Are citizens of the world satisfied with their health?

This paper represents initial analyses of data on self-perceived health conditions and satisfaction with personal health from a representative survey of citizens in 130 countries. The analysis examines the effects of income and age on health perceptions along with the combined effect of cultural norms and income. Three important conclusions can be drawn. First, individual perceptions regarding personal health status are remarkably consistent around the world. Second, the incidence of satisfaction with personal health in the United States is comparable to that in most countries. Third, perceptions of personal health correlate strongly with respondents' income level, both globally and regionally.