The population of the U.S. will reach 300 million this week. Here are some astonishing facts:
Supersize nation: How America is eating the world
300m Expected population of the United States by the end of this week
75 Life expectancy for men in the US. Women are expected to live until 80
63 Life expectancy for men in the developing world. Women are expected to live until 67
395m Projected population of the US by 2050
1,682m3 US annual water consumption per capita
633m3 The world’s annual water consumption per capita
545m3 The developing world’s annual water withdrawals per capita
5lbs Amount of waste each US resident produces per day. That compares with about 3lbs per person per day in Europe, and about 0.9-1.3lbs per person a day in the developing world
$39,710 US Gross National Income per head, 2004
$8,540 World’s GNI per head
$4,450 Developing world’s GNI per head
19.8 US carbon dioxide emissions per capita, in metric tons
3.9 World’s carbon dioxide emissions per head, in tons
1.8 Developing world’s carbon dioxide emissions per head, in tons
58bn Number of burgers consumed by Americans every year
54m Number of Americans who are obese
300,000 Deaths per year related to obesity
678lbs US annual paper consumption per head
115lbs The corresponding figure for the world
44lbs The figure for the developing world
204m number of vehicles on US roads
37% Percentage of the total cars in the world on America’s roads
1 in 7 Barrels of world oil supply used by US drivers
24m Number of Americans who drive SUVs
7,921 US energy consumption per capita, 2001, expressed in kilograms of oil
1,631 World’s energy consumption per capita, in kilograms of oil
828 Corresponding figure for the developing world
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 