USA Facts

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Is autism increasing?

According to the CDC, 3.2% of 8-year-olds had autism in 2022.

https://usafacts.org/articles/is-autism-increasing/?

What is the federal poverty level?

The federal poverty guidelines — also known as the federal poverty level (FPL) — are used by federal agencies to determine eligibility for programs like Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These guidelines are issued annually by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and are based on the official poverty thresholds calculated by the Census Bureau. They set the income limits for many need-based programs, helping determine who qualifies for assistance. While the thresholds are more detailed and used for statistical measurement of poverty, the FPL is a simplified version designed for administrative purposes. The guidelines are adjusted for inflation each year and vary by household size.

https://usafacts.org/explainers/what-is-the-federal-poverty-level/country/united-states/?

 

One last fact

The current shutdown notwithstanding, the federal government has had 10 shutdowns of various lengths since 1976. The shortest shutdowns have lasted a day; there were several of those in the 1980s. The longest was in 2019, lasting for more than a month: 34 days.   This one? Six days. And counting.

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What types of work visas and green cards does the US issue?

More than a quarter of authorized immigrants coming to the US for work come on visas for temporary agricultural workers.

https://usafacts.org/articles/what-types-of-work-visas-and-green-cards-does-the-us-issue/?

How many Americans voted in 2024?

Voter turnout was the third highest since 1980 but declined by 1.5 percentage points since 2020.

https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-americans-voted-in-2024/?

One last fact

During the 2021–2022 school year, the federal government provided 13.7% of public-school funding — that’s about one in every seven dollars. School districts in Mississippi (23.2% of district revenue), South Dakota (21.8%), and Arkansas (21.6%) relied more on federal funding than districts in other states. (And you can check your state right here.)

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How much fentanyl is seized at US borders each month?

About 760 pounds in August 2025. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used medically as a pain reliever but is also trafficked illegally due to its potency. In 2023, the latest data available, fentanyl was involved in 69.0% of fatal accidental drug overdoses in the US.

https://usafacts.org/answers/how-much-fentanyl-is-seized-at-us-borders/country/united-states/?

How much revenue does the federal government collect from tariffs?

$77.0 billion in FY 2024. This figure reflects revenue from tariffs and other import-related fees, also known as customs duties. Customs duties are taxes and fees paid by US importers and collected by US Customs and Border Protection on goods imported into the country, which generate revenue for the federal government.

https://usafacts.org/answers/how-much-revenue-does-the-federal-government-collect-from-tariffs/country/united-states/?

One last fact

The National Center for Education Statistics measures literacy on a scale of 0, meaning functionally illiterate, to 500, meaning the ability to process dense texts and apply logical reasoning to draw conclusions. The national average literacy score is 263.5.    Between 2017 and 2023, the average literacy score for US adults dropped 13 points. Dive into your state and county’s data.

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What is the National Guard and what does it do?

One of the US’ military reserve services has been in the news in 2025.

https://usafacts.org/articles/what-is-the-national-guard-and-what-does-it-do/?

What is the gender pay gap in the US?

Women made about 82 cents for every dollar men made as of the second quarter of 2025. This means that men with full-time jobs typically make 22% more than women in full-time jobs. This ratio compares the median weekly pay of full-time workers—people who usually work 35 hours or more each week.

https://usafacts.org/answers/what-is-the-gender-pay-gap-in-the-us/country/united-states/?

 

One last fact

In 2024, 23% of Hispanic Americans under 65 didn’t have health insurance. That’s two times the national average.

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How are Americans doing financially?

In 2024, nearly a third of US adults felt they were worse off than in 2023.

https://usafacts.org/articles/how-are-americans-doing-financially/?

How many voters have a party affiliation?

Of registered voters, 45% have declared a party affiliation. As of August 2025, 37.4 million voters are registered Republicans and 44.1 million are registered Democrats.

https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-voters-have-a-party-affiliation/?

One last fact

Speaking of air traffic, if you’re planning a trip soon, these airlines had the best on-time arrival rates in the first six months of this year:  Hawaiian   Horizon  Southwest  United  Spirit  The Bureau of Transportation Statistics counts a flight as “on time” if it arrives within 15 minutes of its scheduled arrival.

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How long can it take to become a US citizen?

For some immigrants, becoming a US citizen takes a few years. For others, limited visa availability and annual country caps mean waiting decades before even applying.

https://usafacts.org/articles/how-long-can-it-take-to-become-a-us-citizen/?

How has US energy consumption changed over time?

In 2024, 82% of energy consumption was from fossil fuels, 9% was from nuclear power, and 9% was from renewable energy.

https://usafacts.org/articles/what-kinds-of-energy-does-the-us-use/?

