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The United States is ranked #1 globally in the Global Competitiveness Report, but that's where the positive rankings end. When it comes to negative categories, such as child firearm deaths and the Global Peace Index, the U.S. ranks disturbingly high.
Many Americans have an idealized view of their country’s position in the world, but numerous aspects of the U.S. are far from praiseworthy. This list sheds light on some of the worst truths, many of which Americans either ignore or wish weren’t real—yet sadly, they are.
10. Americans Are Drowning in Debt
In the U.S., using credit cards for nearly every purchase is commonplace, while other countries, such as Germany, have not widely adopted this practice. A decade ago, credit card use was rare in Germany, and many European and Asian nations still don’t embrace it to the same extent, though it is becoming more common. In America, credit and debt are deeply ingrained in daily life. With a consumer-driven capitalist culture, Americans tend to buy things on credit, often opting to pay in installments with interest, rather than saving up first.
The primary issue with this idea is the growing pile of debt. Americans tend to make one purchase after another, accumulating more and more until they realize they are burdened with an average of $38,000 in debt. This trend is worsening. While $38K might seem like a lot to most individuals, when you add it up across the nation, it reveals the staggering total of $4 trillion in consumer debt. This includes credit card balances, with an average interest rate of 17.41%. In summary: Americans are drowning in debt, and it's getting worse.
9. Homelessness and Wealth Inequality Are Growing Issues
Homelessness is a global issue, but it's particularly pronounced in the United States compared to other developed nations like the UK and France. In 2018, about 0.17% of the U.S. population was homeless, which, though small, represented over 553,000 individuals. States with the highest numbers of homeless people include California, New York, Florida, Washington, Oregon, and Texas—states with large populations and some of the wealthiest individuals in the country.
Homelessness remains a serious concern, but thankfully, many organizations are working to provide both temporary and permanent housing solutions. The paradox of this issue lies in the wealth of the United States. As the wealthiest nation globally, why are so many people still homeless? The answer is complex, but it's clear that the wealth disparity in the U.S. plays a role. The top 1% of wealthiest Americans hold 40% of the nation's wealth, while many others struggle to get by.
8. The Deteriorating Infrastructure of the United States
If this page took a long time to load, there's a good chance you're in the United States. Despite the U.S. being the nation that helped develop what became the Internet, it now lags far behind many countries in terms of download speeds. Ranking 38th out of 141 countries on the Speedtest Global Index, the U.S. is just below Portugal and slightly ahead of Spain. The main culprit behind the slow Internet is the high cost of modernizing the country’s telecommunications infrastructure, but the problem extends beyond the Internet. Roads, bridges, dams, water systems, and power grids are all deteriorating, and there’s little appetite for paying to fix them.
Politicians endlessly promise to fix the nation's infrastructure, but very little progress has been made. Right now, 47,000 bridges are in desperate need of repairs, and one small mishap could lead to a catastrophic collapse. The state of the roads is no better—it's easy to see the deterioration when driving down any major highway in the U.S. According to the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, potholes and road maintenance problems have led to 42,000 fatalities.
7. The U.S. Has the Largest Prison Population in the World
This fact is well-known, but many Americans may not truly realize the scale of the problem within the country’s prison system. The United States incarcerates more people than any other country. For every 100,000 people, 724 are behind bars. While that may not sound like a huge figure, consider China, where only 118 per 100K are imprisoned. The problem worsens when you look at the total number of prisoners in the U.S., which is around 2.2 million. The jail occupancy rate is at 107.6%, meaning that prisons are overcrowded, with more prisoners than the entire population of Macedonia.
Overcrowding is just one of the many challenges facing incarcerated Americans. Another significant issue is that over 21% of those imprisoned have not yet been sentenced for a crime. Many individuals remain in jail simply because they cannot afford bail, even if they are later acquitted. This means that, in a country where everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty, more than 460,000 innocent people are currently sitting in U.S. jails.
6. The Country’s Health Care Issues Are a Nightmare
One of the most pressing issues in the United States is the healthcare system, which has spiraled out of control. It's not uncommon for people to be hit with enormous bills simply for walking into an emergency room, even without receiving any treatment. The U.S. spends more on healthcare than any other country, but without significant reforms to insurance, billing practices, prescription costs, and long-term care, the situation will only worsen. In the U.S., a person can end up bankrupt and lose everything simply because they got sick. The phenomenon of 'Medical Bankruptcy' has become all too familiar, with 66.5% of bankruptcies being tied to medical expenses.
The situation has become so dire that some people are choosing to forgo necessary treatments to avoid plunging their families into financial ruin. Stories of individuals skipping insulin or rationing their medications to stretch their supply are sadly common, often leading to serious health issues or even death. The high cost of prescription drugs has driven many Americans to illegally purchase medications from countries like Mexico and Canada, where prices are significantly lower. It’s not just medication—routine procedures like MRIs cost an average of $1,119 in the U.S., while the same procedure is only $215 in Australia.
