Life expectancy around the world decreased in 2020 due to COVID-19. Most peer countries rebounded by 2021, while the U.S. continued to decline. Credit: Ashley Ahn/NPR. Source: Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker
Diana Tittle, a member of the board of Sierra County Public-Interest Journalism Project, was the editor of the Sierra County Sun, the Citizen's precursor. A former resident of Truth or Consequences who now lives part-time in northern New Mexico, she spent her 42-year professional career in Cleveland, Ohio, where she worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine writer and editor, book author and publisher and publishing consultant. She is the recipient of a Cleveland Arts Prize for Literature.
The US rankings are disgraceful, particularly since we pay more per capita than any other country (at least when I last looked).
A couple of caveats: These studies generally use large cohorts who are studied over time. It’s not everyone in the country, just a large sample. Additionally, every country doesn’t have the same ability to conduct large, accurate surveys (the devil is in the details). Finally, given the above factors, a difference in estimated life expectancy (these are all estimates) of, for example, 82.1 years and 82.3 years, or 79.10 (US) and 79.11 (Cuba) may not mean much.
The US rankings are disgraceful, particularly since we pay more per capita than any other country (at least when I last looked).
A couple of caveats: These studies generally use large cohorts who are studied over time. It’s not everyone in the country, just a large sample. Additionally, every country doesn’t have the same ability to conduct large, accurate surveys (the devil is in the details). Finally, given the above factors, a difference in estimated life expectancy (these are all estimates) of, for example, 82.1 years and 82.3 years, or 79.10 (US) and 79.11 (Cuba) may not mean much.