54 states and territories

The United States consists of 50 states, each with its own government and laws, and additional territories that are not states but are under U.S. jurisdiction. These territories include places like Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Some territories have local governments and residents, but they do not have the same representation in Congress as states. The total count of 54 includes the 50 states plus these major territories and other smaller possessions, reflecting the broader geographic and political reach of the U.S. globally.