Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Jamaica instead of North Korea, you would:

Health

live 4.0 years longer

In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 72 years (68 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 3.6 times more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 6.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Jamaica, that number is 24.7% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 6.1 times more money

North Korea has a GDP per capita of $1,700 as of 2015, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $10,300 as of 2023.

be 47.3% more likely to be unemployed

In North Korea, 3.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Jamaica, that number is 4.4% as of 2023.

Life

be 49.7% less likely to die during infancy

In North Korea, approximately 22.2 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.

have 18.2% more children

In North Korea, there are approximately 13.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Jamaica, there are 15.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 11.3% less likely to be literate

In North Korea, the literacy rate is 100.0% as of 2015. In Jamaica, it is 88.7% as of 2015.

Basic Needs

be 82.8% more likely to have access to electricity

In North Korea, approximately 55% of people have electricity access (36% in urban areas, and 11% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Jamaica, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2022.

Geography

see 59.0% less coastline

North Korea has a total of 2,495 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 North Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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