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Life in United States: Every Number That Shapes It (1800–2100)

Updated July 2026 · methodology

A child born in United States in the 2020s can expect to live 77.3 years on an average income of 63,500 international dollars. (UN WPP / World Bank, compiled by MYRIAD)

The statistics of a human life reveal a profound transformation in the American experience. A child born in United States in the 2020s can expect to live 77.3 years on an average income of 63,500 international dollars. While the homicide rate has shifted from 5.55 to 6.5 per 100,000, other indicators show significant progress. Child mortality under 5 has plummeted from 41.22 to 6.3 per 1,000 births. With extreme poverty falling from 5 to 0.5 %, the structural foundation of daily life has been fundamentally restructured over the decades.

Looking back to the 1950s, the arc of history is visible in the data. In the 1950s, life expectancy at birth was 67.37, compared to 77.3 years today. Education has expanded, with years of schooling rising from 8.58 to 13.7 years. Technology has integrated into the household, moving from 95 to 100 % electricity at home and from 0 to 91 % internet access. Meanwhile, the average number of children per woman has declined from 3.29 to 1.64 births, and the population has shifted, with 82.7 % living in cities.

The average male height has moved from 176 to 177 cm, while the average person now works 1,770 hours/year, down from 2,000. These figures represent more than mere metrics; they define the parameters of opportunity and security within a country. Whether these shifts represent stability or volatility depends on the context of the centuries surrounding them. As you navigate these shifts, the data provides a clear mirror of the human condition. See your parallel life in United States to understand how these global trends map onto your own existence.

🇺🇸 Every dimension below links to the full three-century series for United States — and to the same series for every other country, so you can see exactly where the birth lottery placed its people.

The numbers today vs 1950

Dimension1950s2020s
Life Expectancy at Birth67.3777.3 yearshistory →
Income per Person (GDP per capita, PPP)15,53463,500 intl-$history →
Child Mortality (under 5)41.226.3 per 1,000 birthshistory →
Years of Schooling8.5813.7 yearshistory →
Children per Woman3.291.64 birthshistory →
Living in Cities64.3382.7 %history →
Internet Access091 %history →
Electricity at Home95100 %history →
Homicide Rate5.556.5 per 100,000history →
Annual Working Hours2,0001,770 hours/yearhistory →
Average Male Height176177 cmhistory →
Extreme Poverty50.5 %history →

See your parallel life in United States →

Questions people ask

What is life expectancy in United States?

77.3 years in the 2020s (UN WPP / World Bank data compiled by MYRIAD).

Is United States a good place to be born, statistically?

MYRIAD ranks every country by a composite of longevity, income, child survival, education and safety for each birth decade — enter your details on the homepage to see where United States lands for your cohort.

Where does YOUR life rank? →