Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Jamaica instead of Sri Lanka, you would:

Health

be 14.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Sri Lanka, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Jamaica, that number is 1.4% of people as of 2020.

live 1.8 years less

In Sri Lanka, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020. In Jamaica, that number is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.8 times more likely to be obese

In Sri Lanka, 5.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Jamaica, that number is 24.7% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 30.5% less likely to be unemployed

In Sri Lanka, 6.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Jamaica, that number is 4.4% as of 2023.

make 20.8% less money

Sri Lanka has a GDP per capita of $13,000 as of 2023, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $10,300 as of 2023.

be 19.6% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Sri Lanka, 14.3% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In Jamaica, however, that number is 17.1% as of 2016.

pay a 66.7% higher top tax rate

Sri Lanka has a top tax rate of 15.0% as of 2016. In Jamaica, the top tax rate is 25.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 3.4 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Sri Lanka, approximately 29.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Jamaica, 99.0 women do as of 2020.

be 36.2% more likely to die during infancy

In Sri Lanka, approximately 8.2 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.

Basic Needs

be 22.4% more likely to have internet access

In Sri Lanka, approximately 67.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Jamaica, about 82.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 3.2 times more on education

Sri Lanka spends 1.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Jamaica spends 6.0% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

spend 61.0% more on healthcare

Sri Lanka spends 4.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Jamaica, that number is 6.6% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 23.7% less coastline

Sri Lanka has a total of 1,340 km of coastline. In Jamaica, that number is 1,022 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Tax Admministration of Jamaica, Sri Lanka Inland Revenue Department.

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 Sri Lanka? See an in-depth size comparison.

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