Americans, regardless of their wealth, experience shorter lifespans compared to their European counterparts. Even the wealthiest U.S. citizens do not live as long as those in northern and western Europe.

The research team, comprised of health policy researchers, analyzed data from a large sample of adults aged 50 to 85 across the United States and 16 European countries over a 12-year period. The study compared the lifespans of individuals across different wealth levels. The European countries were categorized into northern and western, southern, and eastern regions.

The study found a significant wealth-mortality gap in both the U.S. and Europe. The wealthiest 25% of individuals in the study population were 40% less likely to die during the study period compared to the poorest 25%. However, the wealthiest individuals in northern and western Europe exhibited even lower mortality rates than their U.S. counterparts. This difference was also observed in southern and eastern Europe, although to a lesser extent. The poorest individuals in the U.S. showed the worst survival rates, even when compared to the poorest in each European region.

The study highlights the widening wealth inequality in the U.S., which has grown more rapidly than in Europe. Despite significantly higher healthcare spending, the U.S. consistently demonstrates poorer health outcomes, including higher infant mortality and avoidable mortality rates. Personal wealth appears to provide greater longevity benefits in Europe than in the U.S., suggesting that factors beyond individual wealth influence lifespan.

The research suggests that health outcomes are influenced by more than just healthcare systems. Economic and social policies, such as those related to education, employment, housing, and food security, likely play a crucial role in determining longevity across all wealth levels. European countries have demonstrated the ability to reduce health disparities without dramatically increasing healthcare spending. These nations may have created environments where longevity is less dependent on individual wealth by distributing health-promoting resources more equitably.

Further research is needed to identify the specific aspects of European social systems, such as healthcare delivery, education access, retirement security, or tax policies, that contribute to protecting health regardless of personal wealth. Understanding how these factors interact with wealth to influence health outcomes would allow researchers to identify which European policies could be adapted to improve longevity for all Americans. The researchers plan to continue their work to identify the most effective policy levers for reducing mortality gaps.