Adolescence is a difficult time. But in some countries it is more difficult than in others—and more dangerous. Within the rich world mortality rates for teenagers and those in their early 20s vary widely, as do the factors explaining these rates, according to data collected by George Patton of the University of Melbourne for an article in the Lancet, published on April 25th. In Greece suicides are rare, but car accidents common. In Finland it is the other way around. America stands out for having the highest mortality rate, more than twice that of Japan. America has a particularly high rate of traffic deaths, despite laws that bar drinking until the age of 21. Where America is truly exceptional, however, is in its violence. The rate of violent death in America is 18 times that in Britain.