Here's another factor that makes international comparisons of life expectancy tricky and that may make the USA look worse than it should: In some European countries (Switzerland?) newborns under a certain weight (1 kg?) are automatically classified as a stillbirth and doctors do not attempt to save it. But in the US, doctors do try to save such early deliveries but only succeed about half the time. Stillbirths are not counted in life expectancy but infant mortality is counted. This would disadvantage the USA.
This is a helpful reminder that official statistics are not necessarily easily comparable between jurisdictions. (In this case countries but it could be states or cities.) Quite recently we saw differences in the way that countries count COVID deaths. Official stats are helpful but we should always ask questions about how they are defined and measured. It is tempting to reduce the complexity of reality to some apparently clear and objective numbers.
I don't know if this is true of most countries in Europe or just a few. More research definitely warranted. Any corrections to my comments (if backed by references) are welcome.
My thanks to my good (and most enduring!) friend, Quentin Langley, for raising this point which I had totally forgotten.
Here's another factor that makes international comparisons of life expectancy tricky and that may make the USA look worse than it should: In some European countries (Switzerland?) newborns under a certain weight (1 kg?) are automatically classified as a stillbirth and doctors do not attempt to save it. But in the US, doctors do try to save such early deliveries but only succeed about half the time. Stillbirths are not counted in life expectancy but infant mortality is counted. This would disadvantage the USA.
This is a helpful reminder that official statistics are not necessarily easily comparable between jurisdictions. (In this case countries but it could be states or cities.) Quite recently we saw differences in the way that countries count COVID deaths. Official stats are helpful but we should always ask questions about how they are defined and measured. It is tempting to reduce the complexity of reality to some apparently clear and objective numbers.
I don't know if this is true of most countries in Europe or just a few. More research definitely warranted. Any corrections to my comments (if backed by references) are welcome.
My thanks to my good (and most enduring!) friend, Quentin Langley, for raising this point which I had totally forgotten.