what are the six us territories

The six U.S. territories people usually mean are American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia is not a territory, so it is not included. The most commonly recognized inhabited U.S. territories are actually five, not six: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Why the number gets confusing

Some sources count additional uninhabited islands and atolls as U.S. territories, which is why lists can expand to 14 or more total areas under U.S. control. In everyday conversation, though, “U.S. territories” usually refers to the five inhabited territories.

The five inhabited territories

• American Samoa.

• Guam.

• Northern Mariana Islands.

• Puerto Rico.

• U.S. Virgin Islands.

If you want, I can also list the uninhabited U.S. territories and possessions in a simple table.