In almost every case since the S’s, we are looking at drastically reduced rates of child mortality (30-60% lower), longer life-spans by at least 2 years (and more often 3 or 4 years, with the difference especially noteworthy among women), and GDP figures that almost never peak 10%, and are usually about half of what we spend in the United States.
Now, of course, there is much more to Europe than the countries listed above. And, indeed, as we continue East, into regions of significantly less wealth, we do find numerous countries where the public health statistics are quite a bit worse than in the United States. But the fact remains that, not only are we surpassed by every comparable Western economy, we are matched by several poorer countries.
Well, what about our dreaded enemy, Cuba? Surely Mr. Moore was fibbing when he said Cuba has bested us? Let’s look:
CUBA:
Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 75/79
Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2002): 67/70
Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 7
Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 128/83
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2004): 229
Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2004): 6.3
UNITED STATES
Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 75/80
Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2002): 67/71
Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 8
Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 137/81
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2004): 6,096
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