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The U.S. ranks 7th in wireless broadband subscriptions
According to the OECD, there are 100.7 wireless broadband subscriptions for every 100 residents of the United States. That is enough to make the United States rank seventh out of thirty-four countries ranked in that category. Finland ranks first, with 123.3 wireless broadband subscriptions for every 100 residents.
The U.S. ranks first in incarceration
According to the Brookings Institution, in 2013 there were 710 Americans imprisoned for every 100,000 residents. This makes the United States rank first out of thirty-four OECD countries ranked in that category. The average incarceration rate among the OECD nations is 115.
The U.S. ranks 27th in leisure and personal care
According to the OECD Better Life Index, Americans spend an average of 14.27 hours per day “on leisure and personal care, including sleeping and eating.” That is enough to make the United States rank twenty-seventh out of thirty-six countries ranked in that category. Denmark ranks first, with 16.06 hours per day dedicated to leisure and personal care.
The U.S. ranks 11th in working hard
According to the OECD, in 2012, the average American worker worked for 1789.9 hours, which is enough to make the United States rank eleventh out of thirty-seven countries ranked in that category. Mexico ranks first, with the average Mexican worker working 2225.7 hours in 2012.
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:
- Australia
- Sweden
- Canada
- Norway
- Switzerland
- United States
- Denmark
- Netherlands
- Iceland
- 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