One last fact

Have more candy than trick-or-treaters on Halloween? You might be among the people who’ve spent an increasing amount on candy, and sweets in general, since 2013. In 2023, Americans spent an average of $164 on candy alone — a 44% jump from just two years prior.   We should note that this data comes from a Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer survey. It reflects what people actually spent each year, so it’s not inflation-adjusted.

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How many IVF babies are born in the US?

One out of every 37 babies born in the US in 2022 was conceived using IVF or other assisted reproductive technology.

https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-ivf-babies-are-born-in-the-us/?

What are the best and worst airports and airlines for on-time performance?

Nearly 25% of domestic flights in the second quarter of 2025 did not arrive on-time — the tardiest performance since 2014.

https://usafacts.org/articles/what-are-the-best-and-worst-airlines-for-on-time-performance/?

One last fact

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provided an average of $188 a month per participant in FY 2024. But in some states, more people rely on those benefits. The states with the highest percentage of SNAP usage were: New Mexico (21.2% of the state population), Louisiana (18.4%), and Oregon (17.7%).

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How many immigrants are in the United States ?

About 50.2 million in 2024. This represents approximately 14.8% of the population, or about 1 in 7 residents in the United States. Immigrants are defined as foreign-born residents, which includes people who became US citizens, are authorized to come to the US (e.g., on work visas, student visas), or are undocumented residents.

https://usafacts.org/answers/how-many-immigrants-are-in-the-us/country/united-states/?

What does the Department of Education (ED) do?

The Department of Education (Education Department, ED) is a cabinet-level executive branch agency responsible for overseeing education policy and administering funding for programs and individuals. The department's functions include supporting state and local education systems, promoting educational equity for all students, and providing grants and loans to higher education institutions and students. It was established in 1980 after the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was reorganized into separate entities.

https://usafacts.org/explainers/what-does-the-us-government-do/agency/us-department-of-education/?

One last fact

The are the top 10 turkey-producing states. Minnesota leads the flock with an estimated 32 million raised so far this year. The states in gray have raised about 22.3 million turkeys combined.

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Which states contribute the most and least to federal revenue?

In 2024, Californians paid about $275.6 billion more to the federal government than they received.

https://usafacts.org/articles/which-states-contribute-the-most-and-least-to-federal-revenue/?

What’s in the “One Big Beautiful Bill”?

From tax reform to shifts in healthcare, immigration, and SNAP, this legislation will likely affect you.

https://usafacts.org/articles/whats-in-the-one-big-beautiful-bill/?

One last fact

Cashier jobs are expected to disappear more than any other job by 2034. Find out which jobs are expected to be the fastest-growing.

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How much are doctors paid?

More than 1.75 times as much as USAFacts readers think.

https://usafacts.org/articles/how-much-are-doctors-paid/?

The Affordable Care Act and the data: Who is insured and who isn't

More than 45 million people had enrolled in ACA-related insurance plans as of early 2024.

https://usafacts.org/articles/affordable-care-act-and-data-who-insured-and-who-isnt/?

One last fact

The Small Business Administration generally defines a small business as any independent business with fewer than 500 employees. These businesses comprise 99.9% of all businesses in the US. As of July 2024, the nation had 34.8 million small businesses that employed 59 million people, or 45.9% of all private-sector employees.   For comparison, the nation had 19,688 large businesses in July of last year.

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Where do inventors come from?

Adults raised in Minnesota are the most likely in the US to file a patent.

https://usafacts.org/articles/where-do-inventors-come-from/?

Are Americans spending more during the holidays than ever before?

Retail spending in December 2024 was the highest ever recorded — over $600 billion, or around $1,766 per person.

https://usafacts.org/articles/holiday-retail-spending/?

One last fact

US Border Patrol detected about 8,400 attempted crossings in September 2025, 84.4% fewer than in September the year prior.   These attempted crossings, sometimes called “encounters,” are instances in which the Border Patrol apprehended or expelled someone attempting to illegally enter the US between official entry ports. This number does not represent individual people, as someone may be counted multiple times if they try to cross the border several times.

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Who funds the FAA? You, whenever you fly

In FY 2024, 65.3% of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding came from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF), some of which is from passenger taxes.

https://usafacts.org/articles/who-funds-the-faa-you-whenever-you-fly/?

Is there a shortage of air traffic controllers?

Although hiring has increased and reforms are underway, the FAA is working to close staffing gaps nationwide.

https://usafacts.org/articles/is-there-a-shortage-of-air-traffic-controllers/?

One last fact

Is Utah topping the “nice” list this season? In 2023, 68.2% of Utah residents informally helped their neighbors — the highest in the nation. Nevada ranked the lowest at 45.7%.

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USAFacts’ top 10 articles of 2025

Crime, government activity, federal revenue and debt, election data, border security, and federal employment numbers were among readers’ favorite articles

https://usafacts.org/articles/the-10-most-read-articles-of-the-year/?

