The New Year season is a good time to reflect on one’s life and the U.S.’s true standing in the world. If you are honest with yourself, you known something fundemenal is taking place in early-21st century America. The nation is being restructured, yet again transformed.
On July 4th, Memorial Day, election day and other patriotic occassions, politicians of every stripe ceaselessly repeat the well-worn clichés about America’s greatness, its uniqueness in the world and global prowess. They insist, whether spoken or implied, that the U.S. of A. is #1! But is it?
Politicians, pundits and plutocrats shamelessly invoke the grandeur that was once – allegedly – America. These are the well-worn lies — shared social fictions – that legitimize the failed overreach of those in power. Truthfully, no one really believes them. Whether orchestrated by the military-industrial complex, the bankers’ financial plunder or simply historical exhaustion, the U.S. is being remade and the world order is – yet again — changing.
The following “snapshots” are 2-dimensional representations of 50 subject areas of change. Each statistical profile (i) compares the U.S.’s standing to other nations and (ii) compares the U.S of the mid-2000s to today (or the latest available data). Together, they suggest a profile, an outline, of what change – if any – has occurred in the wake of the Great Recession. The U.S. remains the country with the greatest number of billionaires – 422 — and the highest current account imbalance – a debt of $378 billion.
The 50 individual snapshots are grouped into eight broad categories: (i) national economy, (ii) security state, (iii) technology & telecommunications, (iv) environmental impact, (v) national wellness, (vi) domestic life, (vii) educational attainment and (viii) happiness. These categories, and the individual subject areas that they include, are critical domains of human existence, experience, that shape our lives and constitute history.
They reveal areas in which the U.S. leads and lags. It’s ranked #1 is Military Expenditure, Incarceration, Medical Expenditures, Cosmetic Surgical Procedures and Billionaires. It lags in everything else, including GDP, Income Inequality, Competitivenss, Life Expectancy, Education, Gender Gap and Happiness. Welcome to 21st century America.
Please circulate and suggest additional categories. An earlier version of this article appeared in 2011 and some additional subject areas have been added.
The individual subjects areas are not the real lived lives of ordinary Americas. Rather, they are more like the DPI — dots per inch – measurement of a digital camera, smartphone or printer. The higher the DPI count, the greater the image resolution. And the greater the resolution, the more the real state of the image, the nation, is revealed. Resolution — in this socio-political sense – falls along two axes: the nation’s international standing and the everyday lives of ordinary Americans.
One can only hope that as the “social DPI” is revealed, the great lie of American exceptionalism will be unmasked. Hopefully, more Americans will gain a clearer — less ideologically manipulated — picture of the true state of the U.S. of A. and realize … it really is not #1.
I. National Economy
1. Gross Domestic Product (by country)
§ 2012:
#1 — U.S. = $16.2 trillion
#2 — China = $8.2 trillion
§ 2009:
#1 — U.S. = $14.1 trillion
#2 — China = $5.0 trillion
Source: 2012: World Bank; 2009: World Bank, CIA Factbook
2. Gross Domestic Product (by territory)
§ 2012:
#1 — EU = $17.2 trillion (12 countries)
#2 — U.S. = $16.2 trillion
§ 2009:
#1 — EU = $14.4 trillion
#2 — U.S. = $14.1 trillion
Source: 2012: OECD; 2009: CIA Factbook
3. Gross Domestic Product (per capita)
§ 2012:
#1 — Qatar = $100,000
#13 — U.S. = $51,700
§ 2007/2009:
#1 — Lichtenstein = $122,100 (2007)
#11 — U.S. = $46,000 (2009)
Source: CIA Factbook
4. Current Account Balance
§ 2012:
#1 — China = $201.7 billion
#188 — U.S. = ($378.4 billion)
§ 2009:
#1 — China = $297.1 billion
#190 — U.S. = ($473.4 billion)
Source: CIA Factbook
5. Competitive Economy
§ 2013-14:
#1 — Switzerland
#4 — U.S.
§ 2009:
#1 — Switzerland
#4 — U.S.
