North America

== Economy ==
{{main|Economy of North America}}
{{see also|List of North American countries by GDP (nominal)|List of North American countries by GDP (PPP)}}
[[File:President Donald J. Trump at the G20 Summit (44300765490).jpg|thumb|[[President of Mexico|Mexican President]] [[Enrique Peña Nieto]], [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]], and [[Prime Minister of Canada|Canadian Prime Minister]] [[Justin Trudeau]] sign the [[U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement]] during the [[2018&nbsp;G20 Buenos Aires summit]]]]
[[File:Worlds regions by total wealth(in trillions USD), 2018.jpg|thumb|The regions of the world respective wealth (in trillions USD) as of 2018]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right; float:right; border:1px solid #aaa; margin:10px"
|- style="background:#dbdbdb;"
! Rank
! Country or territory
! [[List of countries by past and projected GDP (PPP)|GDP]]<ref name="IMF Data">{{Cite web|title=World Economic Outlook Database April 2022|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/April|access-date=19 April 2022|website=International Monetary Fund |archive-date=19 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419134621/https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/April|url-status=live}}</ref> <small>(PPP, peak year)</small><br/><small>millions of [[International dollar|USD]]</small>
! Peak year
|-
| 1 ||align=left|{{Flag|United States}} ||26,949,643||2023
|-
| 2 ||align=left|{{Flag|Mexico}} ||3,277,601||2023
|-
| 3 ||align=left|{{Flag|Canada}} ||2,378,973||2023
|-
| 4 ||align=left|{{nowrap|{{Flag|Dominican Republic}}}} ||273,703||2023
|-
| 5 ||align=left|{{Flag|Cuba}}||254,865||2015
|-
| 6 ||align=left|{{Flag|Guatemala}} ||201,365||2023
|-
| 7 ||align=left|{{Flag|Panama}} ||190,306||2023
|-
| 8 ||align=left|{{Flag|Costa Rica}} ||141,527||2023
|-
| 9 ||align=left|{{Flag|Puerto Rico}} ||132,052||2023
|-
| 10 ||align=left|{{Flag|Honduras}} ||75,030||2023
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right; float:right; border:1px solid #aaa; margin:10px"
|- style="background:#dbdbdb;"
! Rank
! Country or territory
! [[List of IMF ranked countries by past and projected GDP (nominal)|GDP]] <small>(nominal, peak year)</small><br/><small>millions of [[International dollar|USD]]</small>
! Peak year
|-
| 1 ||align=left|{{Flag|United States}} ||26,949,643||2023
|-
| 2 ||align=left|{{Flag|Canada}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?end=2022&locations=CN&most_recent_value_desc=true&start=1960 |title=World Bank's GDP (Nominal) Data for Canada |access-date=4 November 2023 |archive-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207012601/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?end=2022&locations=CN&most_recent_value_desc=true&start=1960 |url-status=live }}</ref>||2,139,840||2022
|-
| 3 ||align=left|{{Flag|Mexico}}||1,811,468||2023
|-
| 4 ||align=left|{{Flag|Cuba}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://databankfiles.worldbank.org/public/ddpext_download/GDP.pdf |title=World Bank's GDP (Nominal) data for Cuba |access-date=16 July 2023 |archive-date=16 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716085238/https://databankfiles.worldbank.org/public/ddpext_download/GDP.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>||545,218||2021
|-
| 5 ||align=left|{{nowrap|{{Flag|Dominican Republic}}}} ||120,629||2023
|-
| 6 ||align=left|{{Flag|Puerto Rico}}||117,515||2023
|-
| 7 ||align=left|{{Flag|Guatemala}}||102,765||2023
|-
| 8 ||align=left|{{Flag|Costa Rica}}||85,590||2023
|-
| 9 ||align=left|{{Flag|Panama}}||82,348||2023
|-
| 10 ||align=left|{{nowrap|{{Flag|El Salvador}}}}||35,339||2023
|}

