Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Puerto Rico instead of Nicaragua, you would:
Health
live 6.9 years longer
In Nicaragua, the average life expectancy is 75 years (73 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022. In Puerto Rico, that number is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.
Economy
make 5.9 times more money
Nicaragua has a GDP per capita of $7,300 as of 2023, while in Puerto Rico, the GDP per capita is $43,000 as of 2023.
be 24.2% more likely to be unemployed
In Nicaragua, 4.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Puerto Rico, that number is 6.0% as of 2023.
pay a 10.0% higher top tax rate
Nicaragua has a top tax rate of 30.0% as of 2016. In Puerto Rico, the top tax rate is 33.0% as of 2016.
Life
be 56.4% less likely to die during childbirth
In Nicaragua, approximately 78.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Puerto Rico, 34.0 women do as of 2020.
be 11.9% more likely to be literate
In Nicaragua, the literacy rate is 82.6% as of 2015. In Puerto Rico, it is 92.4% as of 2021.
be 68.4% less likely to die during infancy
In Nicaragua, approximately 19.1 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.
have 52.4% fewer children
In Nicaragua, there are approximately 16.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, there are 7.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 15.6% more likely to have access to electricity
In Nicaragua, approximately 86% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Puerto Rico, 100% of the population do as of 2022.
be 36.3% more likely to have internet access
In Nicaragua, approximately 57.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Puerto Rico, about 77.7% do as of 2021.
be 20.2% more likely to have access to improved drinking water
In Nicaragua, approximately 83% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In Puerto Rico, 100% of people do as of 2020.
Expenditures
spend 21.7% less on education
Nicaragua spends 4.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Puerto Rico spends 3.6% of total GDP on education as of 2021.
Geography
see 44.9% less coastline
Nicaragua has a total of 910 km of coastline. In Puerto Rico, that number is 501 km.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: General Directorate of Revenues, The World Factbook, Puerto Rican Department of Treasury.
Puerto Rico: At a glance
How big is Puerto Rico compared to Nicaragua? See an in-depth size comparison.