US 29th in life expectancy according to the 2005 Human Development Report

Every year since 1990, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has commissioned the Human Development Report by an independent team of experts to explore major issues of global concern. A worldwide advisory network of leaders in academia, government and civil society contribute data, ideas, and best practices to support the analysis and proposals published in the Report. Developing countries and their international partners use the Report to gauge results and shape new policies. The "Human Development Report" for 2005 was released Sept 7. The entire report can be downloaded at http://hdr.undp.org/reports/