North America's GDP per capita was evaluated in October 2016 by the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF) to be $41,830, making it the richest continent in the world,<ref name="IMFcapitaGDP"/> followed by [[Oceania]].<ref name="cia-us"/>

Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. have significant and multifaceted economic systems. The U.S. has the largest economy in the world.<ref name="cia-us">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/united-states/ |title=United States, Economy |publisher=U.S. Central Intelligence Agency |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321202516/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/united-states/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, the U.S. had an estimated per capita gross domestic product (PPP) of $57,466 according to the [[World Bank]], and is the most technologically developed economy of the three.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?year_high_desc=true|title=GDP per capita (current US$) – Data|publisher=World Bank |access-date=24 September 2017|archive-date=13 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913231748/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?year_high_desc=true|url-status=live}}</ref> The U.S.'s services sector comprises 77% of the country's GDP (estimated in 2010), industry comprises 22% and agriculture comprises 1.2%.<ref name="cia-us"/> The U.S. economy is also the fastest-growing economy in North America and the Americas as a whole,<ref name=IMFcapitaGDP/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://statisticstimes.com/economy/south-american-countries-by-gdp-per-capita.php|last=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=25 September 2017|archive-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010112722/http://statisticstimes.com/economy/south-american-countries-by-gdp-per-capita.php|url-status=live}}</ref> with the highest GDP per capita in the Americas as well.<ref name="IMFcapitaGDP">{{cite web|url=http://statisticstimes.com/economy/north-american-countries-by-gdp-per-capita.php|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=22 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924205236/http://statisticstimes.com/economy/north-american-countries-by-gdp-per-capita.php|archive-date=24 September 2017}}</ref>

Canada shows significant growth in the sectors of services, mining and manufacturing.<ref name="cia-ca">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/canada/ |title=Canada, Economy |publisher=U.S. Central Intelligence Agency |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-date=22 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922212931/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/canada/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Canada's per capita GDP (PPP) was estimated at $44,656 and it had the 11th-largest GDP (nominal) in 2014.<ref name="cia-ca"/> Canada's services sector comprises 78% of the country's GDP (estimated in 2010), industry comprises 20% and agriculture comprises 2%.<ref name="cia-ca"/> Mexico has a per capita GDP (PPP) of $16,111 and as of 2014 is the 15th-largest GDP (nominal) in the world.<ref name="imf-mx">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2010/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=42&pr.y=9&sy=2009&ey=2011&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=273&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CGGXWDG_NGDP&grp=0&a= |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2010 |publisher=International Monetary Fund |access-date=5 March 2011 |archive-date=29 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429202110/http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2010/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=42&pr.y=9&sy=2009&ey=2011&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=273&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CGGXWDG_NGDP&grp=0&a= |url-status=live }}</ref> Being a [[newly industrialized country]],<ref name="AIA">{{Cite book|title=Geography, An Integrated Approach|first=David|last=Waugh|chapter=Manufacturing industries (chapter 19), World development (chapter 22)|pages=563, 576–579, 633, and 640|publisher=Nelson Thornes Ltd.|edition=3rd|year=2000|isbn=978-0-17-444706-1}}</ref> Mexico maintains both modern and outdated industrial and agricultural facilities and operations.<ref name="cia-mex">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mexico/ |title=Mexico, Economy |publisher=U.S. Central Intelligence Agency |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126164719/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mexico |url-status=live }}</ref> Its main sources of income are oil, industrial exports, manufactured goods, electronics, heavy industry, automobiles, construction, food, banking and financial services.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stratfor.com/global_market_brief_mexico_sees_decline_remittances |title=Stratfor Global Market – Mexico |publisher=Stratfor |date=30 August 2007 |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307204352/http://www.stratfor.com/global_market_brief_mexico_sees_decline_remittances |archive-date=7 March 2012 }}</ref>

