Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Jamaica instead of British Virgin Islands, you would:

Health

live 5.8 years less

In British Virgin Islands, the average life expectancy is 77 years (75 years for men, 80 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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Life

have 39.3% more children

In British Virgin Islands, there are approximately 8.2 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 43.9% more likely to die during infancy

In British Virgin Islands, approximately 11.4 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 16.0% more likely to have internet access

In British Virgin Islands, approximately 77.7% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Jamaica, about 90.1% do as of 2024.

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be 12.3% less likely to have access to drinking water

In British Virgin Islands, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Jamaica, 88% of people do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 73.8% more on education

British Virgin Islands spends 3.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Jamaica spends 5.5% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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Geography

see 12.8 times more coastline

British Virgin Islands has a total of 80 km of coastline. In Jamaica, that number is 1,022 km.

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Infrastructure

find 35.8% less home broadband

British Virgin Islands has 24.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Jamaica has 16.0 as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 21.9% more CO2

British Virgin Islands emits 2.3 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 (2023–2024), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

Compare further: British Virgin Islands vs. Jamaica

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Jamaica is 34.0% cheaper than British Virgin Islands overall
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Size Comparison · See true size
British Virgin Islands is about 73 times smaller than Jamaica.
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Moving from British Virgin Islands 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 British Virgin Islands? See an in-depth size comparison.

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