U.S. life expectancy still trails 30 countries

[kpete]

U.S. life expectancy still trails 30 countries

Life expectancy in the United States has surpassed 78 years for the first time

However, the United States continues to lag behind about 30 other countries in estimated life span, according to World Health Organization data.

Japan is No. 1 on the list, with a life expectancy of 83 for children born in 2006. Switzerland and Australia were also near the top of the list.

"The international comparisons are not that appealing, but we may be in the process of catching up," said Samuel Preston, a University of Pennsylvania demographer. He is co-chair of a National Research Council panel looking at why America's life expectancy is lower than other nations'.

more at:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/06/11/life.expectancy.ap/index.html

[Selatius]

1. It's lower in the US because of poor diet, unhealthy lifestyle, and lack of health care access. nt

[enid602]

2. bloc

And also because the EU is counted as different countries, rather than one bloc. Connecticut might well compare favorably with Switzerland.