USA by the Numbers: 40 Key Statistical Insights

Around 25% of the American population are considered "larks," or morning people, while another 25% are considered "night owls," or people who are most productive in the late evening. People who fall in the middle 50% have greater "daytime" flexibility.

The average American worker in a company with 1,000 or more workers spends only 45 percent of their time "working," which can be defined as time spent on one's primary job responsibilities as opposed to meetings, administrative activities, and other interruptions.

An estimated 17–21 million Americans suffer from a fear of Friday the 13th, making it the most dreaded day in human history. Fear can immobilize some people to the point where they won't do things like go to work, fly, or even get out of bed.

Before high school graduation, a typical American youngster will have consumed 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, while the average adult will have eaten one PB&J sandwich three times a month.

About 80% of the current US astronauts need corrective lenses (i.e., glasses or contact lenses). If an astronaut's eyesight can be improved to 20/20 with corrective lenses, they are medically cleared to launch.

Almost $3.5 billion in federal, state, and municipal taxes were collected in 2016 from the more than 27 million Americans who went hunting.

In the United States, 67% of all fire departments are wholly or primarily staffed by volunteers.

In 1870, the percentage of the US state of Vermont covered by forest had decreased to 30% due to logging and grazing. This number is now close to 78%!

The opioid epidemic of the 1890s was fueled primarily by patent medicines and affected one in every 220 Americans. Injecting addicts with a substance called "bichloride of gold," which sounded spectacular but had no medicinal effects, was a common treatment.

More than half of all Americans didn't use their vacation time in 2016, resulting in 206 million unused vacation days worth around $66.4 billion. Employees who don't use all of their vacation time also don't do as well in their jobs.