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

Health

be 89.2% less likely to die by suicide

Belarus has a suicide rate of 15.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Jamaica, it is 1.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 2.8 years less

In Belarus, the average life expectancy is 74 years (70 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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be 70.5% more likely to be obese

In Belarus, 20.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Jamaica, that number is 35.2% of people as of 2024.

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see 60.4% less spent on your healthcare

Belarus spends $2,194 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Jamaica spends $869 as of 2023.

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have 90.2% fewer doctors per person

Belarus has 47.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Jamaica has 4.6 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 2.2 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Belarus, 3.5% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Jamaica, however, that number is 7.8% as of 2024.

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make 22.1% less money

Belarus has a GDP per capita of $10,279 as of 2025, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $8,003 as of 2025.

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Life

have 62.9% more children

In Belarus, there are approximately 7.0 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 130.0 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Belarus, approximately 1.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Jamaica, 130.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 9.1 times more likely to die during infancy

In Belarus, approximately 1.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Jamaica, on the other hand, 16.4 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 12.3% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Belarus, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Jamaica, that number is 88% of people on average (90% in urban areas, and 84% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Safety

be 2.4 times more likely to die in a road accident

In Belarus, road accidents kill 7.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Jamaica, they kill 17.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 55.9% less home broadband

Belarus has 36.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Jamaica has 16.0 as of 2024.

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live with 2.7 times more strain on fresh water

Belarus withdraws 5% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Jamaica withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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use 71.3% less electricity

Belarus uses 4,198 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Jamaica uses 1,205 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 67.6% less likely to die from air pollution

In Belarus, air pollution causes 68.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Jamaica, it causes 22.0 as of 2019.

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emit 52.2% less CO2

Belarus emits 5.9 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), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

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 Belarus? See an in-depth size comparison.

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