Photo: Stefano Brivio · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
United States: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
United States is placed joint 30th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 79.3 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 6.472 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
joint30th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 79.3Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 6.472Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 3.8Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- 1.1Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024Population in severe food insecurity (%)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place United States on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
79.3
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
United States: 79.3. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Northern America
- 82.63 Canada
- Land neighbours
- Canada 82.63 · Mexico 75.07
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
6.472
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
United States: 6.472. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Northern America
- 5.427 Canada
- Land neighbours
- Canada 5.427 · Mexico 13.05
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · United States’s is from 2022 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
3.8
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
United States: 3.8. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Northern America
- 3.8 United States
- Land neighbours
- Mexico 12.5
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
1.1
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
United States: 1.1. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Northern America
- 1.1 United States
- Land neighbours
- Canada 1.9 · Mexico 2.7
02Over time
Which way United States is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
United StatesWorld median
United States rose from 76.81 in 2000 to 79.3 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year United States World median 2023 79.3043 74.630 2022 77.9789 74.313 2021 76.3836 72.433 2020 77.0115 73.063 2019 78.9160 74.196 2018 78.7997 74.081 2017 78.6483 74.029 2016 78.6860 74.013 2015 78.7219 73.783 2014 78.8785 73.330 2013 78.8175 73.386 2012 78.8169 73.210 2011 78.7023 73.003 2010 78.6681 72.827 2009 78.4758 72.426 2008 78.1273 72.264 2007 78.0471 72.113 2006 77.7976 72.027 2005 77.5264 71.876 2004 77.5350 71.477 2003 77.1369 71.409 2002 76.9883 71.173 2001 76.9194 70.926 2000 76.8058 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
United StatesWorld median
United States fell from 8.447 in 2000 to 6.472 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year United States World median 2024 6.472 14.5 2023 6.483 15.2 2022 6.473 14.7 2021 6.465 15.1 2020 6.470 15.3 2019 6.494 15.7 2018 6.540 16.3 2017 6.602 16.8 2016 6.674 17.5 2015 6.753 17.9 2014 6.839 18.3 2013 6.935 18.7 2012 7.042 18.8 2011 7.167 19.0 2010 7.306 19.2 2009 7.451 20.8 2008 7.598 20.7 2007 7.735 21.8 2006 7.856 22.8 2005 7.963 24.0 2004 8.056 25.9 2003 8.142 26.9 2002 8.231 28.0 2001 8.330 29.1 2000 8.447 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
United StatesWorld median
United States was at 1.1 in both 2015 and 2024; the world median went from 3.4 to 4.9.
Every year’s figures
Year United States World median 2024 1.1 4.9 2023 1.0 4.7 2022 0.8 5.4 2021 0.7 5.7 2020 0.7 5.6 2019 0.8 5.0 2018 0.8 4.2 2017 0.9 4.0 2016 1.0 3.4 2015 1.1 3.4
03In context
United States beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
United States and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | =30th | 79.3 | 6.472 | 3.8 | 1.1 |
 Canadacompare | 36th | 82.63 | 5.427 | — | 1.9 |
 Mexicocompare | =83rd | 75.07 | 13.05 | 12.5 | 2.7 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Northern America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
- United States=30th
- Canada36th
Bermudanot placed
Greenlandnot placed
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below United States in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where United States is ahead of the world, and behind
44 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median26
Statistics on which United States does better than the middle country measured.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9823,9622,982No real change since 2014
United States: 3,962 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 1st of 155 · derived.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5460.13.546No earlier reading
United States: 0.1 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 163rd of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.170.25No real change since 2014
United States: 0.17 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 412441No real change since 2012
United States: 24 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.83169.284.83▲ Improved since 2013
United States: 169.2 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.9380.762No real change since 2013
United States: 0.938 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 17th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8196.681No earlier reading
United States: 96.6 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 14th of 153 · derived.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1632.6818.163No real change since 2013
United States: 2.681 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 173rd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.22.55.2▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 2.5 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 104th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.392016.39No real change since 2013
United States: 20 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 43rd of 222 · derived.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.44.526.4No real change since 2017
United States: 4.5 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 117th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.7020.564▲ Improved since 2010
United States: 0.702 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 35th of 172 · derived.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2580.171.25▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 80.1 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 49th of 196 · derived.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8581.4872.858▼ Worsened since 2014
United States: 1.487 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 149th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.1690.351▲ Improved since 2013
United States: 0.169 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 45th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.458.614.45▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 8.6 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 162nd of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1343.6528.134▼ Worsened since 2014
United States: 3.652 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 148th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.265.48212.26▼ Worsened since 2014
United States: 5.482 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 146th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4613.1427.46▲ Improved since 2013
United States: 13.14 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 148th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.6516.6346.65▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 16.63 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 130th of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.218.26110.21No real change since 2010
United States: 8.261 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 103rd of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.910.720.9▼ Worsened since 2015
United States: 10.7 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 88th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.69129.06102.69No real change since 2013
United States: 129.06 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919491No real change since 2015
United States: 94 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7107.7133.7▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 107.7 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 133rd of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909290▲ Improved since 2015
United States: 92 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Behind the world median8
Statistics on which United States does worse than the middle country measured.
