Netherlands or United States: which is better?
Country: head-to-head comparison
Netherlands wins on more indicators: 9 of 12 against 2.
- Safety and trust: Netherlands 2:0
- Costs and work: United States 0:1
- Climate and health: Netherlands 6:1
- Law and institutions: Netherlands 1:0
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Netherlands
Indicator
United States
Safety and trust
Better: Netherlands (2 : 0)Organized violence
tie
0.00 deaths per 100,000 residents, 2022–2024
2022–2024
0.00 deaths per 100,000 residents, 2022–2024
2022–2024
Homicides
lower is better
✓0.7 per 100,000 residents
202388% lower
✗5.8 per 100,000 residents
2023735% higher
Trust between people
higher is better
✓57%
202254% higher
✗37%
202235% lower
Costs and work
Better: United States (0 : 1)GDP per capita
higher is better
✗$87,320
20253% lower
✓$90,027
20253% higher
Climate and health
Better: Netherlands (6 : 1)Life expectancy
higher is better
✓82.0 years
20244% higher
✗78.9 years
20244% lower
Life expectancy: men
higher is better
✓80.6 years
20245% higher
✗76.5 years
20245% lower
Life expectancy: women
higher is better
✓83.4 years
20242% higher
✗81.4 years
20242% lower
Median age at death
higher is better
✓85.1 years
20232% higher
✗83.4 years
20232% lower
Infant survival
higher is better
✓99.66%
2024almost equal
99.45%
2024almost equal
Survival of children under 5
higher is better
✓99.61%
2024almost equal
99.35%
2024almost equal
Air (PM2.5)
lower is better
✗8.6 µg/m³ per year
202323% higher
✓7.0 µg/m³ per year
202319% lower
Law and institutions
Better: Netherlands (1 : 0)Rule of law
higher is better
✓1.67 WGI index, from −2.5 to 2.5
2025111% higher
✗0.79 WGI index, from −2.5 to 2.5
202553% lower
Control of corruption
observation is outdated
periods differ
0.86 WGI index, from −2.5 to 2.5
2017
0.87 WGI index, from −2.5 to 2.5
2025
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Netherlands, United States.