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

Health

be 65.9% less likely to die by suicide

Colombia has a suicide rate of 5.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Jamaica, it is 1.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 83.3% more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Colombia, 0.6% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Jamaica, that number is 1.1% of people as of 2024.

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live 6.3 years less

In Colombia, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 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 41.3% more likely to be obese

In Colombia, 24.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Jamaica, that number is 35.2% of people as of 2024.

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see 50.6% less spent on your healthcare

Colombia spends $1,758 per person on healthcare as of 2024 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Jamaica spends $869 as of 2023.

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have 81.9% fewer doctors per person

Colombia has 25.4 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Jamaica has 4.6 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 60.3% less likely to be unemployed

In Colombia, 8.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Jamaica, that number is 3.3% as of 2025.

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be 75.5% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Colombia, 31.8% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Jamaica, however, that number is 7.8% as of 2024.

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Life

be 2.2 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Colombia, approximately 59.0 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 56.2% more likely to die during infancy

In Colombia, approximately 10.5 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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have 13.6% fewer children

In Colombia, there are approximately 13.2 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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Basic Needs

be 13.6% more likely to have internet access

In Colombia, approximately 79.3% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Jamaica, about 90.1% do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 68.1% less coastline

Colombia has a total of 3,208 km of coastline. In Jamaica, that number is 1,022 km.

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Safety

be 37.0% more likely to feel safe walking alone at night

In Colombia, 51% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2022. In Jamaica, that number is 70% as of 2019.

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be 98.5% more likely to be murdered

Colombia has a homicide rate of 24.9 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Jamaica, that number is 49.4 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

live with 3.4 times more strain on fresh water

Colombia withdraws 4% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Jamaica withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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use 22.3% less electricity

Colombia uses 1,551 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Jamaica uses 1,205 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 57.8% more CO2

Colombia emits 1.8 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), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022). 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 Colombia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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