GeoRealityMatch
View of Washington State Capitol amidst lush forests in Olympia, Washington.Scenic view of the Washington State Capitol building in Olympia surrounded by lush greenery.

United States

North America

Low safetyExpensive cost of livingVery high development

Incomes are high, and essential health services reach most people. It is less peaceful than most countries.

vs Singaporevs Spainvs Australia
Safety

133rd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.535lower is more peacefulLow safety
#133 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
5.8per 100,000 people a yearHighUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
50.8Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$88,810national income per person, US dollarsVery high
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
40.7New York = 100Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
3.5years of median income to buy a median flatVery affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 94% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 27% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$50K$100K$90,027 PPP$90,027Inflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $46,302 a person, $46,302 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2007, $48,050 a person, $48,050 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2008, $48,570 a person, $48,570 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2009, $47,195 a person, $47,195 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2010, $48,643 a person, $48,643 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2011, $50,025 a person, $50,025 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2012, $51,708 a person, $51,708 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2013, $53,297 a person, $53,297 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2014, $55,153 a person, $55,153 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2015, $56,849 a person, $56,849 at PPP, inflation 0.1%2016, $57,977 a person, $57,977 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2017, $60,048 a person, $60,048 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2018, $62,876 a person, $62,876 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2019, $65,228 a person, $65,228 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2020, $64,465 a person, $64,465 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2021, $71,441 a person, $71,441 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2022, $78,009 a person, $78,009 at PPP, inflation 8%2023, $82,587 a person, $82,587 at PPP, inflation 4.1%2024, $86,170 a person, $86,170 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2025, $90,027 a person, $90,027 at PPP$0$50K$100KInflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $46,302 a person, $46,302 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2007, $48,050 a person, $48,050 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2008, $48,570 a person, $48,570 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2009, $47,195 a person, $47,195 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2010, $48,643 a person, $48,643 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2011, $50,025 a person, $50,025 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2012, $51,708 a person, $51,708 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2013, $53,297 a person, $53,297 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2014, $55,153 a person, $55,153 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2015, $56,849 a person, $56,849 at PPP, inflation 0.1%2016, $57,977 a person, $57,977 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2017, $60,048 a person, $60,048 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2018, $62,876 a person, $62,876 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2019, $65,228 a person, $65,228 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2020, $64,465 a person, $64,465 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2021, $71,441 a person, $71,441 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2022, $78,009 a person, $78,009 at PPP, inflation 8%2023, $82,587 a person, $82,587 at PPP, inflation 4.1%2024, $86,170 a person, $86,170 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2025, $90,027 a person, $90,027 at PPP

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
78.9years, at birthHigh
#47 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
88WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
9.8PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
4.2%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
308 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
Native EnglishEF English Proficiency Index scoreNativeEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet308 MbpsVery fast
Mobile212 MbpsVery fast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Scenic view of the Washington State Capitol building in Olympia surrounded by lush greenery.
How it changed

United States's Human Development Index

0.938Very high human development

17th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 2nd of 23 in North America.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #17Liechtenstein0.938
  2. #17New Zealand0.938
  3. #17United States0.938
  4. #20South Korea0.937
  5. #21Slovenia0.931
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.878 in 1990 to 0.938 in 2023.

0.850.931.000.93819902000201020231990: 0.8781991: 0.8781992: 0.8821993: 0.8841994: 0.8871995: 0.8881996: 0.8901997: 0.8931998: 0.8951999: 0.8952000: 0.8952001: 0.8972002: 0.8982003: 0.9002004: 0.9052005: 0.9072006: 0.9112007: 0.9142008: 0.9142009: 0.9152010: 0.9192011: 0.9202012: 0.9232013: 0.9252014: 0.9262015: 0.9282016: 0.9292017: 0.9312018: 0.9342019: 0.9362020: 0.9252021: 0.9212022: 0.9302023: 0.9380.850.931.0019902000201020231990: 0.8781991: 0.8781992: 0.8821993: 0.8841994: 0.8871995: 0.8881996: 0.8901997: 0.8931998: 0.8951999: 0.8952000: 0.8952001: 0.8972002: 0.8982003: 0.9002004: 0.9052005: 0.9072006: 0.9112007: 0.9142008: 0.9142009: 0.9152010: 0.9192011: 0.9202012: 0.9232013: 0.9252014: 0.9262015: 0.9282016: 0.9292017: 0.9312018: 0.9342019: 0.9362020: 0.9252021: 0.9212022: 0.9302023: 0.938

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
78.9 years2024at birthUp 1.4 years from 77.5 years in 2005
Internet users
95%2024of people onlineUp 26 points from 69% in 2006
Urban population
80%2025of people in towns and citiesLevel with 2006
Births per woman
1.632024births per womanDown 0.43 from 2.06 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
11%2021of energy usedUp 5 points from 6% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
62024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 1 from 7 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
13.6 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 6.3 t from 19.9 t in 2005
Forest area
34%2023of land under forestUp 1 point from 33% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

World's largest economy: huge income potential, expensive healthcare, no statutory paid leave. The case for living here is high incomes and wide access to essential health services. The case against is a low peace ranking and a high cost of living.

About United States

The United States is a continental country of enormous geographic and cultural variety, from the national parks of the west and the bayous of Louisiana to the bright density of New York and the quietness of small-town New England. The culture is outwardly open and optimistic, with a generosity and directness in everyday interaction that makes it easy to connect. Those who travel beyond the major cities and allow the country's actual scale and diversity to register will find an experience far richer than the familiar image suggests.

Practical facts

  • CapitalWashington, D.C.
  • LanguagesEnglish
  • CurrencyUnited States dollar (USD)
  • Area9,147,420 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is United States's Human Development Index?

United States's Human Development Index is 0.938 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #17 of 193 by UNDP.

Is United States safe?

United States scores 2.54 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #133 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is United States?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts United States at 68.8 (New York = 100); that is #129 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in United States?

Life expectancy at birth in United States is 78.9 yrs (World Bank), ranked #47 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in United States?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores United States at 186.0, ranked #15 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.