Median2021 vs median2017 in United States

United States: Median2021 vs median2017 was 72.07 in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
72.07
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
3rd
of 120 countries
All-time high
74.14
in 2020
All-time low
33.29
in 1963
Years of data
62
1963–2024

Median2021 vs median2017 in United States, 1963–2024

020406080196319932024

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for median2021 vs median2017 in United States is 72.07, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and up 27.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, median2021 vs median2017 in United States peaked at 74.14 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 33.29, in 1963.

United States ranks 3rd of 120 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 62 years of available data.

Median2021 vs median2017 in United States, year by year

Annual values for Median2021 vs median2017 in United States, 1963 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1963 33.29 —
1964 34.56 +3.8%
1965 36.66 +6.1%
1966 37.03 +1.0%
1967 38.68 +4.5%
1968 40.34 +4.3%
1969 41.7 +3.4%
1970 41.57 -0.3%
1971 42.19 +1.5%
1972 45.85 +8.7%
1973 47.03 +2.6%
1974 45.5 -3.3%
1975 46.01 +1.1%
1976 47.37 +3.0%
1977 47.92 +1.2%
1978 48.98 +2.2%
1979 49.42 +0.9%
1980 47.17 -4.6%
1981 45.78 -2.9%
1982 46 +0.5%
1983 47.45 +3.2%
1984 49.37 +4.0%
1985 49.82 +0.9%
1986 51.34 +3.0%
1987 53.31 +3.8%
1988 53.55 +0.5%
1989 53.79 +0.4%
1990 52.32 -2.7%
1991 52.44 +0.2%
1992 52.12 -0.6%
1993 51.42 -1.3%
1994 52.37 +1.8%
1995 52.87 +0.9%
1996 53.34 +0.9%
1997 54.68 +2.5%
1998 57.09 +4.4%
1999 58.18 +1.9%
2000 58.61 +0.7%
2001 58.29 -0.5%
2002 59.03 +1.3%
2003 59.28 +0.4%
2004 58.65 -1.1%
2005 59.09 +0.7%
2006 59.77 +1.1%
2007 60.12 +0.6%
2008 58.53 -2.6%
2009 59.1 +1.0%
2010 58.36 -1.2%
2011 58.03 -0.6%
2012 58.34 +0.5%
2013 57.96 -0.6%
2014 56.54 -2.4%
2015 59.46 +5.2%
2016 62.98 +5.9%
2017 63.92 +1.5%
2018 66.05 +3.3%
2019 70.52 +6.8%
2020 74.14 +5.1%
2021 73.62 -0.7%
2022 67.72 -8.0%
2023 69.74 +3.0%
2024 72.07 +3.3%

United States compared with similar countries

  • United States's 72.07 is above the median for high income countries, which is 49.01, 1.5× the median. (42 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 37.47 33.29 41.7 7
1970s 46.19 41.57 49.42 10
1980s 49.76 45.78 53.79 10
1990s 53.68 51.42 58.18 10
2000s 59.05 58.29 60.12 10
2010s 61.22 56.54 70.52 10
2020s 71.46 67.72 74.14 5

Countries ranked near United States

  1. 1 Luxembourg 89.49 compare
  2. 2 Norway 77.76 compare
  3. 4 Switzerland 71.81 compare
  4. 5 Austria 71.44 compare
  5. 6 Netherlands 69.09 compare

See the full ranking of 120 places →

More reference data data for United States

All data for United States →

Frequently asked questions

What is median2021 vs median2017 in United States?
Median2021 vs median2017 in United States was 72.07 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest median2021 vs median2017 recorded in United States?
The highest recorded value was 74.14 in 2020.
What is the lowest median2021 vs median2017 recorded in United States?
The lowest recorded value was 33.29 in 1963.
How does United States rank for median2021 vs median2017?
United States ranks 3rd out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
Is median2021 vs median2017 rising or falling in United States?
Over the last ten years it is up 27.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United States data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Median2021 vs median2017. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Median2021 vs median2017 in United States. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 14 November 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/median2021-vs-median2017/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Median2021 vs median2017
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
120 places, 2,152 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed