech."<ref name="Mencken">{{cite journal|last=Mencken|first=H. L.|date=December 1947|title=Names for Americans|journal=American Speech|publisher=American Speech|volume=22|issue=4|pages=241–256|doi=10.2307/486658|jstor=486658}} quote at p 243.</ref> To avoid "American" one can use constructed terms in their languages derived from "United States" or even "North America".<ref name="oxfcdn">"America." ''Oxford Guide to Canadian English Usage.'' ({{ISBN|0-19-541619-8}}) Fee, Margery and McAlpine, J., ed., 1997. Toronto: Oxford University Press; p. 36.</ref><ref>"American." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' ({{ISBN|0-19-214183-X}}); McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: Oxford University Press, p. 35.</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Estados Unidos | work = Diccionario panhispánico de dudas | publisher = ] |language= Spanish | date = October 2005 | url = http://buscon.rae.es/dpdI/SrvltGUIBusDPD?lema=Estados%20Unidos |accessdate=November 30, 2010}}</ref> In Canada, its southern neighbor is often referred to as "the United States", "the U.S.A.", or (informally) "the States", while U.S. citizens are generally referred to as "Americans".<ref name="oxfcdn" /> Most Canadians resent being referred to as "Americans".<ref name="oxfcdn" />

=== Spanish ===
In Spanish, ''América'' is a single continent composed of the ]s of ''América del Sur'' and ''América del Norte'', the ] of ''América Central'', and the islands of the '']''. ''Americano'' or ''americana'' in Spanish refers to a person from ''América'' in a similar way that ''europeo'' or ''europea'' refers to a person from ''Europa''. The terms ''sudamericano/a'', ''centroamericano/a'', ''antillano/a'' and ''norteamericano/a'' can be used to more specifically refer to the location where a person may live.

Citizens of the United States of America are normally referred to by the term ''estadounidense'' (rough literal translation: "]") instead of ''americano'' or ''americana'' which is discouraged,<ref name=norteamerica>{{cite book | url=http://buscon.rae.es/dpdI/SrvltGUIBusDPD?lema=Norteam%E9rica | title=Diccionario panhispánico de dudas:Norteamérica | publisher=Real Academia Española | year=2005}}</ref><ref name=estadosunidos /> and the country's name itself is officially translated as ''Estados Unidos de América'' (United States of America), commonly abbreviated as ''Estados Unidos'' (EEUU).<ref name=estadosunidos>{{cite book | url=http://buscon.rae.es/dpd/srv/search?id=4EWtRO1VZD6v7sHSpo | title=Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Estados Unidos | publisher=Real Academia Española | year=2005}} "debe evitarse el empleo de americano para referirse exclusivamente a los habitantes de los Estados Unidos" ("the use of the term ''americano'' referring exclusively to the United States inhabitants must be avoided")</ref> Also, the term ''norteamericano'' (North American) may refer to a citizen of the United States. This term is primarily used to refer to citizens of the United States, and less commonly to those of other North American countries.<ref name=norteamerica />

=== Portuguese ===
In Portuguese, '']''<ref name=AmericaPortBE>{{cite web |url=http://www.brasilescola.com/historia-da-america/paises-america.htm |title=Países da América |publisher=Brasil Escola |accessdate=March 29, 2014}}</ref> is a single continent composed of ''América do Sul'' (South America), ''América Central'' (Central America) and ''América do Norte'' (North America).<ref name=AmericaME>{{cite web |url=http://www.mundoeducacao.com/geografia/o-continente-americano.htm |title=América |publisher=Mundo Educação |accessdate=March 29, 2014}}</ref> It can be ambiguous, as ''América'' can be used to refer to the United States of America, but is avoided in print and formal environments.<ref name=EstadosUnidosIt>{{cite web|url=http://www.itamaraty.gov.br/servicos-do-itamaraty/enderecos-de-consulados-estrangeiros-no-brasil/e/estados-unidos |title=Estados Unidos |publisher=Itamaraty |accessdate=March 29, 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222194657/http://www.itamaraty.gov.br/servicos-do-itamaraty/enderecos-de-consulados-estrangeiros-no-brasil/e/estados-unidos |archivedate=February 22, 2014 |df=mdy }}</ref><ref name=EstadosUnidosESPN>{{cite web |url=http://espn.uol.com.br/time/estadosunidos|title=Estados Unidos |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=March 29, 2014}}</ref>

