Why is Life Expectancy in the USA So Low Compared to Other Countries?

by RubaDub 45 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  RubaDub

  I was looking at the World Health Org. report and it shows the US ranks 37th in the world (tied with Albania) for combined male/female life expectancy. The top 5 were Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, Israel and Spain, all around 83 years. Canada and Australia at 82 and the UK at 81.

  But the most wealthy country in the world, the US, was 77.8.

  Many say we have the best health care system in the world and have the right to carry guns for protection. So why do we die 3-5 years earlier than European countries? Even Cuba has a life expectancy of 81 years.

  Any thoughts?

  Rub a Dub
• 

  LoveUniHateExams

  Obviously, the average life expectancy of 77.8 years takes gun shootings into consideration, plus things that rich countries generally have to deal with, such as deaths from alcohol and obesity from junk food.

  The US has lots of healthy food and drink but because it's a free country, citizens cannot be forced to eat and live healthily.
  

  Cuba may have a slightly higher average life expectancy but Cuban people are all poor and not free. It would be intellectually dishonest to claim otherwise or sweep these other factors under the carpet.

  You get Cuban people defecting to the US; you don't get Americans defecting to Cuba.
• 

  RubaDub

  Cuba may have a slightly higher average life expectancy but Cuban people are all poor and not free.

  LoveUni ....

  I wasn't in any way saying life in Cuba is better than here. Just the opposite. It just seemed strange when looking at the charts how some very poor countries have people living longer than we do here with what many claim is the best medical treatment in the world.

  Rub a Dub
  
  
• 

  fulano

  https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/11/28/richest-countries-world-2018-top-25/38429481/

  Per capita...
  
  

  [quote]

  From Bahrain to Qatar: These are the 25 richest countries in the world

  John Harrington 24/7 Wall Street

  Published 7:11 AM EST Nov 29, 2018

  The world is getting richer: The global economy expanded by more than 3 percent to $80.68 trillion in 2017. But that wealth is not distributed equally.

  North America, home to less than than 5 percent of the global population, accounts for about one-fourth of global economic output. Meanwhile, in South Asia, where nearly 25 percent of the world’s population resides, the region’s economic activity accounts for less than 4 percent of global gross domestic product.

  GDP may be the standard method for gauging the size of a particular country or region’s economy, but it does not account for all of the wealth generated by that nation. A more accurate indicator of a country’s economic output is its gross national income, or GNI. This measure captures all economic activity within a nation’s borders in addition to wealth created by nationally owned entities operating in other countries.

  Using data from the World Bank, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the GNI per capita of about 180 nations to identify the 25 richest countries. We also included life expectancy at birth from the World Bank, as well as GDP from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

  More: Fortune 500 companies list: 1 out of 3 are located in just six major cities

  The wealthiest 25 countries in the world have complex and diverse economies. They export goods and services that originate in a variety of industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and aerospace. Another common characteristic among the richest countries is the relative lack of corruption.

  According to corruption watchdog Transparency International, the least corrupt countries feature a free press, open access to public information, and judicial systems free from undue influence. Another common characteristic of the wealthiest nations is all of the 25 richest countries have life expectancies at birth above the world average of 72 years.

  

  25. Bahrain     • GNI per capita: $42,930     • 2017 GDP: $70.94 billion (97th out of 185 countries)     • Population (2016): 1.45 million     • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 76.9 years

  Thinkstock

  25. Bahrain

  • GNI per capita: $42,930
  • 2017 GDP: $70.94 billion (97th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2016): 1.45 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 76.9 years

  24. France

  • GNI per capita: $43,790
  • 2017 GDP: $2,876.06 billion (9th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 64.80 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.3 years

  23. Japan

  • GNI per capita: $44,850
  • 2017 GDP: $5,487.16 billion (4th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 126.75 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 84.0 years

  More: People pay the most for groceries in these metro areas

  22. Finland

  • GNI per capita: $45,400
  • 2017 GDP: $247.27 billion (60th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 5.50 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 81.8 years

  21. Canada

  • GNI per capita: $46,070
  • 2017 GDP: $1,714.45 billion (17th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 36.66 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.3 years

  

  20. Australia     • GNI per capita: $47,160     • 2017 GDP: $1,192.07 billion (20th out of 185 countries)     • Population (2017): 24.77 million     • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.5 years     ALSO READ: Worst States for Women

  africanpix / Getty Images

  20. Australia

  • GNI per capita: $47,160
  • 2017 GDP: $1,192.07 billion (20th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 24.77 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.5 years

  19. Belgium

  • GNI per capita: $48,240
  • 2017 GDP: $544.04 billion (37th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 11.35 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 81.0 years

  18. Sweden

  • GNI per capita: $50,980
  • 2017 GDP: $505.48 billion (40th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 10.12 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.2 years

  More: 50 companies that owe their employees a raise

  17. Germany

  • GNI per capita: $51,680
  • 2017 GDP: $4,187.58 billion (5th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 82.66 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 80.6 years

