Life expectancy in the United States is improving gradually, but not as much as in other developed countries. A new report from the National Research Council shows that the U.S. is lagging behind dozens of other countries. Although we spend far more on health care than any other country in the world, we rank 36th in terms of life expectancy. A baby born in 2011 in the U.S. has a life expectancy of 78.3 years. A Japanese baby born this year could expect to live almost 83 years. In addition to Japan, most of Europe and countries such as South Korea, Chile and Cuba rank ahead of the U.S. The primary explanation, according to the scientists, is our past smoking behavior. Other factors may include obesity and severe income disparity and lack of access to health care for tens of millions of Americans.
[National Research Council, Jan. 25, 2011]
The People's Perspective on Medicine