Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 44.0% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Rwanda, 2.5% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Jamaica, that number is 1.4% of people as of 2020.

live 9.9 years longer

In Rwanda, the average life expectancy is 66 years (64 years for men, 68 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 4.3 times more likely to be obese

In Rwanda, 5.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Jamaica, that number is 24.7% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 3.4 times more money

Rwanda has a GDP per capita of $3,000 as of 2023, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $10,300 as of 2023.

be 70.4% less likely to be unemployed

In Rwanda, 14.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Jamaica, that number is 4.4% as of 2023.

be 55.2% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Rwanda, 38.2% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Jamaica, however, that number is 17.1% as of 2016.

pay a 16.7% lower top tax rate

Rwanda has a top tax rate of 30.0% as of 2016. In Jamaica, the top tax rate is 25.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 61.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In Rwanda, approximately 259.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Jamaica, 99.0 women do as of 2020.

be 16.9% more likely to be literate

In Rwanda, the literacy rate is 75.9% as of 2021. In Jamaica, it is 88.7% as of 2015.

be 57.7% less likely to die during infancy

In Rwanda, approximately 26.4 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 41.0% fewer children

In Rwanda, there are approximately 26.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Jamaica, there are 15.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 97.6% more likely to have access to electricity

In Rwanda, approximately 51% of people have electricity access (98% in urban areas, and 38% 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 2.7 times more likely to have internet access

In Rwanda, approximately 30.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Jamaica, about 82.0% do as of 2021.

be 16.6% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Rwanda, approximately 83% of people have improved drinking water access (92% in urban areas, and 81% 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 57.9% more on education

Rwanda spends 3.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Jamaica spends 6.0% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Rwanda Revenue Authority, 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 Rwanda? See an in-depth size comparison.

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