Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 3.4 years longer

In Mexico, the average life expectancy is 72 years (69 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2022. In Jamaica, that number is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

be 14.5% less likely to be obese

In Mexico, 28.9% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Jamaica, that number is 24.7% of people as of 2016.

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

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

Economy

be 52.9% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Mexico, 36.3% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Jamaica, however, that number is 17.1% as of 2016.

pay a 28.6% lower top tax rate

Mexico has a top tax rate of 35.0% as of 2016. In Jamaica, the top tax rate is 25.0% as of 2016.

make 54.0% less money

Mexico has a GDP per capita of $22,400 as of 2023, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $10,300 as of 2023.

be 57.3% more likely to be unemployed

In Mexico, 2.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Jamaica, that number is 4.4% as of 2023.

Life

be 67.8% more likely to die during childbirth

In Mexico, approximately 59.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Jamaica, 99.0 women do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 39.5% more on education

Mexico spends 4.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2018. Jamaica spends 6.0% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

Geography

see 89.0% less coastline

Mexico has a total of 9,330 km of coastline. In Jamaica, that number is 1,022 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Servicio de Administración Tributaria, SHCP, Tax Admministration of Jamaica.

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 Mexico? See an in-depth size comparison.

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