Births Attended by Skilled Health StaffUNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance) · 2023 · world median 99.398.899.3▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 98.8 · world median 99.3 · Births attended by skilled health staff (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 60.9 to 100; higher is better.
Position 49th of 84 · derived.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.4812.493.48No real change since 2015
United States: 12.49 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6572.0977.65No earlier reading
United States: 72.09 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 97th of 144 · derived.
HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.55165.5▲ Improved since 2018
United States: 51 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.
Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · 2026 · world median 272.35405.5272.35No earlier reading
United States: 405.5 · world median 272.35 · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023). Ariel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from -264.9 to 1,013; lower is better.
Fatal Occupational InjuriesILO · 2023 · world median 2.0053.52.005▼ Worsened since 2013
United States: 3.5 · world median 2.005 · Fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.12 to 8.409; lower is better.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.59.6945.5▼ Worsened since 2014
United States: 9.694 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 40th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7425.840.74No earlier reading
United States: 25.8 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 108th of 136 · derived.
No better end10
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.83122.0657.83No real change since 2013
United States: 122.06 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2560.441.25Moved since 2013
United States: 60.4 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.452.835.4No real change since 2013
United States: 52.8 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6531.120.65No earlier reading
United States: 31.1 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.1721.9416.17Moved since 2013
United States: 21.94 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.732.781.73Moved since 2014
United States: 2.78 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 73rd of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.0521.2620.05No earlier reading
United States: 21.26 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.884.4676.88No earlier reading
United States: 4.467 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8936.2738.89No real change since 2015
United States: 36.27 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 122nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.552.864.55Moved since 2017
United States: 2.86 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
No current reading for United States
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of Pneumonia, Children with Functional Difficulties, Early Initiation of Breastfeeding, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Institutional Deliveries, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months and Violent Discipline of Children. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among United States’s 16 topics
Health & Wellbeing is United States’s 6th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Mobility & Trade7th of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technology8th of 1984/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture12th of 1844/4 keys
- Work & Labour14th of 1824/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 25th of 1944/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 30th of 2004/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation28th of 1764/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital46th of 1963/3 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 43rd of 1834/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge60th of 1983/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties68th of 1984/4 keys
- Energy59th of 1653/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience72nd of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality79th of 1593/3 keys
- Peace & Security136th of 1774/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability171st of 1864/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders United States can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Americas
United States=30th4/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about United States and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
United States on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does United States rank on health & wellbeing?
United States is placed joint 30th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for United States?
79.3 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for United States?
6.472 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does United States compare with Mexico on health & wellbeing?
Mexico is placed joint 83rd of 200, and United States joint 30th. Life Expectancy at Birth: Mexico 75.07, United States 79.3; Under-Five Mortality Rate: Mexico 13.05, United States 6.472; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: Mexico 12.5, United States 3.8; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity: Mexico 2.7, United States 1.1.
How have United States’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 76.81 in 2000 to 79.3 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 8.447 in 2000 to 6.472 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity was 1.1 in both 2015 and 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for United States?
No current reading is published for United States on Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of Pneumonia, Children with Functional Difficulties, Early Initiation of Breastfeeding, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Institutional Deliveries, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months and Violent Discipline of Children. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 44 statistics on this page come from 16 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
United States’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- United States (banner) — Stefano Brivio, CC BY 2.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). United States: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/united-states/health