Source: World Economic Forum
6. Income Inequality (least)
§ 2013:
#1 – Sweden = 0.23
#32 – U.S. = 0.45
§ 2008:
Source: OECD
7. Poverty Index
§ 2012 (lowest):
#1 — Norway = 0.955
#3 — U.S. = 0.937
§ 2007-08:
#1 — Sweden = 6.3
#17 — U.S. = 15.4
Source: Human Development Index
8. Billionaires
§ 2013:
world total: 1,426
#1 — U.S. = 422
#2 — China = 122
§ 2008:
world total = 1,125
#1 — U.S. = 469
#2 — Russia = 87
Source: Forbes
9. Corruption Perception Index (least)
§ 2012:
#1 — Denmark = 91
#19 — U.S. = 73
§ 2009:
#1 — New Zealand = 9.4
#19 — U.S. = 7.5
Source: Transparency International
II. Security State
10. Military Expenditures (total)
§ 2012:
#1 — U.S. = $682 billion
#2 — China = $166 billion
§ 2008:
#1 — U.S. = $663.2 billion
#2 — China = $98.8 billion
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI); Military Expenditure Database
11. Military Expenditure (per GDP)
§ 2012:
#1 — Omar = 8.6 percent
#19 — U.S. = 4.2 percent
§ 2005:
#1 — Omar = 11.4 percent
#25 — U.S. = 4.2 percent
Source: 2012: World Bank; 2005: CIA Factbook
12. Incarceration Rate
§ 2012
#1 — U.S. = 2,292,133
#2 — China = 1,650,000
§ 2009/2006:
#1 — U.S. = 1,613,740 (2009)
#2 — Russia = 86,9814 (2006)
Source: 2012: King’s College London International Centre for Prison Studies: U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics; no reliable data available for North Korea
13. Prison Population (per 100,000)
§ 2013:
#1 — U.S. = 716
#216 — India = 30
§ 2006/2009:
#1 — U.S. = 756 (2009)
#2 — Russia = 629 (2006)
Source: 2013: Source: World Prision Brief; International Centre for Prision Studies; 2006/9: U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics
III. Technology & Telecommuniations
14. Information Technology (innovation
§ 2013:
#1 — Sweden = 6.7
#14 — U.S. = 6.3
Source: World Economic Forum
15. Information Technology (venture capital)
§ 2013:
#1 — Qatar = 4.7
#10 — U.S. = 4.1
Source: World Economic Forum
16. Internet Users (total)
§ 2013:
#1 — China = 568.2 million
#2 — U.S. = 254.3 million
§ 2008:
#1 — China = 298 million
#2 — U.S. = 231 million
Source: 2013: ITU; 2008: CIA Factbook
17. Internet Users (adoption)
§ 2012:
#1 — Iceland = 96 percent
#24 — U.S. = 81 percent
§ 2008:
#1 — Netherlands = 90.1 percent
#10 — U.S. = 72.3 percent
Source: 2012: ITU; 2008: CIA Factbook
18. Fixed Broadband (adoption)
§ 2010 (per 100 inhabitants):
#1 — Switzerland = 41.9.
#20 — U.S. = 28.0
§ 2010 (per 100 inhabitants):
#1 — Netherlands = 37.8
#14 — U.S. = 27.1
Source: 2012: ITU; 2010: OCED
19. Mobile Broadband (total)
§ 2013 4G:
#1 — U.S. = 62.5 million
#2 – Japan = 26.1 million
§ 2013 3G:
#1 – China = 325.5 million
#2 – U.S. = 225.0 million
§ 2010:
#1 — Korea = 146.3 million
#9 — U.S. = 136.3 milion
Source: 2013: mobiThink; 2010: OCED
20. Mobile Broadband (adoption)
§ 2013 4G:
#1 — South Korea = 47.2 percent
#4 – U.S. = 19.6 percent
§ 2013 3G:
#1 – Italy = 90.5 percent
#3 – U.S. = 70.6 percent
§ 2010:
#1 — South Korea = 95.0 percent
#9 — U.S. = 44.4 percent
Source: 2013: mobiThink; 2010: OCED
21. Broadband Data Rate (downsteam)
§ 2013:
#1 — Hong Kong = 68.7 Mb/s
#32 — U.S. = 20.8 Mb/s
§ 2010:
#1 — South Korea = 36.9 Mb/s
#31 — U.S. = 9.9 Mb/s
Source: Ookla Speedtest
22. Broadband Data Rate (upsteam)
§ 2013:
#1 — Hong Kong = 56.6 Mb/s
#48 — U.S. = 6.3 Mb/s
§ 2010:
#1 — South Korea = 20.3 Mb/s
#33 — U.S. = 2.5 Mb/s
Source: Ookla Speedtest
IV. Environmental Impact