=== French ===
In French the word ''américain'' may be used for things relating to the Americas; however, similar to English, it is most often used for things relating to the United States. ''Panaméricain'' may be used as an adjective to refer to the Americas without ambiguity.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://gdt.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/ficheOqlf.aspx?Id_Fiche=17571942 | title = panaméricain | publisher = Office québéqois de la langue français | year = 1978 | accessdate=November 22, 2013}}</ref> French speakers may use the noun ''Amérique'' to refer to the whole landmass as one continent, or two continents, ''Amérique du Nord'' and ''Amérique du Sud''. In French, ''Amérique'' is also used to refer to the United States, making the term ambiguous. Similar to English usage, ''les Amériques'' or ''des Amériques'' is used to refer unambiguously to the Americas.

=== Dutch ===
In Dutch, the word ''Amerika'' mostly refers to the United States.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}} Although the United States is equally often referred to as ''de Verenigde Staten'' ("the United States") or ''de VS'' ("the US"), ''Amerika'' relatively rarely refers to the Americas, but it is the only commonly used Dutch word for the Americas. This often leads to ambiguity; and to stress that something concerns the Americas as a whole, Dutch uses a combination, namely ''Noord- en Zuid-Amerika'' (North and South America).

Latin America is generally referred to as ''Latijns Amerika'' or ''Midden-Amerika'' for Central America.

The adjective ''Amerikaans'' is most often used for things or people relating to the United States. There are no alternative words to distinguish between things relating to the United States or to the Americas. Dutch uses the local alternative for things relating to elsewhere in the Americas, such as ''Argentijns'' for ], etc.

== Multinational organizations ==
The following is a list of multinational organizations in the Americas.

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ] or (])
* ]
* ] or Mercosul
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
{{div col end}}

==Economy==
{{main article|Economy of North America}}
{{main article|Economy of South America}}
{{see also|List of North American countries by GDP (nominal)|List of North American countries by GDP (PPP)}}
{{see also|List of Latin American and Caribbean countries by GDP (PPP)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right; float:left; border:1px solid #aaa; margin:10px"
|- style="background:#dbdbdb;"
! Rank
! Country
! ] <small>(nominal, Peak Year)</small><br/><small>millions of ]</small> <ref></ref>
! Peak Year
|-
| 1 ||align=left|{{flag|United States}} || 19,362,129 || 2017
|-
| 2 ||align=left|{{flag|Brazil}} || 2,614,027 || 2011
|-
| 3 ||align=left|{{flag|Canada}} || 1,842,627 || 2013
|-
| 4 ||align=left|{{flag|Mexico}} || 1,298,466 || 2014
|-
| 5 ||align=left|{{flag|Argentina}} || 631,621 || 2015
|-
| 6 ||align=left|{{flag|Colombia}} || 380,170 || 2013
|-
| 7 ||align=left|{{flag|Venezuela}} || 334,069 || 2011
|-
| 8 ||align=left|{{flag|Chile}} || 278,340 || 2013
|-
| 9 ||align=left|{{flag|Peru}} || 210,013 || 2017
|-
| 10||align=left|{{flag|Puerto Rico}} || 105,035 || 2016
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right; float:left; border:1px solid #aaa; margin:10px"
|- style="background:#dbdbdb;"
! Rank
! Country
! ] <small>(PPP, Peak Year)</small><br/><small>millions of ]</small>
! Peak Year
|-
| 1 ||align=left|{{flag|United States}} || 19,362,129 || 2017
|-
| 2 ||align=left|{{flag|Brazil}} || 3,306,709 || 2014
|-
| 3 ||align=left|{{flag|Mexico}} || 2,406,087 || 2017
|-
| 4 ||align=left|{{flag|Canada}} || 1,763,785 || 2017
|-
| 5 ||align=left|{{flag|Argentina}} || 911,466 || 2017
|-
| 6 ||align=left|{{flag|Colombia}} || 712,543 || 2017
|-
| 7 ||align=left|{{flag|Venezuela}} || 554,247 || 2013
|-
| 8 ||align=left|{{flag|Chile}} || 452,095 || 2017
|-
| 9 ||align=left|{{flag|Peru}} || 424,639 || 2017
|-
| 10 ||align=left|{{flag|Cuba}} || 254,865 || 2015
|}
{{clear}}