5. The U.S. Has Refused to Ratify Several Widely Accepted International Treaties
You might assume that the United States ratified the treaty that officially ended the Korean War over 65 years ago, but in reality, it remains unratified to this day. When it comes to treaties, the U.S. has a long history of either failing to ratify them or backing out after signing. Even when the country does sign a treaty, there's no guarantee it will follow through. Native Americans are all too familiar with this, but it extends beyond domestic matters. Recent examples of this include the U.S. not ratifying the Paris Climate Accord and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
The U.S. has deliberately opted out of a number of prominent international treaties. As of November 2019, the country has refused to sign or ratify key agreements such as the Treaty of Versailles (1919), which ended World War I, the International Labor Convention (1949), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1979), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), and the Mine-Ban Treaty (1997), among others. These refusals often serve the nation's interests, but they also reflect a longstanding reluctance to engage in global diplomacy unless the U.S. gets what it desires.
4. The Devastating Toll of Gun Violence on American Children
In the U.S., firearms are a serious issue. Despite the ongoing debates about the pros and cons of gun ownership, the shocking truth is that more children die from gun-related incidents in the U.S. than in any other country worldwide. Guns are the second leading cause of child mortality in the United States, coming right after car crashes and surpassing even cancer. In 2016, 3,143 children lost their lives to gun violence, with a small percentage of those deaths occurring in school shootings.
Globally, the U.S. has a higher rate of gun-related deaths than nations such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Thailand, and Kenya. Meanwhile, fatalities from car accidents are declining, but gun-related deaths among children are escalating. In 2016, 4% of gun deaths were accidental, 35% were suicides, and 60% were homicides. The remaining 1% were not categorized due to uncertainty. Tragically, many of these deaths could have been avoided if guns were less widespread in the U.S.
3. Gender Equality for Women Has Yet to Be Fully Achieved
The United States faces significant challenges in achieving gender equality, and the government has been slow to address them. The 2019 Sustainable Development Goals Gender Index highlighted key areas of inequality: gender budgeting and public services, equal representation in influential roles, gender pay disparities, and gender-based violence. At present, the US is ranked 28th, tied with Bulgaria, although a separate report by the World Economic Forum places the US much lower at 51st among 149 nations on gender equality.
Women in the US still earn only $0.63 for every dollar made by men in similar positions. The Equal Rights Amendment, which has been circulating for full ratification since 1923, has yet to gain approval from the necessary 38 states. Currently, 37 states have ratified it, and despite the ongoing debate, there is optimism that the amendment will be ratified before the ratification deadline expires. With the 2019 Election ushering in Democratic control of both the Legislative and Executive branches, partisan obstacles may no longer hinder its passage.
3. The State of Freedom of the Press in America Is Not as Secure as Many Believe
Freedom of the press is a foundational principle of American liberty, enshrined in the First Amendment of the US Constitution. The ability of citizens to report on the government, regardless of their stance, is vital to maintaining a free society. However, the press in the United States has been facing increasing challenges. For the third consecutive year, the nation's position on the World Press Freedom Index has dropped, now ranking 48th out of 180 countries. This decline can largely be attributed to the rise of 'fake news,' a term championed by President Trump, which has eroded trust in the media and worsened each year.
The United States’ fall in the press freedom rankings reflects serious concerns about the treatment of journalists. The press is now viewed as ‘problematic,’ with the decline largely attributed to the President's antagonistic stance toward the media. His administration has limited White House briefings, barred reporters who challenged him, and even harassed journalists at rallies. Furthermore, bomb threats and murder plots against news outlets, including CNN, have become a serious risk. These threats culminated in the tragic shooting at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, where several reporters were killed.
The well-being of children in the United States is declining. While many people are deeply concerned about the future of younger generations, the reality for children today is more troubling than expected. Several factors are contributing to this decline, including literacy rates, healthcare, science and technology education, and ignorance. While these issues affect adults too, the consequences for children are far more concerning. In literacy, the U.S. ranks 24th globally. If children don't acquire reading skills at an early age, their chances of securing good jobs and becoming self-sufficient are significantly reduced.
The well-being of children in the United States is also significantly impacted by the treatment of so-called 'undocumented immigrants.' A recent decision by the Trump administration to withhold flu shots from migrants in ICE custody has raised concerns about a potential health crisis, as overcrowded detention centers create an ideal environment for the spread of disease. An even more pressing issue is the Family Separation Policy, which caused widespread outrage before being suspended. However, the underlying problem remains unresolved. It is still unclear how many children were separated from their parents or how the government plans to reunite them. Tragically, some children have died in custody, and many others continue to suffer.
Children in the United States are facing additional challenges due to the treatment of 'undocumented immigrants.' A recent policy by the Trump administration to deny flu shots to migrants in ICE custody could lead to a widespread epidemic, given the overcrowded conditions in detention centers. Even more concerning is the Family Separation Policy, which led to public outrage and was suspended, but the issue remains unresolved. Many children remain separated from their parents, and it is uncertain how the government plans to reunite these families. In the meantime, several children have died in custody, and thousands continue to suffer.
