The Pursuit of Happiness

The old adage is "money can't buy happiness"--but can it buy a longer life expectancy? The CIA World Factbook and I take a look.

GDP = Gross Domestic Product (or oversimplifiying: average income)

United States = 3.58 x the average GDP – per capita ($41,600, 2005 est. CIA World Factbook)
- 48th highest life expectancy rate (77.85)

Canada = 2.92 x the average GDP – per capita ($39,200, 2005 est. CIA World Factbook)
- 12th highest life expectancy rate (80.2)

Mexico = .86 x the average GDP – per capita ($10,000, 2005 est. CIA World Factbook)
- 76th highest life expectancy rate (75.6)

Iraq = .15 x the average GDP – per capita ($1,800, 2005 est. CIA World Factbook)
- 145th highest life expectancy rate (69.01)

N. Korea = .15 x the average GDP – per capita ($1,700, 2005 est. CIA World Factbook)
- 120th highest life expectancy rate (71.65)

Afghanistan = .07 x the average GDP – per capita ($800, 2005 est. CIA World Factbook)
- 214th highest life expectancy rate (43.34).


You draw your own conclusions.