Northern America is the northernmost subregion of North America as well as the northernmost region in the Americas. The boundaries may be drawn significantly differently depending on the source of the definition. In one definition, it lies directly north of Middle America. Northern America's land frontier with the rest of North America then coincides with the Mexico–United States border. Geopolitically, according to the United Nations' scheme of geographical regions and subregions, Northern America consists of Bermuda, Canada, Greenland, Saint Pierre and Miquelon and the United States (the contiguous United States and Alaska only, excluding Hawaii, Navassa Island, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and other minor U.S. Pacific territories).
 | |
| Area | 21,780,142 km2 (8,409,360 sq mi) |
|---|---|
| Population | 375,278,947 (2021 est.) |
| Population density | 16.5/km2 (42.7/sq mi) |
| GDP (nominal) | $27.5 trillion (2022) |
| Countries | |
| Dependencies | 3
|
| Languages | English, French, Spanish, Danish, Greenlandic, and various recognized regional languages |
| Time zones | UTC−10:00 (west Aleutians) to UTC+00:00 (Danmarkshavn, Greenland) |
| Largest cities | 10 largest cities in Northern America (2015)
|
| UN M49 code | 021 – Northern America003 – North America019 – Americas001 – World |
Definitions
Maps using the term Northern America date back to 1755, when the region was occupied by France, Great Britain, and Spain. The Solemn Act of the Declaration of Independence of Northern America in 1813 applied to Mexico. Today, Northern America includes the Canada–US dyad, developed countries that exhibit very high Human Development Indexes and intense economic integration while sharing many socioeconomic characteristics.
The World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions has "Northern America" as the seventh of its nine "botanical continents". Its definition differs from the usual political one: Mexico is included, Bermuda is excluded (being placed in the Caribbean region), Hawaii is excluded (being placed in the Pacific botanical continent) and all of the Aleutian Islands, Russian as well as American, are included.
Countries and territories
| Country / Territory | Population | Area (km2) | Density (people per km2) | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bermuda | 64,185 | 53.2 | 1,206.48 | Hamilton |
 Canada | 38,155,012 | 9,984,670 | 3.82 | Ottawa |
 Greenland | 56,243 | 2,166,086 | 0.03 | Nuuk |
 Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 5,883 | 242 | 24.31 | Saint Pierre |
 United States | 336,997,624 | 9,826,675 | 34.29 | Washington, D.C. |
* indicates "Demographics of country or territory" links.
Demographics
| Year | Population | % change | Canada | % | United States | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 172,603,000 | — | 13,733,000 | 8.0% | 158,804,000 | 92.0% |
| 1960 | 204,649,000 | +18.6% | 17,847,000 | 8.7% | 186,721,000 | 91.2% |
| 1970 | 230,992,000 | +12.9% | 21,374,000 | 9.3% | 209,513,000 | 90.7% |
| 1980 | 254,007,000 | +10.0% | 24,417,000 | 9.6% | 229,476,000 | 90.3% |
| 1990 | 279,785,000 | +10.1% | 27,541,000 | 9.8% | 252,120,000 | 90.1% |
| 2000 | 312,427,000 | +11.7% | 30,588,000 | 9.8% | 281,711,000 | 90.2% |
| 2010 | 343,287,000 | +9.9% | 34,148,000 | 9.9% | 309,011,000 | 90.0% |
| 2020 | 368,870,000 | +7.5% | 37,742,000 | 10.2% | 331,003,000 | 89.7% |
See also
- Americas (terminology)
- Anglo-America
- Caribbean
- Central America
- Middle America
- Southern Cone
- The Nine Nations of North America
- West Indies
- Western world
References
- "April 2022 GDP Report for Canada and United States". Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- Gonzalez, Joseph. 2004. "Northern America: Land of Opportunity" (ch. 6). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Geography. (ISBN 1592571883) New York: Alpha Books; pp. 57–8
- Definition of major areas and regions, from World Migrant Stock: The 2005 Revision Population Database, United Nations Population Division. Accessed on line October 3, 2007.
- Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings, UN Statistics Division. Accessed online October 3, 2007. (French)
- Bellin, Jacques-Nicolas (n.d.). "Carte de l'Amerique septentrionale (Map of Northern America, 1755)". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Item NMC 21057.
- Torrey, Barbara Boyle & Eberstadt, Nicholas. 2005 (Aug./Sep.). "The Northern America Fertility Divide Archived 2007-11-07 at the Wayback Machine." Hoover Institution Policy Review. No. 132.
- Brummitt, R.K. (2001). World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions: Edition 2 (PDF). International Working Group on Taxonomic Databases For Plant Sciences (TDWG). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
- "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- Unless otherwise noted, land area figures are taken from Demographic Yearbook—Table 3: Population by sex, rate of population increase, surface area and density (PDF) (Report). United Nations Statistics Division. 2008. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
- Includes the U.S. 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.
- "World Population Prospects". population.un.org. Archived from the original on 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2019-02-24.
