4. Taxis, Planes, and Trains
The same study showed Americans also spend more on private transit, other than automobiles, than folks in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan.
5. Education
The U.S. spends more on education than any other developed nation, and most of the funding comes from the pockets of parents and private foundations. Total spending per student in the U.S. tops $15,000. For perspective's sake, Switzerland spends nearly $15,000 and Mexico pays about $3,000. Despite big spending, American students still lag behind comparable nations on international tests.
6. Prescription Drugs
Americans spend far more on prescription drugs — almost $1,000 per person per year — than residents of any other country. For some perspective: Americans spend 40% more than the next highest spenders, Canadians.
7. Politics
Americans spend more on political campaigns than any other country. To compare, India spent $5 billion in its last general election. That's one billion dollars less than Americans spent in the 2012 general election.
8. Tourism
When traveling abroad, Americans outspend vacationers from most other countries. In 2014, Americans abroad spent $112 billion — more than Germany, the United Kingdom, and Russia. The big out-spender, however, was China. Chinese abroad spent $165 billion that same year.
9. Christmas
Americans are more likely than residents of any European nation to go into debt to pay for Christmas presents. One in five Americans used credit to cover holiday spending in 2014.
10. Chocolate Bars
The U.S. leads global spending on chocolate bars, topping out at nearly $3 billion per year. That shakes out to an average annual chocolate expenditure of $57 per American.
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