The US election in figures

The votes cast in the US presidential and congressional elections are still being counted - and in some cases, recounted. But as the dust settles, certain figures stand out.

SIXTY-TWO-POINT-EIGHT

The approximate percentage of the voting age population that voted in this election, according to calculations by Michael MacDonald of George Mason University. This equals the turnout seen in the 1964 presidential election, but does not quite match the 63.8% that turned out to vote in the 1960 election, in which John F Kennedy narrowly beat Richard Nixon.

SIXTY

What next for Sarah Palin?

The percentage of voters, according to exit polls, who thought Sarah Palin was unqualified to become president - which as vice-president she would have, if anything had happened to John McCain. So did she sink the Republican ticket? Not necessarily. Only 60% of voters said she was a factor in their decision - and more than half of them said they voted Republican.

FIFTY-TWO-POINT-FIVE

The percentage of the popular vote that went for Barack Obama. It's the highest share of the vote achieved by a Democrat since 1964, when Lyndon Johnson enjoyed a landslide victory over Barry Goldwater. Bill Clinton had a higher margin of victory against George Bush senior in 1992 - 8.5% compared to Barack Obama's 6.3% - but that election was a three-way race, with Ross Perot splitting the conservative vote.

NINETY-FIVE

Who voted for Obama?

The percentage of black voters who backed Barack Obama. The chance to vote for a black candidate gave many black people an extra motivation to vote. They made up 13% of all voters, compared with 11% in 2004, and 10% in 2000. Barack Obama also gained the support of 66% of Hispanic voters, and 66% of all voters under 30. He also did better at attracting the support of white voters than John Kerry did in 2004 - winning 43% of the white vote, to Mr Kerry's 41%.

ONE-HUNDRED-AND-TWELVE

George Rene Francis described Mr Obama's victory speech as "fine"

The age of George Rene Francis, America's oldest voter. Born in 1896, the grandson of slaves, Mr Francis voted for Barack Obama. "I voted for a black man," Mr Francis said. "I made up my mind when they put him in the newspaper." Mr Francis was not able to vote until the 1950s, when he moved from New Orleans to California. He lives in a nursing home in Sacramento.

NINE

The number of states that changed hands - swinging from Republican to Democrat. There is still no result from Missouri, so the figure could yet rise to 10. Barack Obama also seems set to gain one of Nebraska's five electoral college votes. In 2004, only three states changed sides - New Hampshire voting for Kerry, and Iowa and New Mexico voting for George Bush.

TWO

Tom Udall celebrates his victory with his father, Stewart Udall

The number of members of the Udall family set to take seats in the US Senate. Cousins Mark and Tom Udall, both running for the Democratic Party, picked up Republican-held seats in Colorado and New Mexico. Another cousin, Gordon Harold Smith, (grandson of an Udall) could yet be re-elected as a Senator for Oregon. Tom's father, Stewart, and uncle Morris, were members of the House of Representatives.

1952

Elizabeth Dole is the first woman to have held two cabinet posts

Another family record. Elizabeth Dole's loss of her Senate seat means that 2009 will be the first year since 1952 that neither a Dole or a Bush has held a seat in the Senate, served as a state governor, or occupied the White House. Mrs Dole worked in various White House administrations before becoming North Carolina's first female senator in 2002.

ZERO

The number of Republicans representing New England seats in the newly-elected House of Representatives. (New England comprises Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.) Zero is also the number of counties in Oklahoma in which Barack Obama won a majority of the votes.

13,500

Chicago is reported to have spent $2m on security

The number of police officers put on duty for the night of Barack Obama's victory speech in Chicago's Grant Park. That is, the entire Chicago police force. Bulletproof glass was erected around the speaker's podium. The city was declared a no-fly zone, and secret service helicopters hovered overhead. More than 100,000 people descended on the park for the speech.