The Most Bizarre Differences Between The US And The UK
The United States and the United Kingdom are two countries that share a "special relationship". But how do they fare when pitted against one another in various metrics? And which is the "best" country if you are considering relocating to either? Let's pit the US and the UK against one another (again!) and go through their most bizarre differences.
Healthcare Outcomes
The United States and the United Kingdom have vastly different healthcare systems. One is a for-profit system (except for Medicaid), while the other is a single-payer system. According to data from the Commonwealth Fund, healthcare outcomes in the United States rank 11/11 overall, while the UK ranks 9/11.
Tony Hisgett, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Access To Care
The United States also ranks dead last in access to healthcare, with an 11/11 score, while its ally across the pond has an above-average score of 4/11.
NeoBatfreak, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Care Processes
When it comes to preventative care, the US doesn't rank in last place in the Commonwealth Fund study—ranking at an impressive 2/11. Meanwhile, the UK scores a 5/11.
Administrative Efficiency
Despite the praises of a lack of government overheads in the US, the country still ranks 11/11 in Administrative Efficiency. Meanwhile, the British give their administrators a score of 4/11.
Equity
When it comes to equal access to equal care, equity ratings again place the US last, while the British public gives their score for equity a 4/11.
Mortality Rate
In 2023, the mortality rate in the US was 750 deaths per 100,000. However, in the UK, that rate was 958 per 100,000.
Matt H. Wade, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Life Expectancy
Britons live five years longer than Americans, with a life expectancy of 82.06 years, compared to 77.43 years for Americans.
Gender Equality
According to the Global Gender Gap Index, the UK ranks 20th, while the United States ranks 109th.
Racial Equality
According to the Global Inclusiveness Index, the United States ranks 138th globally, while the Brits rank 116th.
LGBTQ+ Inclusivity
Members of the LGBTQ+ community might not feel as included in the US, as the country ranks 16th globally, while British LGBTQ+ inclusivity rankings put them at second globally.
Disability Inclusivity
Disabled people in the UK are slightly happier than those in the US, ranking 62nd globally compared to 71st in the US.
Literacy Rate
While the US literacy rate is 79%, the Brits boast a literacy rate of 99%.
Post-Secondary Education Attendance
The US and UK don't do well here—just 50% of Americans completed their post-secondary education in 2024, while 51% of Brits did.
Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, Picryl
Schools
The United States is ranked first in education, with the UK closely behind in second, according to a global education study in 2024.
Individual Freedom
When it comes to individual freedom, the United States likes to think of itself as the freest country in the world. However, in 2024, the UK and the US ranked 17th in the Fraser Institute study on individual freedom.
Hospitals
Despite its healthcare system overall, the US has some of the best hospitals in the world and ranks highest for hospitals, while the UK doesn't even place in the top 10!
Novant Health, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Global Happiness Index
With zero being unhappy and 10 being the happiest, the United States ranked 6.73 out of 10, while the British were just ever-so-slightly happier, with a 6.75 out of 10 ranking.
Homicide Rate
When it comes to crime, the US has a homicide rate of 6.3 per 100,000. Meanwhile, the UK's homicide rate is 9.7 per million.
Median Household Income
One indicator of a country's success is its median household income. The median household income in the UK was $34,805 (USD). Meanwhile, in 2024, Americans made $80,000, more than double their British counterparts.
Trust In Government
Only 27% of British people trust their national government. In the US, just 1 in 10 Republicans trust the government. For Democrats, that figure is 35%, according to Pew Research.
Guliaka, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Gross Domestic Product
GDP is one metric of economic stability. In 2024, the UK had a GDP of $4.12 trillion (USD). Meanwhile, the US dwarfed them at $29.16 trillion. The British GDP increased by 10 percent from Q4-2023, while the US GDP only increased by 2.7 percent in the same timeline.
Roadways Satisfaction
In the UK, only 68% of drivers were happy with the country's roadways, while in the US, that percentage is 60%.
Tourism
The United States ranked 24th in the world for tourism. Meanwhile, its British counterparts, with their Kings and castles, ranked 15th.
Chiugoran, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Food Security
According to the Global Food Security Index, the UK ranked ninth globally, scoring 78.8 overall. Meanwhile, the US ranked 13th globally, scoring a 78.0.
Internet Connectivity
While the US and the UK rank highly on internet connectivity, the UK slightly outpaces America. As of January 2023, 97.8% of Brits were connected to the internet, while the US had 97.1% connectivity.
Social Welfare Spending
Of OECD countries, the United States spends 18.7% of its GDP. Meanwhile, the UK (with its single-payer healthcare system) spends 20.6%—0.6% higher than the OECD average.
Income Inequality
The United States has an income inequality rating of 39.8. The UK ranks slightly lower, at 32.6. Norway is the most income-equal country, ranked at 22.6.
Climate Finance
When it comes to spending to combat climate change, the US dwarfs all other countries, with $559 billion spent in 2024. The UK spent $14.6 billion in the same year, although this comparison isn't quite fair due to the size of their economies.
Tirachard Kumtanom, Shutterstock
Political Stability
Despite the tumultuous political environment of both countries recently, the UK (75 out of 100) is viewed as being slightly more politically stable than the US (71 out of 100).
Phil Roeder, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Cost Of Living
Both countries are on par with one another in terms of their cost of living, each ranking 40 out of 100.
Unemployment Rates
The US unemployment rate has been steadily dropping, currently at 3.6%. Meanwhile, the British unemployment rate is 4.1%.
If You've Swapped Countries, Which Did You Prefer?
If you've swapped one country for another or lived in both, which would you prefer? If you had to choose between them, which would it be? Let us know in the comments below!
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