Which Country Is Really Doing Better? U.S. or China?
For decades, Americans have been told they live in the greatest nation on Earth. The strongest economy. The best opportunities. The highest standard of living. By contrast, China is often portrayed as a land of factories and censorship, where no one would choose to live if given the option.
But the numbers tell a different story. If you strip away the national myths, the comparison between the United States and China is exactly opposite to the American cultural perspective
This isn’t about patriotism. It’s about facts.
Birth and Survival
The most basic measure of a society is how well it protects its most vulnerable members, including mothers and infants.
Babies born in America face a 40% higher risk of dying in their first year of life than those born in China. The U.S. infant mortality rate stands at 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to 4.0 per 1,000 in China.
Mothers in the U.S. also face greater risks. An American woman is 30% more likely to die giving birth than a woman in China. For a nation that spends more on healthcare per capita than any other country, these outcomes expose deep inefficiencies and inequities in the US system.
One reason may be social support. The United States is the only wealthy country without paid national maternity leave. American mothers often return to work within weeks, or even days, of giving birth. In China, new mothers are guaranteed at least 14 weeks of paid leave, with some provinces granting more. That means Chinese mothers have more time to recover and bond with their babies, while American mothers face economic and health pressures that can undermine both outcomes.
Education and Opportunity
What happens once children reach school age?
In China, 88% of children attend preschool, compared to just 54% in the United States. That early head start matters. Decades of research show that children who attend preschool perform better academically, earn more as adults, and are less likely to struggle later in life.
By the time students reach adolescence, the gap widens. On international tests like PISA, Chinese students consistently outperform American students in mathematics and science. These subjects are key to the industries of the future, from artificial intelligence to green energy. The U.S. prides itself on innovation, but its foundation of basic education is weaker than it likes to admit.
Safety and Security
Once those children grow up, their odds of staying safe depend heavily on where they live.
An American is 12 times more likely to be murdered than someone living in China. Beyond homicide, the US also locks up its own citizens at staggering rates: an American is five times more likely to end up in prison than a Chinese citizen.
Some will argue that China underreports crime or that political prisoners aren’t included in official tallies. That’s true, and transparency is limited. But even after accounting for differences in reporting, the US still ranks near the top globally in homicide and incarceration.
Safety is not just about laws. It’s about cultural expectations. The US embraces a model of personal freedom that tolerates higher risks of violence. China emphasizes order and control, often at the expense of civil liberties. The trade-off is stark: more individual freedom in the US, more collective freedom in China.
The End of Life
At the other end of life’s journey, Americans also fall behind.
The average life expectancy in the United States is 77.5 years. In China, it’s almost 79 years. Most other wealthy nations average over 80 years.
Life expectancy reflects more than healthcare; it shows the cumulative effects of diet, safety, inequality, and public health systems. The US opioid crisis, gun violence, obesity rates, and lack of universal healthcare have dragged life expectancy down. China faces its own challenges, from air pollution to regional inequality; yet, its gains in public health have pushed its citizens’ lifespans above those in America.
Beyond the Numbers
All of these comparisons point to a larger cultural divide.
The United States is built on hyper-individualism. Freedom, choice, and personal responsibility are central. But those same values limit collective action. Public health measures, social safety nets, and long-term investments are often sacrificed for short-term profits or political gridlock.
China operates differently. It plans decades ahead, prioritizing collective progress over individual freedom. That approach has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, expanded access to healthcare, and produced gains in education and longevity. At the same time, it comes with limits on speech, dissent, and personal autonomy.
China aligns most closely with The Visionary, Hornby’s archetype that looks far ahead, shaping society with long-term plans and collective goals. The United States, by contrast, reflects the Dedicated Rule Imposer, driven by strict individual rights, legal structures, and ideological boundaries. One builds by projecting decades into the future; the other defends its identity through rigid adherence to rules and principles.
One is not better or worse than the other; they are just different. Americans enjoy freedoms that many Chinese do not. And the Chinese enjoy freedoms that many Americans do not. But when it comes to basic measures of health, safety, and opportunity, China is the place to be.
Conclusion
So which system is building a better future?
If the goal is long life, safe communities, and strong educational outcomes, China now has the edge. If the goal is individual freedom and individual expression, the US still leads.
The bigger point is this: the myth of American supremacy is no longer supported by the data. Citizens in both countries are living within cultural systems that shape their outcomes. The US chooses freedom and inequality. China chooses control and stability.
Which one you prefer says less about the facts than it does about your cultural values.
Join us for more cultural perspectives on TikTok and YouTube
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
