2013 national research council study stated that, when considered as one of 17 high-income countries, the us was at or near the top in infant mortality, heart and lung disease, sexually transmitted infections, adolescent pregnancies, injuries, homicides, and rates of disability. together, such issues place the us at the bottom of the list for life expectancy in high-income countries. females born in the us in 2015 have a life expectancy of 81.6 years, and males 76.9 years; more than three years less and as much as over five years less than people born in switzerland (85.3 f, 81.3 m) or japan (86.8 f, 80.5 m) in 2015. causes of mortality in the us