Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Northern Mariana Islands instead of Papua New Guinea, you would:

Health

live 7.1 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 Northern Mariana Islands, that number is 77 years (74 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 5.8 times more money

Papua New Guinea has a GDP per capita of $4,200 as of 2023, while in Northern Mariana Islands, the GDP per capita is $24,500 as of 2016.

be 4.2 times more likely to be unemployed

In Papua New Guinea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Northern Mariana Islands, that number is 11.2% as of 2010.

Life

be 62.8% 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 Northern Mariana Islands, on the other hand, 12.5 children do as of 2022.

have 44.1% fewer children

In Papua New Guinea, there are approximately 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Northern Mariana Islands, there are 15.7 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 the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Northern Mariana Islands, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 2.1 times more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 48% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In Northern Mariana Islands, 100% of people do as of 2020.

be 21.6% less likely to have internet access

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 32.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Northern Mariana Islands, about 25.1% do as of 2021.

Geography

see 71.2% less coastline

Papua New Guinea has a total of 5,152 km of coastline. In Northern Mariana Islands, that number is 1,482 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Northern Mariana Islands: At a glance

Northern Mariana Islands (sometimes abbreviated CNMI) is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 464 sq km. Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US was approved in 1975, and came into force on 24 March 1976. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.
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How big is Northern Mariana Islands compared to Papua New Guinea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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