Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 1.8 years less

In Guam, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 80 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

be 18.5% less likely to be unemployed

In Guam, 5.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Jamaica, that number is 4.4% as of 2023.

be 25.7% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Guam, 23.0% live below the poverty line as of 2001. In Jamaica, however, that number is 17.1% as of 2016.

make 71.1% less money

Guam has a GDP per capita of $35,600 as of 2016, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $10,300 as of 2023.

Life

have 13.8% fewer children

In Guam, there are approximately 18.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Jamaica, there are 15.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Geography

see 8.1 times more coastline

Guam has a total of 126 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 Guam? See an in-depth size comparison.

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