Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Puerto Rico instead of Alabama, you would:

Health

live 8.5 years longer

In Alabama, the average life expectancy is 73 years (72 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020. In Puerto Rico, that number is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

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Economy

make 12.6% less money

Alabama has a GDP per capita of $49,225 as of 2024, while in Puerto Rico, the GDP per capita is $43,000 as of 2023.

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be 2.6 times more likely to be unemployed

In Alabama, 2.3% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Puerto Rico, that number is 6.0% as of 2023.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, The World Factbook.

Compare further: Alabama vs. Puerto Rico
Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Puerto Rico is 7.4% cheaper than Alabama
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Size Comparison · See true size
Alabama is about 14 times bigger than Puerto Rico.
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Puerto Rico: At a glance

Puerto Rico is a territory in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 8,959 sq km. Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Christopher COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood.
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How big is Puerto Rico compared to Alabama? See an in-depth size comparison.

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