Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 4.9 years less

In Aruba, the average life expectancy is 76 years (74 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2024. In Jamaica, that number is 72 years (69 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2024.

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Economy

make 79.3% less money

Aruba has a GDP per capita of $38,591 as of 2024, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $8,003 as of 2025.

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Life

have 50.9% more children

In Aruba, there are approximately 7.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Jamaica, there are 11.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 35.6% more likely to die during infancy

In Aruba, approximately 12.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Jamaica, on the other hand, 16.4 children do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 52.2% more on education

Aruba spends 3.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Jamaica spends 5.5% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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Geography

see 14.9 times more coastline

Aruba has a total of 68 km of coastline. In Jamaica, that number is 1,022 km.

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Environment

emit 44.9% less CO2

Aruba emits 5.2 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Jamaica emits 2.8 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), The World Factbook (2022). How we calculate this

Compare further: Aruba vs. Jamaica

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Jamaica is 27.4% cheaper than Aruba overall
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Size Comparison · See true size
Aruba is about 61 times smaller than Jamaica.
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Moving from Aruba to Jamaica · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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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 Aruba? See an in-depth size comparison.

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