Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Jamaica instead of Papua New Guinea, you would:

Health

live 6.3 years longer

In Papua New Guinea, the average life expectancy is 69 years (68 years for men, 71 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 55.6% more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Papua New Guinea, 0.9% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Jamaica, that number is 1.4% of people as of 2020.

be 16.0% more likely to be obese

In Papua New Guinea, 21.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Jamaica, that number is 24.7% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 2.5 times more money

Papua New Guinea has a GDP per capita of $4,200 as of 2023, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $10,300 as of 2023.

be 53.8% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Papua New Guinea, 37.0% live below the poverty line as of 2002. In Jamaica, however, that number is 17.1% as of 2016.

pay a 40.5% lower top tax rate

Papua New Guinea has a top tax rate of 42.0% as of 2016. In Jamaica, the top tax rate is 25.0% as of 2016.

be 66.8% more likely to be unemployed

In Papua New Guinea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Jamaica, that number is 4.4% as of 2023.

Life

be 48.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 192.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Jamaica, 99.0 women do as of 2020.

be 38.2% more likely to be literate

In Papua New Guinea, the literacy rate is 64.2% as of 2015. In Jamaica, it is 88.7% as of 2015.

be 66.7% less likely to die during infancy

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 33.6 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 44.5% fewer children

In Papua New Guinea, there are approximately 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Jamaica, there are 15.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 5.3 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 19% of people have electricity access (65% in urban areas, and 14% 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.

be 2.6 times more likely to have internet access

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 32.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Jamaica, about 82.0% do as of 2021.

be 2.0 times more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 48% of people have improved drinking water access (86% in urban areas, and 42% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Jamaica, that number is 96% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 94% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 4.3 times more on education

Papua New Guinea spends 1.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Jamaica spends 6.0% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

spend 2.6 times more on healthcare

Papua New Guinea spends 2.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Jamaica, that number is 6.6% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 80.2% less coastline

Papua New Guinea has a total of 5,152 km of coastline. In Jamaica, that number is 1,022 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Internal Revenue Commission, Papua New Guinea, 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 Papua New Guinea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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