Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Panama instead of Jamaica, you would:
Health
live 8.2 years longer
In Jamaica, the average life expectancy is 72 years (69 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2024. In Panama, that number is 80 years (77 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2024.
see 3.8 times more spent on your healthcare
Jamaica spends $869 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Panama spends $3,318 as of 2023.
have 3.5 times more doctors per person
Jamaica has 4.6 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Panama has 16.2 as of 2022.
be 94.7% more likely to die by suicide
Jamaica has a suicide rate of 1.7 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Panama, it is 3.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
make 2.5 times more money
Jamaica has a GDP per capita of $8,003 as of 2025, while in Panama, the GDP per capita is $19,790 as of 2025.
be 2.5 times more likely to be unemployed
In Jamaica, 3.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Panama, that number is 8.4% as of 2025.
be 2.8 times more likely to live below the poverty line
In Jamaica, 7.8% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Panama, however, that number is 21.7% as of 2023.
Life
be 71.5% 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 Panama, 37.0 women do as of 2023.
be 26.8% 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 Panama, on the other hand, 12.0 children do as of 2024.
have 38.6% more children
In Jamaica, there are approximately 11.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Panama, there are 15.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 19.2% less likely to have internet access
In Jamaica, approximately 90.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Panama, about 72.8% do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 55.2% less on education
Jamaica spends 5.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Panama spends 2.5% of total GDP on education as of 2023.
Geography
see 2.4 times more coastline
Jamaica has a total of 1,022 km of coastline. In Panama, that number is 2,490 km.
Safety
be 76.3% less likely to be murdered
Jamaica has a homicide rate of 49.4 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Panama, that number is 11.7 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 59.0% less likely to die in a road accident
In Jamaica, road accidents kill 17.8 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Panama, they kill 7.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.
be 52.6% less likely to feel safe walking alone at night
In Jamaica, 70% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2019. In Panama, that number is 33% as of 2016.
Infrastructure
find 13.5% more home broadband
Jamaica has 16.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Panama has 18.1 as of 2023.
live with 92.7% less strain on fresh water
Jamaica withdraws 12% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Panama withdraws 1% as of 2022.
use 2.3 times more electricity
Jamaica uses 1,205 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Panama uses 2,715 kWh as of 2023.
Environment
be 22.7% less likely to die from air pollution
In Jamaica, air pollution causes 22.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Panama, it causes 17.0 as of 2019.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2016–2021), The World Factbook. How we calculate this
Compare further: Jamaica vs. Panama
Panama: At a glance
How big is Panama compared to Jamaica? See an in-depth size comparison.