Want to know factoids about any country in the world?
check out the CIA World Fact Book. I just learned about this from a kick ass librarian at work.

For example, you can compare life expectancies:

US -- male: 75.15 years and female: 80.97 years (2007 est.)
Afghanistan -- male: 43.6 years and female: 43.96 years (2007 est.)
Gabon -- male: 52.85 years and female: 55.17 years (2007 est.)