Quality of Life Metrics: USA vs Global

How the United States Quality of Life Compares to the Rest of the World:
The Metrics That Matter

We’re often told the United States is the greatest country on Earth. But when you look at the numbers that shape everyday life the picture seems to tell a different story. This article breaks down how the U.S. stacks up globally across the metrics that matter most to real people.

Home Ownership

U.S. Home Ownership Rate: 65.9%
U.S. Global Rank: 172 out of 195 countries, one of the worst in the world, almost at the bottom.
Top Countries: Laos (95.9%), Romania (95.3%), Slovakia (92.9%)

If owning a home is the cornerstone of the American Dream, you'd have a better chance of achieving it in 171 other countries, all of which boast higher home ownership rates than the United States.

Despite its wealth, the U.S. ranks 172nd out of 195 countries in home ownership- near the bottom and still declining.

Wealth Inequality

When it comes to wealth concentration, the United States stands at the top of inequality among developed Economies

Share of Wealth Held by the Top 10% (Developed Economies)

United States~70%
Germany~58.5%
United Kingdom~54%
Sweden~50%
Netherlands~45.4%
Global ranking of 67, out of 143 nations (per World Economics.com)
The top 10% of Americans also own 93% of all U.S. stocks, while the bottom 50% hold just 2.5% of total wealth.

This level of disparity is not typical among peer nations. The U.S. stands apart, with a wealth gap that mirrors the 1920s, just before the Great Depression.

Homelessness

U.S. Homeless Population: 771,480 (2025)
Example Global Comparisons:
- UK: ~280,000
- Germany: ~263,000
- Portugal: ~ 5,900
- Denmark: ~ 5,800
- Mexico: ~ 5,800
- Japan: ~4,000
- Thailand: ~2,500
- Greece: ~ 1,400

The U.S. is not the worst in this category, but it has the one highest homelessness among wealthy nations.

Percent of Population Needing Food Assistance

SNAP (Food Stamps): 41.7 million Americans (~12.3%)
Total Food Assistance Reach: ~20% of population
Global Comparison:
- France: ~25%
- Sweden: ~22%
- Brazil: ~18%
- Japan: ~8%

1 in 5 Americans rely on food assistance annually.

Government Assistance (Excluding Social Security)

U.S. Coverage: ~33% of population of or 1/3 of the U.S. population needs government assistance to survive.
Global Comparison:
- France: ~45%
- Sweden: ~42%
- Germany: ~40%
- Japan: ~10%

The U.S. has high reliance but less generous programs.

Safety & Peacefulness

Global Peace Index United States Ranking: 131 out of 163 countries
Top Safest Countries: Iceland, Ireland, Austria
Bottom Countries: Russia, Yemen, Sudan

Violence in the U.S. Today

Murders (2022): Approximately 21,156 people were murdered in the U.S. in 2022.
Around 1.3 million Americans are victims of violent crimes every year- including aggravated assault, rape, and robbery. Of these, hundreds of thousands suffer severe physical injuries requiring medical attention.
In a single year, over 1.3 million Americans are violently attacked, including ~20,000 murders- a toll that rivals the entire 8-year casualty count of the Vietnam War.
Each year, far more Americans are murdered or violently injured than the average number killed or wounded annually during the eight years of the Vietnam War.
Statistically, civilians in the U.S. faces a higher risk of death or injury from violent crime, than a civilian living in Ukraine in the midst a full-blown active hot war. Civilian deaths: ~13,883 over three years. Civilian total injuries: ~35,548.

The U.S. is one of the most dangerous countries to live, ranking in the bottom 20% globally for safety.

School Shootings & Violence

The U.S. leads the developed world in gun violence and school shootings. School Shootings: Highest in the world by far, there is no close second.

Gun Fatalities at U.S. Schools (Annual Estimates)

2022–2024 average: Between 70 and 85 deaths per year from gun violence on K–12 school campuses.
2024:
- 81 deaths
- 269 total victims (including wounded)
- 330 shooting incidents on school grounds.
Long-term total (1966–2025):
- 855 killed
- 2,385 wounded
- Across 2,981 incidents involving firearms on school property.

