Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker How do mortality rates in the U.S. compare to other countries?

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). Notes: Break in series in 1987 and 1997 for Switzerland; in 1995 for Switzerland; in 1996 for Netherlands; in 1998 for Australia, Belgium, and Germany; in 1999 for United States; in 2000 for Canada and France; and in 2001 in the United Kingdom. All breaks in series coincide with changes in ICD coding. Mortality rates have fallen steadily in the U.S. and in comparable OECD countries Overall age-adjusted mortality rate per 100,000 population Comparable country average United States

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). For most of the leading causes of death, mortality rates are higher in the U.S. than in comparable countries Age-adjusted major causes of mortality per 100,000 population, in years, 2010

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). The U.S. has a relatively high mortality rate for diseases of the circulatory system Age-adjusted diseases of the circulatory system mortality rate per 100,000 population, in years, 2010

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). Notes: Break in series in 1987 and 1997 for Switzerland; in 1995 for Switzerland; in 1996 for Netherlands; in 1998 for Australia, Belgium, and Germany; in 1999 for United States; in 2000 for Canada and France; and in 2001 in the United Kingdom. All breaks in series coincide with changes in ICD coding. Mortality rates for diseases of the circulatory system have fallen dramatically over the last 30 years Age-adjusted diseases of the circulatory system mortality rate per 100,000 population United States Comparable country average

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). Compared to similar countries, the U.S. has a relatively low mortality rate for cancers Age-adjusted neoplasm mortality rate per 100,000 population, in years, 2010

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). Notes: Break in series in 1987 and 1997 for Switzerland; in 1995 for Switzerland; in 1996 for Netherlands; in 1998 for Australia, Belgium, and Germany; in 1999 for United States; in 2000 for Canada and France; and in 2001 in the United Kingdom. All breaks in series coincide with changes in ICD coding. The mortality rate for cancers has been falling in the U.S. and across comparable countries Age-adjusted neoplasms mortality rate per 100,000 population Comparable country average United States

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). The U.S. has a relatively high mortality rate for respiratory diseases Age-adjusted respiratory diseases mortality rate per 100,000 population, in years, 2010

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). Notes: Break in series in 1987 and 1997 for Switzerland; in 1995 for Switzerland; in 1996 for Netherlands; in 1998 for Australia, Belgium, and Germany; in 1999 for United States; in 2000 for Canada and France; and in 2001 in the United Kingdom. All breaks in series coincide with changes in ICD coding. The mortality rate for respiratory diseases is higher in the U.S. than in comparably wealthy countries Age-adjusted respiratory diseases mortality rate per 100,000 population Comparable country average United States

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). The mortality rate for diseases of the nervous system is higher in the U.S. than in comparably wealthy countries Age-adjusted nervous system mortality rate per 100,000 population, in years, 2010

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). Notes: Break in series in 2001 in the United Kingdom. Break in series coincides with changes in ICD coding. The mortality rate for diseases of the nervous system is higher in the U.S. than in comparably wealthy countries Age-adjusted nervous system mortality rate per 100,000 population United States Comparable country average

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). The U.S. has a relatively high mortality rate for endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases Age-adjusted endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases mortality rate per 100,000 population, in years, 2010

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). Notes: Break in series in 1987 and 1997 for Switzerland; in 1995 for Switzerland; in 1996 for Netherlands; in 1998 for Australia, Belgium, and Germany; in 1999 for United States; in 2000 for Canada and France; and in 2001 in the United Kingdom. All breaks in series coincide with changes in ICD coding. Mortality rates for endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases have fallen over the last 15 years Age-adjusted endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases mortality rate per 100,000 population United States Comparable country average

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). The U.S. has a relatively high mortality rate for mental and behavioral disorders Age-adjusted mental and behavioral disorders mortality rate per 100,000 population, in years, 2010

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). Notes: Break in series in 2001 in the United Kingdom. Break in series coincides with changes in ICD coding. The mortality rate for mental and behavioral disorders has been increasing in the U.S. Age-adjusted mental and behavioral disorders mortality rate per 100,000 population Comparable country average United States

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). The U.S. has a relatively high mortality rate for accidents, suicides and other external causes Age-adjusted external causes mortality rate per 100,000 population, in years, 2010

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). Notes: Break in series in 1987 and 1997 for Switzerland; in 1995 for Switzerland; in 1996 for Netherlands; in 1998 for Australia, Belgium, and Germany; in 1999 for United States; in 2000 for Canada and France; and in 2001 in the United Kingdom. All breaks in series coincide with changes in ICD coding. The mortality rate for external causes is higher in the U.S. than in comparably wealthy countries Age-adjusted external causes mortality rate per 100,000 population Comparable country average United States

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). Potential Years of Life Lost for major causes of mortality in the U.S. relative to comparable countries Age-specific potential years of life lost per 100,000 population, in years, 2010

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). Notes: Break in series in 1987 and 1997 for Switzerland; in 1995 for Switzerland; in 1996 for Netherlands; in 1998 for Australia, Belgium, and Germany; in 1999 for United States; in 2000 for Canada and France; and in 2001 in the United Kingdom. All breaks in series coincide with changes in ICD coding. Potential Years of Life Lost have fallen steadily in the U.S. and in comparable OECD countries Overall age-specific potential years of life lost per 100,000 population United States Comparable country average

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2014 WHO data: “WHO Mortality Database: Age-standardized death rate data”, WHO Mortality Database. (Accessed on July 14, 2014). Notes: Causes of death amenable to health care are based on data available on the WHO website for the list of indicators used in the article by Ellen Nolte and C. Martin McKee, “Measuring the health of Nations: Updating an Earlier Analysis,” Health Affairs 27, no. 1 (2008): Age-standardization is based on the WHO methodology and not the same method used by Nolte and McKee. Mortality rates for deaths amenable to health care have fallen in the U.S. and in comparable OECD countries Amenable mortality per 100,000 population United States Comparable country average

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of data from: Nolte E, McKee C. Martin. Health Affairs “Measuring the Health of Nations: Updating an Earlier Analysis” Available at: The U.S. has the highest rate of deaths amenable to health care among comparable OECD countries Amenable mortality per 100,000 population, in years, and

Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2013 OECD data: "OECD Health Data: Health status: Health status indicators", OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: /data en (Accessed on November 6, 2014). Notes: Break in series in 1999 for United States. Break in series coincides with changes in ICD coding. The decline in U.S. mortality rates largely reflects improvement for circulatory diseases Overall age-adjusted mortality rate per 100,000 population