Social scientists have long been fascinated by the ways the United States differs from the rest of the world. As far back as the 1800s, French writer Alexis de Tocqueville described America as an exceptional country with customs and values unlike those of other nations.
That sense of individuality is still reflected today. Global surveys show that 57% of Americans believe personal effort matters more than outside circumstances in determining success, well above the global median of 38%.
America’s uniqueness isn’t limited to attitudes, though. Everyday life is full of traditions, habits, and customs that visitors often find surprising. Here are 16 things that are closely associated with the United States and are rarely found anywhere else.
Tipping Culture
Leaving a tip is part of everyday life in the United States. According to Pew Research, 81% of Americans say they always tip at restaurants, while another 11% say they do so most of the time.
In many countries, tipping is reserved for outstanding service or isn’t expected at all. In the U.S., it’s widely viewed as part of the dining experience because many restaurant workers depend on tips to supplement their wages. CreditCards.com reports that diners typically leave between 15% and 20% of the bill.
Related: 18 American Idioms and Phrases Foreigners Find Confusing
Red Solo Cups
Few party items are as closely tied to American culture as the bright red Solo cup. Since the 1970s, it has become a familiar sight at backyard barbecues, college parties, and holiday gatherings.
Solo says people share hundreds of thousands of photos featuring the cups every year. The company’s Urbana, Illinois, plant produces billions of them annually. Their place in American pop culture became even more famous after Toby Keith’s hit song Red Solo Cup, turning an everyday plastic cup into a cultural icon.
Related: 15 Classic American Traditions Passed Down Through Generations
College Sports on a Massive Scale
College athletics are a much bigger deal in the United States than in most parts of the world. Football and basketball programs draw enormous crowds, television audiences, and sponsorship deals that generate billions of dollars each year.
Many universities have stadiums that rival professional sports venues. Michigan Stadium, home of the University of Michigan football team, seats more than 107,000 fans, making it one of the largest stadiums anywhere. Top college coaches often earn salaries that rival those of professional sports coaches, showing just how deeply college athletics are woven into American life.
Related: 15 Everyday American Foods That Are Restricted Abroad
Prescription Drug Commercials
Visitors are often surprised to see television commercials encouraging people to ask their doctors about prescription medications. The United States is one of the very few countries where this kind of advertising is allowed.
Drug companies spend billions of dollars each year promoting prescription medicines directly to consumers. Statista estimated that spending reached $6.8 billion in 2021. Many other countries prohibit these advertisements because of concerns about overprescribing and misleading health claims, making this one of the more unusual parts of American television.
Related: 11 American Snacks Foreign Visitors Always Want to Try
Cheerleading
Cheerleading began in the United States and remains far more popular there than anywhere else. The University of Melbourne notes that the first organized cheerleaders appeared at the University of Minnesota in 1898, and women joined the activity a few decades later.
Today, around 1.5 million cheerleaders participate across the country, compared with only a fraction of that number elsewhere. From Friday night football games to national competitions, cheerleading has become a familiar part of American school life.
Love of Baseball
Baseball has long been known as America’s pastime. While the sport is played around the world, few countries celebrate it with the same enthusiasm found in the United States.
Professional games attract millions of fans each season, and baseball traditions are deeply rooted in American history. According to Nielsen Sports, the sport has more than 170 million fans in the U.S., making it one of the country’s most beloved games.
Displaying the American Flag
The American flag is displayed in places that often surprise visitors from overseas. It’s common to see flags flying outside homes, businesses, schools, government buildings, and even attached to vehicles.
You’ll also find the stars and stripes printed on clothing, hats, swimsuits, mugs, and countless other everyday items. While many countries proudly display their national flags on special occasions, Americans tend to make them part of daily life.
Coins With Their Own Names
Many countries simply refer to coins by their value, but the United States gives each common coin its own name.
Instead of calling them one-cent, five-cent, ten-cent, and twenty-five-cent coins, Americans use the names penny, nickel, dime, and quarter. It’s a small detail, though one that often catches the attention of international visitors.
Competitive Eating
The United States has turned eating into a spectator sport. Competitive eating contests draw large crowds, television audiences, and dedicated fans every year.
Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest is the best-known example. Organized by Major League Eating, the event has become an Independence Day tradition and regularly attracts millions of viewers. Few countries have embraced food competitions on such a large scale.
Supersized Restaurant Portions
Large restaurant portions are another thing many visitors notice almost immediately. Meals served at American restaurants are often much bigger than those in many other countries, especially at casual dining chains and fast-food restaurants.
Combo meals that include a burger, fries, and a large drink are common, and many restaurants serve portions big enough for leftovers. Studies have suggested that customers often see larger servings as a better value, helping explain why oversized meals remain so popular.
Bathroom Stall Gaps
Public restroom stalls in the United States often have wide gaps around the doors, something that surprises many international travelers.
In many countries, stalls offer much more privacy with floor-to-ceiling doors and narrow spaces between panels. American restroom designs often leave noticeable openings around the edges, partly because of building standards, easier maintenance, ventilation, and accessibility requirements. While many Americans hardly notice them, they are one of the first things visitors from abroad tend to mention.
Free Refills
Free refills are something many first-time visitors to the United States quickly notice. At many restaurants, diners can refill soft drinks, iced tea, or coffee without paying extra.
The practice has been around for decades and became even more common after major fast-food chains adopted it in the late 1980s. While unlimited refills exist in a few other places, they’re far less common than they are in America.
Car Culture
For many Americans, driving is part of everyday life. Wide highways, long road trips, and suburban living have made cars more than just a way to get from one place to another.
According to the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure, there are about 908 vehicles for every 1,000 people in the United States, and 92% of households own at least one vehicle. Americans also drive far more miles each year than people in many other countries, where public transportation plays a much larger role.
Hollywood
Hollywood has shaped entertainment around the globe for more than a century. American movies and television shows reach audiences almost everywhere, making Hollywood one of the country’s biggest cultural exports.
The famous Hollywood sign, movie studios, and red-carpet premieres have become symbols recognized worldwide. Statista reports that Hollywood releases more than 500 films each year, helping keep American entertainment at the center of global pop culture.
Yellow School Buses
The bright yellow school bus is one of the most recognizable symbols of American childhood. For generations, these buses have carried millions of students to and from school every weekday.
The color dates back to 1939, when educator Frank Cyr recommended a highly visible shade of yellow to improve student safety. Today, more than 480,000 school buses transport nearly 26 million students across the country. Their appearance in countless movies and television shows has made them instantly recognizable around the world.
Sales Tax Added at Checkout
One thing that catches many visitors off guard is that the price on the shelf often isn’t the final price they’ll pay. In the United States, sales tax is usually added at the register instead of being included in the advertised price.
That happens because sales tax rates vary widely from one place to another. States, counties, cities, and special districts can all set their own rates, so the amount added to a purchase depends on where you’re shopping. The Tax Foundation reports that the country has more than 11,000 separate sales tax jurisdictions.
For people visiting from countries where taxes are already built into the listed price, seeing the total increase at checkout can be confusing. For Americans, though, it’s simply part of everyday shopping and another small detail that sets the U.S. apart from much of the rest of the world.
