Methodology & Data Sources
This website presents factual data from reputable international organizations to provide an objective assessment of America's standing in various global metrics. Our methodology prioritizes transparency, accuracy, and verifiability.
Data Collection Process
Source Selection Criteria
All data presented on this site comes from sources that meet the following criteria:
- Internationally recognized organizations with established credibility
- Peer-reviewed research institutions
- Government agencies with transparent data collection methods
- Non-partisan research organizations
- Most recent available data (typically within the last 2 years)
Ranking Categories
We selected metrics that reflect key aspects of quality of life, economic prosperity, social progress, and democratic values. These categories were chosen because they:
- Have standardized international measurement methodologies
- Allow for direct country-to-country comparisons
- Reflect outcomes that directly impact citizens' lives
- Are regularly updated and independently verified
Primary Data Sources
| Category | Organization | Methodology |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare System | Commonwealth Fund | Comparative study of 11 high‑income countries (70+ indicators across access, care process, admin efficiency, equity, outcomes) |
| Life Expectancy | World Bank / CDC | World Bank 2022 dataset used for approximate global rank; US 2023 provisional value from CDC/NCHS (updated annually) |
| Maternal Mortality | CDC (NVSS) | Pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births (final 2022 rate 22.3); ranking refers to comparison among high‑income peers |
| Income Inequality | World Bank | Gini coefficient (US 2022 = 41.1). Global ordinal varies with country coverage & year alignment; presented as approximate rank. |
| Education (Math) | OECD PISA | Standardized assessment of 15‑year‑olds; rank shown (38th) corresponds to math performance among 2022 participating economies. |
| Infrastructure | World Bank LPI / ASCE | Logistics Performance Index 2023 (rank 17/139). Physical infrastructure condition from ASCE 2021 Report Card (overall grade C‑). |
| Press Freedom | Reporters Without Borders | Composite index (pluralism, media independence, environment, legal framework, transparency, infrastructure, safety) |
| Social Mobility | World Economic Forum | Global Social Mobility Index (last published 2020; US rank 27/82 – no newer edition as of Sept 2025) |
| Incarceration Rate | World Prison Brief | Prison population per 100,000 national population; updated continuously from official national sources |
| Democracy Index | Economist Intelligence Unit | 60 indicators across electoral process, governance, participation, political culture, civil liberties (US classified 'flawed democracy') |
| GDP (Nominal) | International Monetary Fund | IMF World Economic Outlook (latest available estimates / projections for nominal GDP in USD) |
| Happiness | UN / Gallup (World Happiness Report) | Average life evaluation scores (multi‑year rolling). Rank 23rd based on 2021–2023 averages in 2024 report. |
Our Commitment to Accuracy
We present ranks for quick readability while still citing the underlying metric (e.g., life expectancy years, maternal mortality rate) in the detailed descriptions on the main page. When a rank is approximate or dependent on methodological filters (e.g., inequality), we indicate that in the description or footnotes.
Important Considerations
Data Limitations
- Rankings represent a snapshot in time and may change as new data becomes available
- Different methodologies may produce different rankings for similar metrics
- Some rankings compare all countries globally, while others focus on developed nations
- Cultural and contextual factors may influence certain metrics
Interpretation Guidelines
Rankings should be understood within their proper context:
- Lower numerical rankings indicate better performance (except for GDP where #1 is best)
- Rankings among developed nations may differ from global rankings
- Some metrics measure absolute performance, others measure relative progress
- Single metrics don't tell the complete story of a nation's wellbeing
Rank-First Display Rationale
- Improves immediate comprehension for general audiences.
- Underlying values (rates, scores, grades) are still referenced in card details.
- Approximate ranks flagged when underlying data year alignment varies (e.g., inequality, life expectancy).
- Legacy or stale indices (social mobility) clearly labeled with last publication year.
Updates and Corrections
We update our data annually or when significant new reports are released. All data includes source citations with publication dates. Historical data is archived to track changes over time.
Next Scheduled Review: January 2026
Data Verification: All sources independently verified