The U.S. has the fastest-growing economy in the Americas according to a 2016 study conducted by the ] (IMF),<ref name=IMFUNASURGDP>{{Cite web|url=http://statisticstimes.com/economy/south-american-countries-by-gdp-per-capita.php|author=International Monetary Fund|publisher=International Monetary Fund|title=List of South American countries by GDP per capita|work=World Economic Outlook|date=October 2016|access-date=September 25, 2017}}</ref><ref name=IMFNorthAmericaGDP>{{Cite web|url=http://statisticstimes.com/economy/north-american-countries-by-gdp-per-capita.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010114728/http://statisticstimes.com/economy/north-american-countries-by-gdp-per-capita.php|dead-url=yes|archive-date=2017-10-10|author=International Monetary Fund|publisher=International Monetary Fund|title=List of North American countries by GDP per capita|work=World Economic Outlook|date=October 2016|access-date=February 22, 2017}}</ref> and has the highest GDP per capita in the Americas as well.<ref name="IMFNorthAmericaGDP" /><ref name=IMFUNASURGDP/> Countries in the northern part of the Americas tend to have healthier and stronger economies than countries in the southern part of the Americas.<ref name="IMFNorthAmericaGDP" /><ref name=IMFUNASURGDP/>

In 2016, five to seven countries in the southern part of the Americas had weakening economies in decline, compared to only three countries in the northern part of the Americas.<ref name="IMFNorthAmericaGDP" /><ref name=IMFUNASURGDP/> Haiti has the lowest GDP per capita in the Americas, although its economy was growing slightly as of 2016.<ref name="IMFNorthAmericaGDP" /><ref name=IMFUNASURGDP/>

== See also ==
{{portal|Geography<!-- |Americas -->|North America|South America}}
<!-- {{Misplaced Pages-Books}} -->
<!-- {{Main|Outline of the Americas|Index of Americas-related articles}} -->
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* ]
<!-- *] -->
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
{{div col end}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note|30em}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* "Americas". ''''. 2006. New York: Columbia University Press.
* "Americas". '']'', 15th ed. 1986. ({{ISBN|0-85229-434-4}}) Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
* Burchfield, R. W. 2004. ''].'' {{ISBN|0-19-861021-1}} Oxford University Press.
* ] '''' 1997 City Lights Books {{ISBN|0-87286-323-9}}
* Fee, Margery and McAlpine, J. 1997. ''Oxford Guide to Canadian English Usage.'' ({{ISBN|0-19-541619-8}}) Toronto: Oxford University Press.
* Kane, Katie '''' ''Cultural Critique'', No. 42 (Spring, 1999), pp.&nbsp;81–103 {{DOI|10.2307/1354592}}
* Pearsall, Judy and Trumble, Bill., ed. 2002. '']'', 2nd ed. (rev.) ({{ISBN|0-19-860652-4}}) Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
* Geography at about.com.
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Wiktionary}}
{{commons|America}}
*
*
*
* {{Cite NIE |last=Gannett |first=Henry |authorlink=Henry Gannett |last2=Ingersoll |first2=Ernest |author2link=Ernest Ingersoll |last3=Winship |first3=George Parker |author3link=George Parker Winship |year=1905 |wstitle=America and others |short=x}}

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{{Navboxes
|title = Americas
|list =
{{Countries of North America}}
{{Countries of South America}}
}}
{{History of the Americas}}
{{Regions of the world}}
{{Continents of the world}}

{{Authority control}}

]
]

Revision as of 00:40, 21 March 2018

america is not very good