Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Jamaica instead of Cuba, you would:

Health

be 3.5 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Cuba, 0.4% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Jamaica, that number is 1.4% of people as of 2020.

live 3.9 years less

In Cuba, the average life expectancy is 80 years (77 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2022. In Jamaica, that number is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 16.3% less money

Cuba has a GDP per capita of $12,300 as of 2016, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $10,300 as of 2023.

be 3.8 times more likely to be unemployed

In Cuba, 1.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Jamaica, that number is 4.4% as of 2023.

Life

have 57.6% more children

In Cuba, there are approximately 9.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Jamaica, there are 15.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 2.5 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Cuba, approximately 39.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Jamaica, 99.0 women do as of 2020.

be 11.0% less likely to be literate

In Cuba, the literacy rate is 99.7% as of 2021. In Jamaica, it is 88.7% as of 2015.

be 2.7 times more likely to die during infancy

In Cuba, approximately 4.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Jamaica, on the other hand, 11.2 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 15.5% more likely to have internet access

In Cuba, approximately 71.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Jamaica, about 82.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 53.1% less on education

Cuba spends 12.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2010. Jamaica spends 6.0% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

spend 47.2% less on healthcare

Cuba spends 12.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Jamaica, that number is 6.6% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 72.6% less coastline

Cuba has a total of 3,735 km of coastline. In Jamaica, that number is 1,022 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Jamaica: At a glance

Jamaica is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 10,831 sq km. The island - discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1494 - was settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated and replaced by African slaves. England seized the island in 1655 and established a plantation economy based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter million slaves, many of whom became small farmers. Jamaica gradually increased its independence from Britain. In 1958 it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica gained full independence when it withdrew from the Federation in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence as rival gangs affiliated with the major political parties evolved into powerful organized crime networks involved in international drug smuggling and money laundering. Violent crime, drug trafficking, and poverty pose significant challenges to the government today. Nonetheless, many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute substantially to the economy.
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How big is Jamaica compared to Cuba? See an in-depth size comparison.

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