23. Renewable Energy
§ 2012 (million tons oil equivalent):
#1 — U.S. = 50.7
#2 – China = 31.9
§ 2008:
#1 – U.S. = 29.5
#2 – Germany = 15.2
Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy
24. Renewable Electricity Production
§ 2011 (TW·h/year; terawatt-hours per year):
#1 — China = 797.4
#2 – U.S. = 520.1
§ 2009:
#1 — China = 682.1
#3 — U.S. = 413.2
Source: 2011: EIA; 2009: BP Statistical Review of World Energy
25. Environmental Impact
§ 2012:
#1 — Switzerland = 76.4
#49 — U.S. = 56.6
§ 2006:
#1 — New Zealand = 88.0
#28 — U.S. = 78.5
Source: Environmental Performance Index
26. Climate Change
§ 2013:
#4 — Denmark = 72.6
#43 — U.S. = 53.5
§ 2008:
#1 — Sweeden = 65.6
#55 — U.S. = 33.4
Source: Germanwatch, Climate Change Performance Index
V. National Wellness
27. Life Expectancy
§ 2013:
#1 — Monaco = 89.6 years
#51 – U.S. = 78.6 years
§ 2008
#1 — Japan = 82.6 years
#38 — U.S. = 78.2 years
Source: 2013: UN Population Division; 2009: CIA Factorbook
28. Infant Mortality (per 1,000 live births)
§ 2013 (lowest to highest):
#224 — Monoco = 1.8
#174 — U.S. = 5.4
§ 2009:
#1 — Iceland = 2.9
#33 — U.S. = 6.3
Source: 2013: UN Population Division; 2009: CIA Factorbook
29. National Health Systems
§ 2013 (efficiency rating):
#1 — Hong Kong = 92.6
#46 — U.S. = 30.8
§ 2000:
#1 — France
#37 — U.S.
Source: 2013: Bloomberg; 2000: WHO
30. Health Care Expenditures (percent of GDP):
§ 2011:
#1 — U.S. = 17.7 percent
#2 – Netherlands = 11.9 percent
§ 2006 (EU to US):
#1 — France = 11.0 percent
#37 — U.S. = 15.8 percent
Source: 2011: Bloomberg; 2006: OECD
31. Health Care Expenditures (per capital)
§ 2013:
#1 — U.S = $8,5083
#2 — Norway = $5,669
§ 2009 (EU to US):
#1 — U.S. = $7,990
#2 — Switzerland = $7,184
Source: 2013: World Bank; 2009: OECD
32. Overweight Rate (body mass index, BMI 25-plus)
§ 2010 or later:
#1 — Mexico = 69.5 percent
#2 — U.S. = 69.2 percent
§ 2006/2008:
#1 — Mexico = 70 percent (2006)
#2 — U.S. = 68 percent (2008)
Source: OECD
33. Obesity Rate (body mass index, BMI 30-plus)
§ 2013:
#1 — Mexico = 32.8 percent
#2 — U.S. = 31.8 percent
§ 2006/2008
#1 — U.S. = 34 percent (2008)
#2 — Mexico = 30 percent (2006)
Source: 2013: UNFAO; 2008: OECD
34. Cosmetic Surgical Procedures
§ 2010:
#1 — U.S. = 3.1 million
#2 — Brazil = 1.4 million
§ 2009:
#1 — U.S. = 1.5 million
#2 — Brazil = 1.0 million
Source: ISAPS
VI. Domestic Life
35. Marriage Rate (“crude,” per 1,000):
§ 2012:
#1 — U.S. = 6.8
§ 2007 (“crude,” per 1,000):
#1 — U.S. = 7.4
#7 — Denmark = 6.7
Source: 2012: Statistic Brain; 2007: National Healthy Marriage Resource Center
36. Divorce Rate (per 1,000)
§ 2012:
#1 — Belarus = 4.1
# — U.S. = 3.4
§ 2002:
#1 — Sweden = 54.9 percent
#7 — U.S. = 45.7 percent
Source: 2012: UN Demographics; 2002: Americans for Divorce Reform
37. Cohabitation Rate (20 year-old)
§ 2010 vs 2002 (US):
2002 = 43.1 percent
2010 = 47.9 percent
§ 2007:
#1 — France = 14.4 percent
#6 — U.S. = 5.5 percent
Source: US data (2002, 2010): CDC/NCHS; 2007: National Healthy Marriage Resource Center
38. Non-Married Childbirths (percent of live births)
§ 2011 (US and Europe:
# — EU (28 countries) = 39.3 percent
# — U.S. = 40.7 percent
§ 2007 (US and Europe):
# — EU (28 countries) = 35.0 percent
# — U.S. = 38.5 percent
Source: 2011: Eurostat, CDC; 2007: National Healthy Marriage Resource Center
39. Motherhood Ranking (best to worst)
§ 2012:
#1 — Finland
#25 — U.S.
