Icelanders Enjoy Top Spot on Wellness Chart

(April 30) -- Iceland gets top billing in a comprehensive new report on worldwide health statistics. The country has the lowest adult death rate for men under 60, and one of the lowest for women.

The study, published in this week's Lancet, calculated the risk of death for people ages 15 to 59. In Iceland, 64.9 out of 1,000 men and 44.2 out of 1,000 women will likely die before turning 60.

Compare that impressive statistic to the United States, which ranked 47th overall. Here, 130 men and 77.5 women in 1,000 will die before the age of 60. That's well behind other Western countries like England, and also leaves us trailing Cuba, Libya and Algeria -- and narrowly edging out Iraq.

While the United States is "definitely on the wrong trajectory," according to Chris Murray, one of the study's authors, Iceland seems to be the top destination for those hoping to make it to old age.

"The coverage and quality of clinical health care is high," according to a 2000 report on Iceland from the World Health Organization. Health care in the country is largely government-financed, with patients shelling out around 15 percent of treatment costs for specialists.

Primary care, which also includes preventive medicine, physical therapy and home nursing, is available at local clinics.

Not surprisingly, the country also boasts some of the highest life expectancies worldwide. Men can expect a life of nearly 80 years, while women in Iceland are around for an average of 83 years.

Indeed, the Icelandic government shells out a lot on health care. In 2005, it spent $4,200 per capita on health, adjusted for an average exchange rate. That's twice what the American government spends, but Iceland can probably afford it, because it's saving big time on a key component of the U.S. budget: Iceland hasn't had a military force since 1869.

And while Americans seem to struggle with a nutritious diet, Icelanders would appear to have it much worse. Fruit and grain cultivation is nearly impossible because of the country's climate and soil.

But what produce can be cultivated is accompanied by a notable perk: Iceland's cold climate means no pesticides are required. Rutabaga, cabbage and tomatoes are often grown entirely indoors.

The country is also a good example of the impact environment can have on human health. With a sparse population and little heavy industry, the WHO reports that Icelanders enjoy relatively clean air and water. The country's use of geothermal power for about 80 percent of its total energy needs is also impressive.

There's plenty to celebrate about the wellness of Iceland's 318,000 residents. They're even safe from the globalization of American fast-food meccas: McDonald's and Pizza Hut have mostly pulled out of the country, blaming the 2008 economic collapse for lagging profits.

But at least one indicator suggests that Icelanders might need to need to work to stay on top. A 2007 study warned of a sharp rise in sedentary lifestyles among Iceland's teenagers, from 13 percent in 1997 to 23 percent a decade later.