The North American economy is well defined and structured in three main economic areas.<ref name="UANL">{{cite book|last1=De la Torre |first1=Miguel |last2=Benavides |first2=Benigno |last3=Saldaña |first3=José |last4=Fernández |first4=Jesús |title=Sociología y Profesión|trans-title=Sociology and Profession |year=2008 |publisher=Nuevo León Autonomous University (UANL) |location=Monterrey |isbn=978-970-24-0051-6 |page=116 |chapter=Las profesiones en México: condiciones económicas, culturales y sociales |language=es |quote=La economía de América del Norte se encuentra bien definida y estructurada en tres principales áreas económicas: el Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte (TLCAN), el CARICOM y el Mercado Común Centroamericano}}</ref> These areas are those under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the [[Caribbean Community and Common Market]] (CARICOM), and the [[Central American Common Market]] (CACM).<ref name="UANL"/> Of these trade blocs, the U.S. takes part in two. In addition to the larger trade blocs there is the [[Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement]] among numerous other [[Free-trade area|free-trade]] relations, often between the larger, more developed countries and Central American and Caribbean countries.

NAFTA formed one of the four largest trade blocs in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regional Trade Blocs |url=http://ucatlas.ucsc.edu/trade/subtheme_trade_blocs.php |publisher=University of California, Santa Cruz |access-date=10 June 2011 |archive-date=1 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701135703/http://ucatlas.ucsc.edu/trade/subtheme_trade_blocs.php |url-status=live }}</ref> Its implementation in 1994 was designed for economic homogenization with hopes of eliminating barriers of trade and foreign investment between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=North American Free Trade Agreement |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/418784/North-American-Free-Trade-Agreement-NAFTA |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=10 June 2011 |archive-date=4 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904104559/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/418784/North-American-Free-Trade-Agreement-NAFTA |url-status=live }}</ref> While Canada and the U.S. already conducted the largest bilateral trade relationship—and to present day still do—in the world and [[Canada–United States trade relations|Canada–U.S. trade relations]] already allowed trade without national taxes and tariffs,<ref>{{cite web|title=CRS Report for Congress: United States-Canada Trade and Economic Relationship – Prospects and Challenges |url=http://www.nationalaglawcenter.org/assets/crs/RL33087.pdf |publisher=Congress Research Service |last=Fergusson |first=Ian |access-date=9 June 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060806171755/http://www.nationalaglawcenter.org/assets/crs/RL33087.pdf |archive-date=6 August 2006 }}</ref> NAFTA allowed Mexico to experience a similar [[duty-free]] trade. The [[free-trade agreement]] allowed for the elimination of tariffs that had previously been in place on U.S.–Mexico trade. Trade volume has steadily increased annually and in 2010, surface trade between the three NAFTA nations reached an all-time historical increase of 24.3% or US$791 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.integrationpoint.com/globaltradenews/index.php/nafta-trade-volume-increases/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808161643/http://www.integrationpoint.com/globaltradenews/index.php/nafta-trade-volume-increases/ |archive-date=8 August 2011 |title=NAFTA Trade Volume Increases}}</ref> The NAFTA trade bloc GDP (PPP) is the world's largest with US$17.617 