§ 2010:
#1 — Norway
#28 — U.S.
Source: Save the Children “Mothers Index”
40. First Sex (oldest to youngest)
§ 2012:
#1 — Malyasia = 23.5 years
# — U.S. = 18.4 years
§ 2005:
#1 — India = 19.8 years
#29 — U.S. = 16.9 years
Source: Durex Global Sex Survey
41. Condom Use
§ 2012 (during most recent sexual experi
#1 — China = 78.9 percent
#11 — U.S. = 65.3 percent
§ 2009 (15-24 year old males)
#1 — Guyana = 62 percent
#11 — U.S. = NA
Source: 2012 Durex; 2009: World Bank
42. Gender Gap (narrowest to widest)
§ 2013:
#1 — Iceland
#23 — U.S.
§ 2006:
#1 — Sweden
#23 — U.S.
Source: World Economic Forum
VII. Educational Attainment
43. College Graduates
§ 2013 (tertiary education):
#1 — Russian Federation = 53.5 percent
#5 — U.S. = 42.5 percent
§ 2007 (25-34):
#1 — Canada = 55.8 percent
#12 — U.S. = 40.3 percent
Source: 2013: OECD; 2007: College Board
44. Secondary School Graduates
§ 2010:
# US = 75 percent
§ 2008:
#1 — S. Korea = 93 percent
#18 — U.S.= 73 percent
Source: 2010: Education Research Center; 2008: OECD
45. Reading Level
§ 2012
#1 — China/Shanghai = 570
#36 — U.S. = 498
§ 2010
#1 — Korea = 539
#15 — U.S. = 500
Source: OECD PISA; China was divided into three regions (Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macao) and Shanghai and Hong Kong out-performed the U.S.
46. Science Level
§ 2012:
#1 — China/Shanghai = 580
#36 — U.S. = 514
§ 2010:
#1 — Finland = 554
#27 — U.S. = 502
Source: OECD PISA; China was divided into three regions (Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macao) and each out-performed the U.S.
47. Math Level
§ 2012:
#1 — China/Shanghai = 613
#36 — U.S. = 481
§ 2010:
#1 — Singapore = 562
#28— U.S. = 487
Source: OECD PISA; China was divided into three regions (Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macao) and each out-performed the U.S.
VIII. Happiness
48. National Happiness
§ 2013:
#1 — Costa Rica = 64
#105— U.S. = 37.3
§ 2006:
#2 — Columbia = 67.2
#115 — U.S. = 28.2
Source: Happy Planet Index
49. Life Satisfaction
§ 2013:
#1 — Japan = 10.0
#15— U.S. = 9.0
§ 2006:
#1 — Denmark = 273.4
#23 — U.S. = 246.7
Source: 2013: OECD Better Life Index; 2006: Adrian White, “A Global Projection of Subjective Well-being: A Challenge To Positive Psychology?”
50. Subjective Well-Being
§ 2007:
#1 — Denmark = 4.24
#16 — U.S. = 3.55
Source: World Values Surveys
David Rosen regularly contributes to AlterNet, Brooklyn Rail, Filmmaker and IndieWire; check out www.DavidRosenWrites.com; he can be reached at drosennyc@verizon.net.
