Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 7.2 years less

In South Korea, the average life expectancy is 83 years (80 years for men, 86 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 5.3 times more likely to be obese

In South Korea, 4.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Jamaica, that number is 24.7% of people as of 2016.

Economy

pay a 34.2% lower top tax rate

South Korea has a top tax rate of 38.0% as of 2016. In Jamaica, the top tax rate is 25.0% as of 2016.

make 79.6% less money

South Korea has a GDP per capita of $50,600 as of 2023, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $10,300 as of 2023.

be 67.4% more likely to be unemployed

In South Korea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Jamaica, that number is 4.4% as of 2023.

be 18.8% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Korea, 14.4% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Jamaica, however, that number is 17.1% as of 2016.

Life

have 2.3 times more children

In South Korea, there are approximately 6.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Jamaica, there are 15.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 12.4 times more likely to die during childbirth

In South Korea, approximately 8.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Jamaica, 99.0 women do as of 2020.

be 3.9 times more likely to die during infancy

In South Korea, approximately 2.9 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.

Basic Needs

be 16.3% less likely to have internet access

In South Korea, approximately 98.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Jamaica, about 82.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 21.4% less on healthcare

South Korea spends 8.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Jamaica, that number is 6.6% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 27.7% more on education

South Korea spends 4.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Jamaica spends 6.0% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

Geography

see 57.6% less coastline

South Korea has a total of 2,413 km of coastline. In Jamaica, that number is 1,022 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, National Tax Service, South Korea, 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 South Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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