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How many people are in prisons in the US?

About 1.25 million at the end of 2023, the most recent year for which data is available. This number is up 2% from 2022 and includes anyone under state or federal jurisdiction. Prisoners sentenced to one or more years — usually for a felony conviction — make up 96.5% of this group, and the remainder includes people who are serving shorter sentences or awaiting sentencing.

https://usafacts.org/answers/how-many-people-are-in-prisons-in-the-us/country/united-states/?

How many children attend preschool?

Preschool enrollment has returned to near pre-pandemic levels, with almost half of three- and four-year-olds in school.

https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-children-attend-preschool-us/?

One last fact

In 2024, Americans spent $1.2 trillion on online retail — a record 16.1% of retail overall.   Overall, the retail industry produced $7.4 trillion in sales in 2024. Online shopping and other non-store retail comprised $1.5 trillion (or 20% of that total).

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Why have death rates from accidental falls tripled?

Since 2000, death rates from heart disease and cancer have declined, whereas deaths from accidental falls have increased threefold.

https://usafacts.org/articles/why-have-death-rates-from-accidental-falls-tripled/?

How does marriage vary by state?

Utah has the highest marriage rate and the youngest median marriage age for both men and women.

https://usafacts.org/articles/how-does-marriage-vary-by-state/?

One last fact

Farm subsidies have contributed an average of 13.5% of net farm income nationwide since they began in 1933. In 2024, they accounted for 5.9% of farm income, a 7.6 percentage-point difference from the 91-year average.

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Are Americans sleeping more or less?

According to new American Time Use Survey data, Americans now spend more time sleeping—or trying to sleep—than they did two decades ago.

https://usafacts.org/articles/are-americans-sleeping-more-or-less/?

How much fentanyl is seized at US borders each month?

About 640 pounds in September 2025. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used medically as a pain reliever but is also trafficked illegally due to its potency. In 2023, the latest data available, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids were involved in 69% of fatal accidental drug overdoses in the US.

https://usafacts.org/answers/how-much-fentanyl-is-seized-at-us-borders/country/united-states/?

 

One last fact

Employment is the second most common path to a green card. Employment-based visas are divided into three preference categories.   First preference: Individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors, or multinational executives.   Second preference: Professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability.   Third preference: Skilled workers, professionals, and certain other workers.  Zoom in on this chart in the detailed article.

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How many DACA recipients are there?

About 515,600 people at the end of June 2025 — about the same as the population of Killeen-Temple, TX Metro Area. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a program created in 2012 for people who came to the US as children and who do not have legal immigration status. People accepted into DACA and who maintain active status with the program are protected from deportation and are allowed to apply for work authorization, but do not receive legal immigration status or have a path to citizenship.

https://usafacts.org/answers/how-many-daca-recipients-are-there/country/united-states/?

How much is spent per Medicaid enrollee in the US?

In fiscal year (FY) 2023, $9,109 per enrollee. That's 1% lower than in FY 2022. Adjusted for inflation, Medicaid spending per enrollee is at its lowest level since 1994. Spending primarily covers benefits, but administrative costs are also included.

https://usafacts.org/answers/how-much-is-spent-per-medicaid-enrollee-in-the-us/country/united-states/?

One last fact

The FBI releases annual crime data for cities and metro areas. Data isn’t available for every US city, but the 2024 metrics (the most recent) cover 217 cities with populations of at least 100,000.     Of these, Memphis, Tennessee, had the highest violent crime rate, with 2,501 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. Oakland, California, and Detroit followed at 1,925 and 1,781, respectively. Carmel, Indiana, had the lowest: 66.

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What’s going on with ACA subsidies?

After temporary Affordable Care Act subsidies expired at the end of 2025, enrollees may face higher premiums in 2026.

https://usafacts.org/articles/whats-going-on-with-aca-subsidies/?

How many vacant homes are there in the US?

Over 15 million American homes — approximately 10% of the country’s housing inventory — were vacant in 2024.

https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-vacant-homes-are-there-in-the-us/?

One last fact

The national cancer incidence rate decreased by 8.1% from 1999 to 2022. However, rates rose in 10 states, particularly in Tennessee (+13.5%). Rates fell the most in Washington, DC (-26.4%).

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How much have major White House renovations cost over the past 100 years?

USAFacts reviewed historical budgets and records to put the cost of the new White House ballroom in context.

https://usafacts.org/articles/white-house-renovations/?

Which states have the largest elderly populations?

In 2024, nearly a quarter of Maine's population was 65 years or older.

https://usafacts.org/articles/america-is-getting-older-which-states-have-the-largest-elderly-populations/?

