Life Expectancy and Quality of Life

The health of a country is often judged by life expectancy.  How does the USA compare to comparable countries?

Life expectancy at birth in years, 2017

Japan                                84.2                                                                                                                 Switzerland                    83.6                                                                                                               Australia                         82.6                                                                                                                   France                              82.6                                                                                                                  Sweden                           82.5                                                                                                        Comparable Country Average   82.38                                                                                                            Canada                            82.0                                                                                                  Netherlands                  81.8                                                                                                                 Austria                             81.7                                                                                                                               Belgium                           81.6                                                                                                                                  United Kingdom           81.3                                                                                                                                   Germany                          81.1                                                                                                                                United States                 78.6   (Ranks 37^th among all countries and has been declining for the        past five years)

What we do know is that for many people life expectancy is not as important as Quality life expectancy. What good is it to live to be 90 if the last 20 years are life without joy? HALE, or healthy life expectancy is a much better measure. What this means is the number of years we expect to lead a life with full mobility and free of pain without prescription life support. Using this criteria life expectancy in our country is only 66! Why is it so low? There are several; factors. Obesity rates, quality of healthcare (the USA only ranks 37^th (same as life expectancy), immune system maintenance among others.