The U.S. ranks 8th in belief of benefits of U.S. policies

According to a 2007 Pew Global Attitudes Survey, 59% of Americans believe that U.S. government policies consider the “interests of other countries around the world.” This made the United States tied for eighth with Uganda in that category. Israel ranks first, with 74% of Israeli’s believing that U.S. policies consider the interests of Israel.

The U.S. ranks 24th in government function

According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index 2008, the United States has a government functioning score of 7.86 out of 10, which makes the United States tied for twenty-fourth with Austria, Brazil, Cape Verde, Slovenia, South Africa, and Spain in that category. Finland and Sweden are tied for first, scoring a perfect 10.

The EIU explains the significance of this score: “Most measures [of democracy] also include aspects of the minimum quality of functioning of government. If democratically-based decisions cannot or are not implemented then the concept of democracy is not very meaningful or it becomes an empty shell” (16).

The U.S. ranks 82nd in grazing land

According to the Global Footprint Network, the United States has a grazing land biocapacity of .29 global hectares per capita, which makes the United States rank eighty-second in that category. Mongolia ranks first, with a grazing land capacity of 11.12 global hectares per capita.

The U.S. ranks 9th in wood fuel

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, in 2004 the United States produced 43,608,000 cubic meters of wood fuel, or 2.5% of the world’s total, which was enough to make the United States rank ninth in that category. India ranked first, producing 17.1% of the world’s wood fuel.

The U.S. ranks 1st in foreign direct investments

According to the World Resource Institute, in 2006, there was a net inflow of $180,580,000,000 worth of foreign direct investments from transnational corporations into the United States, or 13.4% of the world’s total. This volume made the United States rank first in that category.

The U.S. ranks 12th in death from respiratory infections

According to the World Health Organization, in 2005, an estimated 60,100 Americans died from respiratory infections, which made the United States rank twelfth in that category. India ranked first, with 1,123,100 deaths from respiratory infections.

The U.S. ranks 2nd in natural gas production

According to the CIA World Factbook, the United States produces 18.1% of the world’s natural gas, which makes the United States rank second in that category. Russia ranks first, producing 21.6% of the world’s natural gas. Together, the top five countries–Russia, the United States, Canada, Iran, and Norway–produce 52.9% of the world’s natural gas.

The U.S. ranks 25th in grapefruit

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, in 2003 Americans consumed 2 kilograms per capita of grapefruit, which was enough to make the United States tied for twenty-fifth with several other countries. Dominica ranked first,  at 162 kilograms per capita.

The U.S. ranks 3rd in poverty

According to the OECD, the United States has a poverty rate of around 17%, which makes the United States rank third out of thirty OECD member nations in that category. Mexico ranks first, with a poverty rate of around 18.5%.

The median poverty rate for OECD member nations is around 11%.

The U.S. ranks 1st in cutlery

According to the International Trade Centre, in 2005 the United States imported $1,473,468,000 worth of cutlery, or 20.6% of the world’s total cutlery imports, which made the United States rank first in that category.