External links
- Canada and the United States, by Stephen Azzi and J.L. Granatstein
Northern America is the northernmost subregion of North America as well as the northernmost region in the Americas The boundaries may be drawn significantly differently depending on the source of the definition In one definition it lies directly north of Middle America Northern America s land frontier with the rest of North America then coincides with the Mexico United States border Geopolitically according to the United Nations scheme of geographical regions and subregions Northern America consists of Bermuda Canada Greenland Saint Pierre and Miquelon and the United States the contiguous United States and Alaska only excluding Hawaii Navassa Island Puerto Rico the United States Virgin Islands and other minor U S Pacific territories Northern AmericaArea21 780 142 km2 8 409 360 sq mi Population375 278 947 2021 est Population density16 5 km2 42 7 sq mi GDP nominal 27 5 trillion 2022 Countries2 Canada United StatesDependencies3 Bermuda United Kingdom Greenland Denmark Saint Pierre and Miquelon France LanguagesEnglish French Spanish Danish Greenlandic and various recognized regional languagesTime zonesUTC 10 00 west Aleutians to UTC 00 00 Danmarkshavn Greenland Largest cities10 largest cities in Northern America 2015 New York Los Angeles Toronto Chicago Houston Montreal Philadelphia Phoenix San Antonio San DiegoUN M49 code021 Northern America 003 North America 019 Americas 001 WorldDefinitionsMaps using the term Northern America date back to 1755 when the region was occupied by France Great Britain and Spain The Solemn Act of the Declaration of Independence of Northern America in 1813 applied to Mexico Today Northern America includes the Canada US dyad developed countries that exhibit very high Human Development Indexes and intense economic integration while sharing many socioeconomic characteristics The World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions has Northern America as the seventh of its nine botanical continents Its definition differs from the usual political one Mexico is included Bermuda is excluded being placed in the Caribbean region Hawaii is excluded being placed in the Pacific botanical continent and all of the Aleutian Islands Russian as well as American are included Countries and territoriesCountry Territory Population Area km2 Density people per km2 CapitalBermuda 64 185 53 2 1 206 48 HamiltonCanada 38 155 012 9 984 670 3 82 OttawaGreenland 56 243 2 166 086 0 03 NuukSaint Pierre and Miquelon 5 883 242 24 31 Saint PierreUnited States 336 997 624 9 826 675 34 29 Washington D C indicates Demographics of country or territory links DemographicsYear Population change Canada United States 1950 172 603 000 13 733 000 8 0 158 804 000 92 0 1960 204 649 000 18 6 17 847 000 8 7 186 721 000 91 2 1970 230 992 000 12 9 21 374 000 9 3 209 513 000 90 7 1980 254 007 000 10 0 24 417 000 9 6 229 476 000 90 3 1990 279 785 000 10 1 27 541 000 9 8 252 120 000 90 1 2000 312 427 000 11 7 30 588 000 9 8 281 711 000 90 2 2010 343 287 000 9 9 34 148 000 9 9 309 011 000 90 0 2020 368 870 000 7 5 37 742 000 10 2 331 003 000 89 7 See alsoGeography portalNorth America portalAmericas terminology Anglo America Caribbean Central America Middle America Southern Cone The Nine Nations of North America West Indies Western worldReferences April 2022 GDP Report for Canada and United States Retrieved 8 August 2022 Gonzalez Joseph 2004 Northern America Land of Opportunity ch 6 The Complete Idiot s Guide to Geography ISBN 1592571883 New York Alpha Books pp 57 8 Definition of major areas and regions from World Migrant Stock The 2005 Revision Population Database United Nations Population Division Accessed on line October 3 2007 Composition of macro geographical continental regions geographical sub regions and selected economic and other groupings UN Statistics Division Accessed online October 3 2007 French Bellin Jacques Nicolas n d Carte de l Amerique septentrionale Map of Northern America 1755 Library and Archives Canada Archived from the original on 2007 09 30 Item NMC 21057 Torrey Barbara Boyle amp Eberstadt Nicholas 2005 Aug Sep The Northern America Fertility Divide Archived 2007 11 07 at the Wayback Machine Hoover Institution Policy Review No 132 Brummitt R K 2001 World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions Edition 2 PDF International Working Group on Taxonomic Databases For Plant Sciences TDWG Archived from the original PDF on 2016 01 25 Retrieved 2016 04 06 World Population Prospects 2022 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division Retrieved July 17 2022 World Population Prospects 2022 Demographic indicators by region subregion and country annually for 1950 2100 XSLX Total Population as of 1 July thousands United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division Retrieved July 17 2022 Unless otherwise noted land area figures are taken from Demographic Yearbook Table 3 Population by sex rate of population increase surface area and density PDF Report United Nations Statistics Division 2008 Retrieved 2010 10 14 Includes the U S 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 World Population Prospects population un org Archived from the original on 2019 08 09 Retrieved 2019 02 24 External linksCanada and the United States by Stephen Azzi and J L Granatstein
