Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 5.6 years longer

In China, the average life expectancy is 76 years (74 years for men, 81 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.

Economy

make 2.0 times more money

China has a GDP per capita of $16,400 as of 2020, while in Puerto Rico, the GDP per capita is $33,400 as of 2020.

pay a 26.7% lower top tax rate

China has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2016. In Puerto Rico, the top tax rate is 33.0% as of 2016.

be 3.0 times more likely to be unemployed

In China, 3.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2019. In Puerto Rico, that number is 10.8% as of 2017.

Life

be 27.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In China, approximately 29.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Puerto Rico, 21.0 women do as of 2017.

be 10.7% less likely to die during infancy

In China, approximately 6.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Puerto Rico, on the other hand, 6.0 children do as of 2022.

have 20.7% fewer children

In China, there are approximately 9.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Puerto Rico, there are 7.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 11.4% more likely to have internet access

In China, approximately 70.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Puerto Rico, about 78.0% do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 74.3% more on education

China spends 3.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2018. Puerto Rico spends 6.1% of total GDP on education as of 2014.

Geography

see 96.5% less coastline

China has a total of 14,500 km of coastline. In Puerto Rico, that number is 501 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Puerto Rican Department of Treasury, State Administration of Taxation.

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 China? See an in-depth size comparison.

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