Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Puerto Rico instead of China, you would:

Health

live 5.6 years longer

In China, the average life expectancy is 76 years (74 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020. In Puerto Rico, that number is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 88.5% more money

China has a GDP per capita of $18,200 as of 2022, while in Puerto Rico, the GDP per capita is $34,300 as of 2022.

pay a 26.7% lower top tax rate

China has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2016. In Puerto Rico, the top tax rate is 33.0% as of 2016.

be 20.5% more likely to be unemployed

In China, 5.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Puerto Rico, that number is 6.0% as of 2022.

Life

be 10.7% less likely to die during infancy

In China, approximately 6.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Puerto Rico, on the other hand, 6.0 children do as of 2022.

be 47.8% more likely to die during childbirth

In China, approximately 23.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Puerto Rico, 34.0 women do as of 2020.

have 23.5% fewer children

In China, there are approximately 10.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, there are 7.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Geography

see 96.5% less coastline

China has a total of 14,500 km of coastline. In Puerto Rico, that number is 501 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Puerto Rican Department of Treasury, State Administration of Taxation.

Puerto Rico: At a glance

Puerto Rico is a territory in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 8,959 sq km. Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Christopher COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood.
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How big is Puerto Rico compared to China? See an in-depth size comparison.

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