These figures include all cases where a gun was fired, brandished, or a bullet struck school property—whether intentional, accidental, or related to disputes.

While mass shootings get the most attention, most school gun deaths stem from escalated personal conflicts, drive-by shootings, or suicides, not indiscriminate attacks.

Mental Health

U.S. Adults with Mental Health Diagnosis: ~25%
Global Comparison:
- U.S. has highest suicide rate among high-income nations
- Second-highest drug-related death rate
- Lowest access to mental health professionals per capita

U.S. Youth (ages 3–17) Diagnosed with Mental Health Conditions: ~21%
- Anxiety: 11%
- Behavior Disorders: 8%
- Depression: 4%
High School Students (2023):
- 40% reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
- 20% seriously considered suicide
- 9% attempted suicide

The mental health burden in the U.S., especially among youth, is among the worst in the developed world, with rising rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.

Mental health burden in the U.S. is among the worst in the developed world.

Addiction & Overdose

Drug Use Disorder Prevalence: ~3.8% of population
Overdose Deaths: ~108,000 in 2022
Alcohol Use Disorder: ~5.3% of adults
Global Comparison:
- U.S. ranks #2 in drug-related deaths
- Opioid crisis is uniquely severe compared to Europe and Asia

According to the CDC: Substance Use Disorders • In 2022, 48.7 million people aged 12 or older (or 17.3 percent) had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year, including 29.5 million who had an alcohol use disorder, 27.2 million who had a drug use disorder, and 8.0 million people who had both an alcohol use disorder and a drug use disorder.

Addiction and overdose rates in the U.S. are among the highest globally.

Incarceration Rate

U.S. Prison Population: ~2 million
Incarceration Rate: 629 per 100,000
Global Comparison:
- Canada: 104
- Germany: 69
- Japan: 39

The U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world.

Healthcare Cost & Access

U.S. Healthcare: World-Leading Costs, Lagging Outcomes

Annual Spending: ~$12,000 per person
Prescription Drug Costs: Highest in the world—often 2–4× more than in peer nations
Global Rank in Healthcare Spending: #1
Life Expectancy: ~76 years (ranked ~60th globally)
Infant Mortality: Higher than most developed nations
Obesity Rate: ~42% (highest among wealthy nations)

The U.S. spends more on healthcare, including medications, than any other country, yet continues to rank poorly in key health outcomes.

Education & Test Scores

PISA Scores (2022):
- Reading: U.S. ranks 13th
- Math: U.S. ranks 36th
- Science: U.S. ranks 18th
Global Leaders: Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Finland
Two-thirds of high school graduates fail to meet the minimum academic requirements needed to earn a diploma.

U.S. students lag behind in math and science compared to global peers.

National Debt

U.S. National Debt: Over $37 trillion
Debt-to-GDP Ratio: ~123%
Global Comparison:
- Japan: ~260%
- Italy: ~140%
- Germany: ~65%
- Australia: ~50%

The U.S. has one of the highest debt loads among major economies.

Personal Debt & Savings

Average Household Debt: ~$101,000
Credit Card Debt: ~$1.3 trillion nationally
Savings Rate: ~4.1% (2025)
Global Comparison:
- Germany: ~11% savings rate
- China: ~30%
- France: ~15%

Americans carry high personal debt and save less than most developed nations.

Sex Trafficking & Forced Labor in the U.S. (2025)

Estimated victims in the U.S.: ~1,091,000 people
Global rank 9th worst out of 160 countries for sex trafficking and forced labor, modern day slave victims.
Prevalence rate: ~3.3 victims per 1,000 people

Estimated Forced Labor Victims: ~1,091,000 people Includes exploitation in agriculture, domestic work, hospitality, construction, and illicit industries.

How the United States Quality of Life Compares to the Rest of the World: The Metrics That Matter