Country vs. Country
There has been an abundance in the publication of statistics comparing the various countries in the world.
For example, lets take GDP/Capita. The country with the highest GDP/Capita in the world is Luxembourg with $48,309. The US was second with $35,990. India on the other hand has a GDP/Capita of $2,537 and is ranked 152nd in the world ...
However, lets not just compare countries on GDP ... Lets look at some out-of-the-box statistics ...
Nobel Prizes
In terms of absolute number of Nobel Prize winners, the US wins hands down with 270 winners. However, when you think about it, to really compare countries fairly, you have to include GDP and population in the picture. The US has a huge economy/GDP and a big population - Hence, its quite easy to believe they would also have the largest number of novel prizes.
Lets consider the number of Nobel prizes/Million people. The winner in this category is Iceland with 3.56 winners per million people, followed by Sweden and Switzerland. The US is at No. 10 with 0.92 winners per million people.
And then the number of Nobel Prizes/$Billion GDP. The winner is Sweden with 0.13 winners/$ Billion GDP, followed by Iceland and Switzerland. The US was 14th with 0.02 winners/$ Billion GDP. India is at a miserable 0.002
Economic Aid
Which country gives the most economic aid to other countries ? The US you think ? Actually, its Japan at $9.1 billion (1999). The US was second at $6.9 billion (1999).
A poll in 2000 and similar polls in earlier years found that most Americans vastly overestimate their country’s foreign aid spending. The median estimate of the percentage of the federal budget that goes to foreign aid was 20 percent, while the average estimate was 24 percent. The actual figure is a little less than 1 percent.
However, to really see who is generous, lets look at foreign aid as a function of GDP.
The most generous country is Denmark which contributes $1.04 in aid for every $100 earned as GDP. The next two are Norway & the Netherlands. The US is 22nd on this metric with 4 cents contributed for every $100 earned.
Europe rocks, I'll take quality over quantity anytime.
For example, lets take GDP/Capita. The country with the highest GDP/Capita in the world is Luxembourg with $48,309. The US was second with $35,990. India on the other hand has a GDP/Capita of $2,537 and is ranked 152nd in the world ...
However, lets not just compare countries on GDP ... Lets look at some out-of-the-box statistics ...
Nobel Prizes
In terms of absolute number of Nobel Prize winners, the US wins hands down with 270 winners. However, when you think about it, to really compare countries fairly, you have to include GDP and population in the picture. The US has a huge economy/GDP and a big population - Hence, its quite easy to believe they would also have the largest number of novel prizes.
Lets consider the number of Nobel prizes/Million people. The winner in this category is Iceland with 3.56 winners per million people, followed by Sweden and Switzerland. The US is at No. 10 with 0.92 winners per million people.
And then the number of Nobel Prizes/$Billion GDP. The winner is Sweden with 0.13 winners/$ Billion GDP, followed by Iceland and Switzerland. The US was 14th with 0.02 winners/$ Billion GDP. India is at a miserable 0.002
Economic Aid
Which country gives the most economic aid to other countries ? The US you think ? Actually, its Japan at $9.1 billion (1999). The US was second at $6.9 billion (1999).
A poll in 2000 and similar polls in earlier years found that most Americans vastly overestimate their country’s foreign aid spending. The median estimate of the percentage of the federal budget that goes to foreign aid was 20 percent, while the average estimate was 24 percent. The actual figure is a little less than 1 percent.
However, to really see who is generous, lets look at foreign aid as a function of GDP.
The most generous country is Denmark which contributes $1.04 in aid for every $100 earned as GDP. The next two are Norway & the Netherlands. The US is 22nd on this metric with 4 cents contributed for every $100 earned.
Europe rocks, I'll take quality over quantity anytime.
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