Comparing Death Rates for Young People in the Rich World

The mortality rate of adolescence can be tedious all over the world. Each country varies in the factors of where they rate according to data collected by George Patton of the University of Melbourne for an article published in the Lancet on April 25th.

In Greece, suicides are rare but car accidents are common. In Finland it is the other way around. America stands out for having the highest mortality rate: it has a particularly high rate of traffic deaths, despite laws that ban drinking until 21. Where America stands out  is in its violence. At 8.9 per 100,000 population, the rate of violent death (such as from homicide or accidental shooting) is 18 times higher than in Britain. For young American men the risk is much higher. The death rate from homicide for 20-24 years old is a staggering 28 per 100,000 population.