  16. Netherlands

  • GNI per capita: $52,200
  • 2017 GDP: $899.53 billion (27th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 17.14 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 81.5 years

  

  15. Denmark     • GNI per capita: $52,390     • 2017 GDP: $296.35 billion (57th out of 185 countries)     • Population (2017): 5.75 million     • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 80.7 years

  SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

  15. Denmark

  • GNI per capita: $52,390
  • 2017 GDP: $296.35 billion (57th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 5.75 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 80.7 years

  14. Austria

  • GNI per capita: $52,500
  • 2017 GDP: $461.58 billion (42nd out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 8.82 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 80.9 years

  13. Iceland

  • GNI per capita: $53,280
  • 2017 GDP: $18.14 billion (145th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 0.35 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.5 years

  12. Saudi Arabia

  • GNI per capita: $54,770
  • 2017 GDP: $1,773.55 billion (15th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 32.55 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 74.6 years

  11. United States

  • GNI per capita: $60,200
  • 2017 GDP: $19,390.60 billion (2nd out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 325.89 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 78.7 years

  

  10. Ireland     • GNI per capita: $61,910     • 2017 GDP: $364.14 billion (48th out of 185 countries)     • Population (2017): 4.83 million     • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 81.6 years     ALSO READ: Towns in Every State Where You May Not Get to the Hospital in Time

  Thinkstock

  10. Ireland

  • GNI per capita: $61,910
  • 2017 GDP: $364.14 billion (48th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 4.83 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 81.6 years

  9. Norway

  • GNI per capita: $63,980
  • 2017 GDP: $324.40 billion (53rd out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 5.29 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.5 years

  8. Hong Kong SAR

  • GNI per capita: $64,100
  • 2017 GDP: $454.89 billion (43rd out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 7.41 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 84.2 years

  7. Switzerland

  • GNI per capita: $65,610
  • 2017 GDP: $547.85 billion (36th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 8.42 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.9 years

  6. Luxembourg

  • GNI per capita: $72,690
  • 2017 GDP: $62.19 billion (102nd out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 0.59 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.3 years

  

  5. United Arab Emirates     • GNI per capita: $74,410     • 2017 GDP: $694.47 billion (31st out of 185 countries)     • Population (2005): 10.14 million     • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 77.3 years

  EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER / Getty Images

  5. United Arab Emirates

  • GNI per capita: $74,410
  • 2017 GDP: $694.47 billion (31st out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2005): 10.14 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 77.3 years

  4. Kuwait

  • GNI per capita: $83,310
  • 2017 GDP: $297.59 billion (55th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2016): 4.41 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 74.7 years

  3. Brunei Darussalam

  • GNI per capita: $83,760
  • 2017 GDP: $33.80 billion (123rd out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2016): 430,000
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 77.2 years

  2. Singapore

  • GNI per capita: $90,570
  • 2017 GDP: $527.02 billion (38th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 5.61 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 82.8 years

  1. Qatar

  • GNI per capita: $128,060
  • 2017 GDP: $338.82 billion (49th out of 185 countries)
  • Population (2017): 2.74 million
  • Life expectancy at birth in 2016: 78.2 years

  [/quote]
• 

  fulano

  And why? A lot a Americans eat everything from tin, frozen, fastfood. No gourmet-culture.
• 

  fulano

  http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/best-healthcare-in-the-world/
  

  US healthcare on place 37.
• 

  redvip2000

  And why? A lot a Americans eat everything from tin, frozen, fastfood. No gourmet-culture.

  Yeah you have to understand the American culture. Our country has a society that is prone to excesses of many kinds. This society is not homogenous at all, there tons of people who are enlightened and have a sense of how to live a healthy live, but equally there are tons of morons roaming the streets, who don't care about anything except living in the moment and give in to every impulse they have.

  George Carlin had a great bit about American culture.
  
  
• 

  stan livedeath

  
  
• 

  fulano

  I sometimes watch “Kitchen nightmares USA” with Gordon and, although I understand there is a show factor, I am surprised what Americans accept as food. When we went abroad in 1991, I was surprised having a microwave cooked meal in the Missionary-home by an American couple who we lived with (in fact two couples, but the other were Californians..more interested in health and food was my impression).
• 

  RubaDub

  fulano ...

  Nothing to be "sorry" about. When I said "many" feel we have the best healthcare in the world, well, take a poll, "many" do. Right-wingers especially feel that way, America is the best this, the best that, etc. without examining the evidence.

  Even the word "best" can be meaningless unless it is put into proper context. Ask someone what the best car is. One could argue that it is a Bugatti. If you have a couple of million dollars (or more) to spend and don't mind dropping 20k for an oil change, then that may be the best. Others may say a Mercedes AMG, or a BMW M series while others may say a Toyota Prius.

  But I certainly agree that if the "best" is not affordable, then is it really the best? Many factors come into play.

  Rub a Dub