The U.S. ranks 6th in fourth grade reading

According to the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, in 2011 the average United States fourth-grade reading score was 556, which makes the United States rank sixth out of forty-nine participating countries. Hong Kong ranks first, with a score of 571. The average score for all countries was 500. Here is the list of the top eleven countries and their scores:

Let’s Stop Talking About Red States and Blue States

A new piece I wrote for Huffington Post.

The U.S. ranks 16th in where to be born

According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, the United States has a Where-to-be-Born Index score of 7.38, which makes the United States tied for sixteenth with Germany out of eighty countries ranked in that category. Switzerland ranks first, with a score of 8.22.

The U.S. ranks 26th in net migration

According to the CIA World Factbook, in 2012 the United States had a net migration rate of 3.62, which is enough to make the United States rank twenty-sixth out of two hundred twenty-one countries ranked in that category. Qatar ranks first, with a net migration rate of 40.62. According to the Factbook, “net migration” measures “the difference between the number of persons entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons.”

The U.S. ranks 3rd in electricity imports

According to the International Energy Agency, in 2010 the United States imported a net total of twenty-six terawatts of electricity, or 10.7% of the world’s total electricity imports. That was enough to make the United States rank third in that category. Italy ranks first, importing forty-four terawatts, or 18.2% of the world’s total. Just five countries–Italy, Brazil, United States, Finland, and Argentina–account for over half of all electricity imports in the world.

The U.S. ranks 6th in emotions

According to Gallup, 54% of Americans report feeling emotions on a daily basis, which makes the United States tied for sixth with several countries out of more than one hundred fifty countries ranked in that category. The Philippines ranks first, with 60% of Filipinos feeling emotions on a daily basis.

Chart from Gallup
http://www.gallup.com/poll/158882/singapore-ranks-least-emotional-country-world.aspx

The U.S. ranks 27th in alcohol

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, in 2009 the United States had an alcohol supply of 6.8 kilograms per person, which was enough to make the United States rank twenty-seventh out of one hundred seventy-four countries ranked in that category. Estonia ranked first, with an alcohol supply of 19.5 kilograms per person.

The U.S. ranks 6th in military expenditures

According to the World Bank, military expenditures in the United States equal 4.7% of GDP, which is enough to make the United States tied for sixth with Jordan in that category. Saudi Arabia ranks first with military expenditures at 8.4% of GDP.

The U.S. ranks 19th in state success

According to the Fund for Peace, the United States has a “failed state index” score of 34.8, which makes the United States the nineteenth most successful state in the world, out of one hundred seventy seven countries ranked in that category. Finland ranks first, with a score of 20.0. The least successful state in the world is Somalia, with a score of 114.9 out of 120 possible points.

The U.S. is listed as a “stable” nation by the Fund for Peace, but not a “sustainable” nation.

The U.S. ranks 3rd in oil production

According to the CIA World Factbook, in 2011 the United States produced an estimated 9,023,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bbl/day), or 10.6% of the world’s crude oil. That is enough to make the United States rank third out of one hundred two oil-producing nations. Saudi Arabia ranks first, producing 11,150,000 bbl/day, or 13.1% of the world’s total. The top ten oil producing countries account for 63.2% of all the oil produced in the world.