The U.S. ranks 6th in living the good life

According to the OECD “Better Life Index,” the United States ranks sixth in terms of overall quality of life among thirty-six industrialized democracies. The top ten countries are:

1. Australia
2. Sweden
3. Canada
4. Norway
5. Switzerland
6. United States
7. Denmark
8. Netherlands
9. Iceland
10. United Kingdom

The U.S. ranks 23rd in wage distribution

According to the OECD, a full-time American worker paid at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour earns 38% of the median wage in the United States. That is enough to make the United States tied for twenty-third with Japan out of twenty-five OECD countries ranked in that category. Turkey ranks first, with a minimum wage-to-median wage ratio of 0.71.

The U.S. ranks 10th in purchasing power of minimum wage

According to the OECD, the U.S. federal minimum wage of $7.25 makes the United States rank tenth out of twenty-three OECD member nations in terms of the purchasing power of minimum wage. Luxembourg ranks first with a minimum wage purchasing power parity (PPP) of $11.36.

 

The U.S. ranks 11th in minimum wage

According to the OECD, the U.S. federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour is enough to make the United States rank eleventh out of the twenty-four member nations of the OECD ranked in that category. Australia ranks first, with a minimum wage equivalent to $15.75 USD.

The U.S. ranks 4th in spending time with friends

According to the OECD, Americans spend use 16% of their total leisure time visiting or entertaining friends, which makes the United States tied for fourth with South Korea out of eighteen ranked OECD countries in that category. Turkey ranks first, at 34%.

The U.S. ranks 14th in teenage suicide

According to the OECD in 2007, the United States had a teenage suicide rate of 7.7 out of every 100,000 people, which makes the United States rank fourteenth in that category. New Zealand ranks first, with a suicide rate of 19.2 out of every 100,000 people.

Prepared by Kiernan Playford

U.S ranks 5th in commute to work

According to the most recent data available from the OECD, the average commute to and from work in the United States is 28 minutes. That is enough to make the United States rank fifth out of twenty-two countries ranked in that category. Korea ranks first, with an average commute to and from work of 40 minutes.

Prepared by Kiernan Playford

The U.S. ranks 10th in bullied teenage females

According to the OECD, in 2008 the U.S. ranked 10th out of 25 countries in teenage girls who are reported victims of bullies.  The U.S. ranks tenth with 10.4 percent.  Turkey ranked first with 23.3 percent of reported cases.

Prepared by Laurie W.

The U.S.ranks 2nd in out of pocket health expenses

According to the OECD in 2008 the U.S. ranks second out of 33 countries in out of pocket health expenses.  The average per person out of pocket health expense in the U.S. is $912.  Switzerland ranked first with a cost of $1424 (U.S. dollars) per person.

Prepared by Laurie W.

The U.S. ranks 1st in non-resident hotel arrival

According to data available from the OECD in 2007, the United States had 55,986 non-resident tourists arrive at hotels and similar establishments. This is enough for the United States to rank first in this category.

Entry prepared by: Henry Cumoletti