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

Health

live 3.9 years longer

In Jamaica, the average life expectancy is 72 years (69 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2024. In Brunei, that number is 76 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 2.2 times more spent on your healthcare

Jamaica spends $869 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Brunei spends $1,896 as of 2023.

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have 4.1 times more doctors per person

Jamaica has 4.6 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Brunei has 18.9 as of 2021.

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be 80.5% more likely to die by suicide

Jamaica has a suicide rate of 1.7 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Brunei, it is 3.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 4.0 times more money

Jamaica has a GDP per capita of $8,003 as of 2025, while in Brunei, the GDP per capita is $32,235 as of 2025.

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be 60.5% more likely to be unemployed

In Jamaica, 3.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Brunei, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.

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Life

be 72.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In Jamaica, approximately 130.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Brunei, 36.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 47.6% less likely to die during infancy

In Jamaica, approximately 16.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Brunei, on the other hand, 8.6 children do as of 2024.

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have 16.4% more children

In Jamaica, there are approximately 11.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Brunei, there are 13.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 14.2% more likely to have access to drinking water

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

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Expenditures

spend 70.7% less on healthcare

Jamaica spends 7.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Brunei, that number is 2.2% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 84.2% less coastline

Jamaica has a total of 1,022 km of coastline. In Brunei, that number is 161 km.

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Safety

be 79.8% less likely to die in a road accident

In Jamaica, road accidents kill 17.8 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Brunei, they kill 3.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 32.5% more home broadband

Jamaica has 16.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Brunei has 21.2 as of 2024.

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live with 72.0% less strain on fresh water

Jamaica withdraws 12% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Brunei withdraws 3% as of 2022.

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use 8.9 times more electricity

Jamaica uses 1,205 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Brunei uses 10,674 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 7.1 times more CO2

Jamaica emits 2.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Brunei emits 20.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators (2021). How we calculate this

Brunei: At a glance

Brunei is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 5,265 sq km. The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in Asia.
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How big is Brunei compared to Jamaica? See an in-depth size comparison.

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