The U.S. ranks 2nd in tomatoes

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, in 2010 the United States produced 12,902,000 metric tonnes of tomatoes, or 11.7% of the world’s total tomato production. That was enough to make the United States rank second in that category. China ranked first, producing 41,864,750 tonnes, or 37.9% of the world’s total tomatoes. Just five countries–China, the United States, India, Turkey, and Egypt–produce more than three-quarters of the world’s tomatoes.

The U.S. ranks 3rd in armed forces personnel

According to the World Bank, in 2008 there were 1,540,000 military members in the United States, or 5.6% of the world’s 27,469,342 armed forces personnel. That was enough to make the United States rank third out of one hundred sixty seven countries with armed forces. China ranks first, with 2,885,000 military members, or 10.5% of the world’s total.

Ten countries–China, India, the United States, Russia, North Korea, Pakistan, Egypt, Brazil, South Korea, and Turkey–account for almost one half (49.5%) of the world’s total armed forces personnel.

The U.S. ranks 72nd in girls going to grade school

According to the World Health Organization’s 2010 World Health Statistics, between 2000 and 2009, the United States had a net enrollment rate for girls in primary school of 92%, which makes the United States tied for seventy-second with several other countries, including the Bahamas, Brazil, Egypt, Latvia, Nicaragua, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Slovakia, Syria, and Turkey. Several countries tied for first, at 100% enrollment. Among these are Canada, Greece, Seychelles, Spain, and Sri Lanka.

One country, Afghanistan, reported 0% of girls attending primary school.

The U.S. ranks 24th in particulate pollution

According to the World Bank, Los Angeles has a particulate pollution amount of thirty four micrograms per cubic meter, which makes the United States tied for twenty fourth (with the Netherlands [Amsterdam] in terms of nations sorted by their cities with the highest particulate pollution levels. Egypt ranks first, with Cairo’s particulate pollution level at 169 micrograms/cubic meter.

The U.S. ranks 32nd for built-up land

According to the Global Footprint Network, the United States is tied for thirty-second (with Laos, Macedonia, Peru, Burkina Faso, Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, Latvia, Belarus, Italy, Albania, and Egypt) in terms of global  hectare per capita of built up land. Belgium ranks first.