9/24/2018 OECD Better Life Index OECD Better Life Index United States Learn even more about the United States at oecd.org Did you know? Population 311.6 mil. Visitors per year 171.6 mil. Renewable energy 6.3 % How’s Life? The United States performs very well in many measures of well-being relative to most other countries in the Better Life Index. The United States ranks at the top in housing, and income and wealth. They rank above the average in health status, jobs and earnings, education and skills, personal security, subjective well-being, environmental quality, and civic engagement. They rank below average in work-life balance and social connections. These rankings are based on available selected data. Money, while it cannot buy happiness, is an important means to achieving higher living standards. In the United States, the average household net-adjusted disposable income per capita is USD 44 049 a year, much higher than the OECD average of USD 30 563 a year, and the highest figure in the OECD. But there is a considerable gap between the richest and poorest – the top 20% of the population earn about eight times as much as the bottom 20%. In terms of employment, 69% of people aged 15 to 64 in the United States have a paid job, above the OECD employment average of 67%. Some 75% of men are in paid work, compared with http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/united-states/ 1/26 9/24/2018 OECD Better Life Index 64% of women. In the United States, some 11% of employees work very long hours, less than the OECD average of 13%, with almost 16% of men working very long hours compared with 7% of women. Good education and skills are important requisites for finding a job. In the United States, 90% of adults aged 25-64 have completed upper secondary education, much higher than the OECD average of 74%. This is slightly truer of women than men, as 89% of men have successfully completed high-school compared with 91% of women. In terms of the quality of the educational system, the average student scored 488 in reading literacy, maths and science in the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), slightly higher than the OECD average of 486. On average in the United States, girls outperformed boys by 1 points, slightly less than the average OECD gap of 2 points. In terms of health, life expectancy at birth in the United States is almost 79 years, one year lower than the OECD average of 80 years. Life expectancy for women is 81 years, compared with 76 for men. The level of atmospheric PM2.5 – tiny air pollutant particles small enough to enter and cause damage to the lungs – is 10.1 micrograms per cubic meter, lower than the OECD average of 13.9 micrograms per cubic meter. The United States also does well in terms of water quality, as 84% of people say they are satisfied with the quality of their water, higher than the OECD average of 81%. Concerning the public sphere, there is a strong sense of community and moderate levels of civic participation in the United States, where 90% of people believe that they know someone they could rely on in time of need, broadly in line with the OECD average of 89%. Voter turnout, a measure of citizens' participation in the political process, was 68% during recent elections, slightly lower than the OECD average of 69%. Social and economic status can affect voting rates; voter turnout for the top 20% of the population is an estimated 76% and for the bottom 20% it is an estimated 54%, broader than the OECD average gap of 13 percentage points, and points to shortcomings in the political mobilisation of the worst-off. In general, Americans are more satisfied with their lives than the OECD average. When asked to rate their general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, people in the United States gave it a 6.9 grade on average, higher than the OECD average of 6.5. For more information on estimates and years of reference, see FAQ section (http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/about/better-life-initiative/) and BLI database (http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx? DataSetCode=BLI). Topics Housing 8.7 http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/united-states/ 2/26 9/24/2018 OECD Better Life Index Income 10.0 Jobs 8.6 Community 6.3 Education 6.6 Environment 7.0 Civic engagement 6.8 Health 9.0 Life Satisfaction 7.8 http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/united-states/ 3/26 9/24/2018 OECD Better Life Index Safety 7.8 Work-Life Balance 5.8 Compare to... Pick a country OECD in Action OECD Economic Surveys: United States 2016 http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/united-states/ 4/26 9/24/2018 OECD Better Life Index This 2016 OECD Economic Survey of the United States examines recent economic developments, policies and prospects. The special chapters cover: Private sector productivity and Making growth more inclusive. Read this report Find Out More Back to Work: United States: Improving the Re-employment Prospects of Displaced Workers (http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/employment/back-to-work-united- states_9789264266513-en#.WHS9K_krJaQ) more ... (http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/employment/back-to-work-united-states_9789264266513- en#.WHS9K_krJaQ) International Migration Outlook 2015: United States (http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset- Management/oecd/social-issues-migration-health/international-migration-outlook-2015/united- states_migr_outlook-2015-44-en#page1) more ... (http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/social-issues-migration-health/international-migration-outlook- 2015/united-states_migr_outlook-2015-44-en#page1) Employment Outlook 2015: United States (http://www.oecd.org/unitedstates/Employment-Outlook- UnitedStates-EN.pdf) more ... (http://www.oecd.org/unitedstates/Employment-Outlook-UnitedStates-EN.pdf) United States in Detail Housing Key Findings http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/united-states/ 5/26 9/24/2018 OECD Better Life Index Living in satisfactory housing conditions is one of the most important aspects of people's lives. Housing is essential to meet basic needs, such as shelter, but it is not just a question of four walls and a roof. Housing should offer a place to sleep and rest where people feel safe and have privacy and personal space; somewhere they can raise a family. All of these elements help make a house a home. And of course there is the question whether people can afford adequate housing. Housing costs take up a large share of the household budget and represent the largest single expenditure for many individuals and families, by the time you add up elements such as rent, gas, electricity, water, furniture or repairs. In the United States, households on average spend 19% of their gross adjusted disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, below the OECD average of 20%. In addition to housing costs it is also important to examine living conditions, such as the average number of rooms shared per person and whether households have access to basic facilities. The number of rooms in a dwelling, divided by the number of persons living there, indicates whether residents are living in crowded conditions. Overcrowded housing may have a negative impact on physical and mental health, relations with others and children’s development. In addition, dense living conditions are often a sign of inadequate water and sewage supply. In terms of basic facilities, nearly every dwelling (99.9%) in the United States contains private access to an indoor flushing toilet, more than the OECD average of 97.9%. Better Policies for Better Lives Social housing for the elderly The number of seniors living in the United States is expected to double by 2030. Most elderly people living in rural areas live in single-family homes and have difficulty accessing appropriate health and social care services. The government has introduced social housing for elderly people living in rural areas to help provide low- and middle-income seniors with adequate and affordable living conditions. The Housing and Development's (HUD) Section 202 programme provides low-income seniors with options for living independently while having access to needed support. Sponsors can access interest-free capital advances to develop supportive housing. Participating sponsors are not required to pay back these advances as long as they serve elderly low-income people for at least 40 years. The remaining cost of project-rental assistance that is not covered by tenant rents and HUD operating costs are covered through rental assistance funds. The main success of the programme is that it allows the elderly maintain their independence by living in their own homes for longer than they would be able to otherwise. The recent drop in the number of units allocated through this programme should be reversed to continue supporting the needs of the ageing population. More Resources http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/united-states/ 6/26 9/24/2018 OECD Better Life Index How's Life?: Measuring Well-being Indicators Rooms per person ~2.4 rooms Rank: 2 / 38 Dwellings with basic facilities 99.9% Rank: 7 / 38 Housing expenditure 18% Rank: 7 / 38 Trend average annual increase -0.1% since 2005 Income Key Findings While money may not buy happiness, it is an important means to achieving higher living standards and thus greater well-being. Higher economic wealth may also improve access to quality education, health care and housing. Household net adjusted disposable income is the amount of money that a household earns each year after taxes and transfers. It represents the money available to a household for spending on goods or services.