trillion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2010&ey=2010&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C941%2C914%2C446%2C612%2C666%2C614%2C668%2C311%2C672%2C213%2C946%2C911%2C137%2C193%2C962%2C122%2C674%2C912%2C676%2C313%2C548%2C419%2C556%2C513%2C678%2C316%2C181%2C913%2C682%2C124%2C684%2C339%2C273%2C638%2C921%2C514%2C948%2C218%2C943%2C963%2C686%2C616%2C688%2C223%2C518%2C516%2C728%2C918%2C558%2C748%2C138%2C618%2C196%2C522%2C278%2C622%2C692%2C156%2C694%2C624%2C142%2C626%2C449%2C628%2C564%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C453%2C960%2C968%2C423%2C922%2C935%2C714%2C128%2C862%2C611%2C716%2C321%2C456%2C243%2C722%2C248%2C942%2C469%2C718%2C253%2C724%2C642%2C576%2C643%2C936%2C939%2C961%2C644%2C813%2C819%2C199%2C172%2C184%2C132%2C524%2C646%2C361%2C648%2C362%2C915%2C364%2C134%2C732%2C652%2C366%2C174%2C734%2C328%2C144%2C258%2C146%2C656%2C463%2C654%2C528%2C336%2C923%2C263%2C738%2C268%2C578%2C532%2C537%2C944%2C742%2C176%2C866%2C534%2C369%2C536%2C744%2C429%2C186%2C433%2C925%2C178%2C869%2C436%2C746%2C136%2C926%2C343%2C466%2C158%2C112%2C439%2C111%2C916%2C298%2C664%2C927%2C826%2C846%2C542%2C299%2C967%2C582%2C443%2C474%2C917%2C754%2C544%2C698&s=PPPGDP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=41&pr.y=16 |title=2010 Report Countries by GDP (PPP) |publisher=International Monetary Fund |date=14 September 2006 |access-date=31 October 2011 |archive-date=8 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008054821/http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2010&ey=2010&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C941%2C914%2C446%2C612%2C666%2C614%2C668%2C311%2C672%2C213%2C946%2C911%2C137%2C193%2C962%2C122%2C674%2C912%2C676%2C313%2C548%2C419%2C556%2C513%2C678%2C316%2C181%2C913%2C682%2C124%2C684%2C339%2C273%2C638%2C921%2C514%2C948%2C218%2C943%2C963%2C686%2C616%2C688%2C223%2C518%2C516%2C728%2C918%2C558%2C748%2C138%2C618%2C196%2C522%2C278%2C622%2C692%2C156%2C694%2C624%2C142%2C626%2C449%2C628%2C564%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C453%2C960%2C968%2C423%2C922%2C935%2C714%2C128%2C862%2C611%2C716%2C321%2C456%2C243%2C722%2C248%2C942%2C469%2C718%2C253%2C724%2C642%2C576%2C643%2C936%2C939%2C961%2C644%2C813%2C819%2C199%2C172%2C184%2C132%2C524%2C646%2C361%2C648%2C362%2C915%2C364%2C134%2C732%2C652%2C366%2C174%2C734%2C328%2C144%2C258%2C146%2C656%2C463%2C654%2C528%2C336%2C923%2C263%2C738%2C268%2C578%2C532%2C537%2C944%2C742%2C176%2C866%2C534%2C369%2C536%2C744%2C429%2C186%2C433%2C925%2C178%2C869%2C436%2C746%2C136%2C926%2C343%2C466%2C158%2C112%2C439%2C111%2C916%2C298%2C664%2C927%2C826%2C846%2C542%2C299%2C967%2C582%2C443%2C474%2C917%2C754%2C544%2C698&s=PPPGDP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=41&pr.y=16 |url-status=live }}</ref> This is in part attributed to the fact that the economy of the U.S. is the world's largest national economy; the country had a nominal GDP of approximately $14.7 trillion in 2010.<ref name="bea2011">{{Cite press release|url=https://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/2011/pdf/gdp4q10_adv.pdf|title=BEA News Release: Gross Domestic Product|publisher=Bureau of Economic Analysis|access-date=3 February 2014|archive-date=9 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709041929/http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/2011/pdf/gdp4q10_adv.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The countries of NAFTA are also some of each other's largest trade partners. The U.S. is the largest trade partner of Canada and Mexico,<ref>{{cite web |title=United States Foreign Trade Highlights |url=https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/highlights/top/top1012yr.html |publisher=United States of America Bureau of the Census |access-date=3 February 2014 |archive-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114003737/https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/highlights/top/top1012yr.html |url-status=live }}</ref> while Canada and Mexico are each other's third-largest trade partners.<ref>{{cite web |title= Canadian Manufacturing Association |url= http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/general/increase-bilateral-trade-between-nafta-countries-cme-32091 |access-date= 9 June 2011 |archive-date= 4 June 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110604035537/http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/general/increase-bilateral-trade-between-nafta-countries-cme-32091 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mexico Free Trade Agreements |url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40784.pdf |publisher=Federation of American Scientists |access-date=9 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623092721/http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40784.pdf |archive-date=23 June 2011 }}</ref> In 2018, the NAFTA was replaced by the [[U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement]].