One last fact

Colorado gets the gold for sending the most athletes (31) to the winter games in Italy. Minnesota sent the second most, 25, and California sent the third most: 19.   But what state sends the most when adjusting population size? Find out on Instagram.

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2026 State of the Union: In Numbers

Article II of the US Constitution mandates that the president periodically inform Congress about the "state of the union," including budget reports and legislative proposals. It is also a chance for the president to review their achievements, with not just Congress watching live, but the public as well. President Trump is set to deliver the 2026 State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 24th.

https://usafacts.org/reports/state-of-the-union/home/?

Ask an Analyst: Creating a data-driven State of the Union

Go behind the scenes with our team as we find and make sense of the numbers.

https://usafacts.org/articles/ask-an-analyst/creating-a-data-driven-state-of-the-union/?

One last fact

Gas prices were down $0.23 from a year prior the week of February 9. The national average for regular gas was $2.90. Prices in the Rocky Mountain region fell the most year over year, down $0.35.   Arizona in the West Coast region? South Dakota in the Midwest? If you’re confused about these regions, here’s a (fun?) fact: these groupings were created in 1942 with the establishment of the Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts. They’re for energy supply chain reporting, not delineations of culture or geography.

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Is the US a bigger oil importer or exporter?

The US has been exporting more oil and petroleum products than it imports since August 2021.

https://usafacts.org/articles/is-the-us-a-bigger-oil-importer-or-exporter/?

How much revenue does the federal government collect from tariffs?

$194.9 billion in FY 2025. This figure reflects revenue from tariffs and other import-related fees, also known as customs duties. Customs duties are taxes and fees paid by US importers and collected by US Customs and Border Protection on goods imported into the country, which generate revenue for the federal government.

https://usafacts.org/answers/how-much-revenue-does-the-federal-government-collect-from-tariffs/country/united-states/?

One last fact

Both men and women are marrying later in life.    In 2004, the median age at first marriage for men was 27.4 years. By 2014, it was 29.3. By 2024, it had risen to 30.2. Men in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire marry for the first time at even higher median ages: 32.4.    See the average ages for women right here.

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What is expedited removal?

A process to deport some immigrants without undergoing the full removal process was expanded in 2025.

https://usafacts.org/articles/what-is-expedited-removal/?

What is the average wage in the US?

About $1,275 per week in January 2026, 1.9% higher than a year before. The average weekly wage, the typical earnings that employees bring home for one week of work, is a valuable indicator to assess economic conditions, labor market health, and wage trends.

https://usafacts.org/answers/what-is-the-average-wage-in-the-us/country/united-states/?

One last fact

Nineteen states have opted to observe daylight saving time permanently. But these changes can only take effect if Congress changes federal daylight saving time laws.   The Sunshine Protection Act, which would move the US to permanent daylight saving time, has been introduced to Congress in 2018, 2021, and 2025, but has failed to pass.

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How much revenue does sports betting generate?

Sports betting is legal in 39 states and in Washington, DC, generating millions in tax revenue.

https://usafacts.org/articles/how-much-revenue-does-sports-betting-generate/?

Ask an Analyst: Lending some color to the political map

Go behind the scenes with our team as we find and make sense of the numbers.

https://usafacts.org/articles/ask-an-analyst/lending-some-color-to-the-political-map/?

One last fact

Last year, the top five oil exporters to the US were:   Canada (57%)     Mexico (6%)     Saudi Arabia (4%)      Iraq (3%)     Brazil (3%)   The remaining 27% came from 63 other countries/territories/other areas. Search the chart for other countries here.

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How much is spent on personal healthcare in the US?

National spending on personal healthcare has increased 2,005% since 1980 — over seven times faster than inflation — to nearly $4.3 trillion.

https://usafacts.org/articles/how-much-is-spent-on-personal-healthcare/?

What is the Federal Reserve?

Established in 1913, the Federal Reserve serves as the nation’s central bank, directing monetary policy and supporting financial stability.

https://usafacts.org/articles/the-federal-reserve-explained/?

One last fact

As of September 2025, the nation had 2.1 million active duty and reserve troops. The Army was the largest military branch, accounting for 34% of active-duty troops and 65% of reservists.

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Voter lists: what are they?

Each state manages a list of registered voters, used to verify eligibility and manage elections.

https://usafacts.org/articles/voter-lists-what-are-they-and-why-is-the-doj-asking-for-them/?

Ask an Analyst: What makes a "donor state"?

Go behind the scenes with our team as we find and make sense of the numbers.

https://usafacts.org/articles/ask-an-analyst/donor-states/?

One last fact

The average annual labor force participation rate decreased slightly to 62.4% in 2025 after remaining unchanged from 2023 to 2024. This rate is the percentage of the population ages 16 and older who are either employed or actively seeking work. It’s been trending downward since 2000 due to the nation’s aging population.