Which indicator is commonly used to compare health outcomes across countries in World data?

• A. GDP per capita.
• B. Birth rate.
• C. Life expectancy.
• D. Access to clean water.

Answer: (C)

Life expectancy at birth is a direct measure of how long people are expected to live given current mortality patterns, and it’s widely used in world data to compare health outcomes across countries. It captures the overall impact of health, nutrition, disease, and living conditions on a population, and because it’s a standardized figure reported for almost every country, it lets us make meaningful international comparisons and track progress over time.

GDP per capita is an economic indicator that often correlates with health but does not directly measure health outcomes. Birth rate reflects fertility and population growth rather than how healthy people are. Access to clean water is a critical determinant of health, but it indicates conditions that influence health rather than the health outcome itself.