The Caribbean trade bloc (CARICOM) came into agreement in 1973 when it was signed by 15 Caribbean nations. As of 2000, CARICOM trade volume was US$96 billion. CARICOM also allowed for the creation of a [[CARICOM passport|common passport]] for associated nations. In the past decade the trade bloc focused largely on free-trade agreements and under the CARICOM Office of Trade Negotiations free-trade agreements have been signed into effect.

Integration of Central American economies occurred under the signing of the Central American Common Market agreement in 1961; this was the first attempt to engage the nations of this area into stronger financial cooperation. The 2006 implementation of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) left the future of the CACM unclear.<ref>{{cite web |title=Central American Community and Market |url=http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0811094.html |publisher=Pearson Education |access-date=3 February 2014 |archive-date=15 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015060116/http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0811094.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The Central American Free Trade Agreement was signed by five Central American countries, the Dominican Republic, and the U.S. The focal point of CAFTA is to create a free trade area similar to that of NAFTA. In addition to the U.S., Canada also has relations in Central American trade blocs.

These nations also take part in inter-continental trade blocs. Mexico takes a part in the [[G3 Free Trade Agreement]] with Colombia and Venezuela and has a trade agreement with the EU. The U.S. has proposed and maintained trade agreements under the [[Transatlantic Free Trade Area]] between itself and the [[European Union]]; the [[U.S.–Middle East Free Trade Area]] between numerous Middle Eastern nations and itself; and the [[Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership]] between Southeast Asian nations, Australia, and New Zealand.

=== <span id="Infrastructure">Transport</span> ===
{{main|Transportation in North America}}
[[File:Class1rr.png|thumb|A 2006 map of the North American [[Class I railroad]] network]]
The [[Pan-American Highway]] route in the Americas is the portion of a network of roads nearly {{Cvt|48000|km}} in length which travels through the mainland nations. No definitive length of the Pan-American Highway exists because the U.S. and Canadian governments have never officially defined any specific routes as being part of the Pan-American Highway, and Mexico officially has many branches connecting to the U.S. border. However, the total length of the portion from Mexico to the northern extremity of the highway is roughly {{cvt|16000|mi|km|order=flip}}.

The first transcontinental railroad in the U.S. was built in the 1860s, linking the railroad network of the eastern U.S. with California on the [[Pacific]] coast. Finished on 10 May 1869 at the famous [[golden spike]] event at [[Promontory Summit, Utah]], it created a nationwide mechanized transportation network that revolutionized the population and economy of the [[U.S. West|American West]], catalyzing the transition from the [[wagon train]]s of previous decades to a modern transportation system.<ref name="WDL">{{cite web |url = http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11371/ |title = Ceremony at "Wedding of the Rails", May 10, 1869, at Promontory Point, Utah |website = [[World Digital Library]] |date = 10 May 1869 |access-date = 20 July 2013 |archive-date = 18 October 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131018052635/http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11371/ |url-status = live }}</ref> Although an accomplishment, it achieved the status of first transcontinental railroad by connecting myriad eastern U.S. railroads to the Pacific and was not the largest single railroad system in the world. The Canadian [[Grand Trunk Railway]] had, by 1867, already accumulated more than {{cvt|2055|km}} of track by connecting Ontario with the Canadian Atlantic provinces west as far as [[Port Huron, Michigan]], through [[Sarnia, Ontario]].

=== Communications ===
A shared telephone system known as the [[North American Numbering Plan]] (NANP) is an integrated [[telephone numbering plan]] of 24 countries and territories: the U.S. and its [[Insular area|territories]], Canada, Bermuda, and 17 Caribbean nations. In recent months the internet service by [[Starlink]] has expanded to cover a number of North American markets.