Why does Canada rank 19 in life expectancy while we rank 48?

[Anonymous]

https://www.worldometers.info/demographics/life-expectancy/

Canada is right above us and we share a language and have similar cultures. So why are they 29 points above us in terms of life expectancy?

[Anonymous]

Because the GOP is the party of death and has done everything it can to undermine healthcare, health insurance, maternity care, women's health and so on.

Anti-vaxx doesn't help either.

[Anonymous]

Racial differences.

[Anonymous]

Before anyone blames our diversity, remember that Canada takes in about four times as many immigrants proportionately as does the US. By most recent data, 15.4% of all U.S. residents were immigrants, down from a recent historic high of 15.8%. In contrast,
in Canada, immigrants account for 22% of the population.

https://cis.org/North/Canada-Takes-Proportionately-Four-Times-Many-Legal-Immigrants-US

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/08/21/key-findings-about-us-immigrants/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Racial differences.

LOL, no. Racist much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Racial differences.

Actually, I did some research and the main reasons cited are:

1. Universal Healthcare System
- Canada’s single-payer healthcare system (Medicare) provides universal coverage, ensuring access to preventive care—leads to earlier detection and management of conditions like heart disease or diabetes.
2. Lower Rates of Chronic Diseases
- Canadians have lower rates of obesity (29% vs. 42% in the U.S.) and related conditions like diabetes and heart disease, which are major drivers of premature death.
3. Social Safety Nets and Inequality
- Canada has stronger social safety nets, including parental leave, childcare support, and poverty reduction programs. Also lower infant mortality rates.
4. Gun Violence and Safety
- The U.S. has significantly higher rates of gun-related deaths (14.7 per 100,000 vs. Canada’s 2.1).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Racial differences.

Actually, I did some research and the main reasons cited are:

1. Universal Healthcare System
- Canada’s single-payer healthcare system (Medicare) provides universal coverage, ensuring access to preventive care—leads to earlier detection and management of conditions like heart disease or diabetes.
2. Lower Rates of Chronic Diseases
- Canadians have lower rates of obesity (29% vs. 42% in the U.S.) and related conditions like diabetes and heart disease, which are major drivers of premature death.
3. Social Safety Nets and Inequality
- Canada has stronger social safety nets, including parental leave, childcare support, and poverty reduction programs. Also lower infant mortality rates.
4. Gun Violence and Safety
- The U.S. has significantly higher rates of gun-related deaths (14.7 per 100,000 vs. Canada’s 2.1).

I was just coming to post this very thing.

Even the UK has higher life expectancy than the US. They also have universal healthcare and lower (almost none) gun violence.

[Anonymous]

This makes me think of the Broadcast News monologue about us not being the greatest country. We are behind in lots of ways and our current political situation is making it worse.

[Anonymous]

Maybe because we’ve recently allowed in a lot of unhealthy people from other countries, don’t provide them with much in the way of healthcare, and they continue to die at ages consistent with their country of origin, and then drag down our average number. Could that be it?

[Anonymous]

Gang and drug violence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe because we’ve recently allowed in a lot of unhealthy people from other countries, don’t provide them with much in the way of healthcare, and they continue to die at ages consistent with their country of origin, and then drag down our average number. Could that be it?

Not as big of a factor as you would think. They're less likely to be obese than us.

It's the gun violence and lack of healthcare, mostly.

[Anonymous]

Highest obesity and gun violence rates

[Anonymous]

So glad I have Canadian citizenship!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe because we’ve recently allowed in a lot of unhealthy people from other countries, don’t provide them with much in the way of healthcare, and they continue to die at ages consistent with their country of origin, and then drag down our average number. Could that be it?

See the post above yours noting that immigrants are a larger portion of Canada's population than in the U.S. So no, you can't blame this on your favorite issue. Good grief.

[Anonymous]

Canada is particular about who it accepts to live within its borders.

And those that wish to dismiss race as a factor clearly do not understand the differences between races.

Black Americans are more likely to suffer with obesity, diabetes, and heart attacks. Inner city black men and boys are more likely to suffer from gun violence.