Health Care: U.S. Versus Japan

Comparison between health care systems in America versus Japan reveals something about health care in America. Compare the difference between the two systems.

GDP % Spent On Health Care
United States – 15.3%
Japan – 8%

Life Expectancy at Birth
United States – 77
Japan – 81

Infant Mortality: Deaths per 1000 Live Births
United States – 6.8
Japan – 2.8

MRI Units: Number per Million Population
United States – 26.6
Japan – 40.1

CAT Scanners: Number per Million Population
United States – 32.2
Japan – 92.6

Conclusion
Heath care in the United States is costing nearly twice as much as in Japan. The Japanese are on average living 5 more years than Americans. The rate of babies dying in America is 3 times greater than babies dying in Japan. There are nearly twice the MRI units in Japan than in the United States. Japan has 3 times as many CAT Scanners than the United States does.

The clear winner is Japan.

Sources: OECD 2007 Report, Frontline: sick around the world April 15, 2008