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

Health

be 88.4% less likely to die by suicide

Kazakhstan has a suicide rate of 14.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Jamaica, it is 1.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 3.7 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Kazakhstan, 0.3% 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 2.9 years less

In Kazakhstan, the average life expectancy is 75 years (70 years for men, 79 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 66.8% more likely to be obese

In Kazakhstan, 21.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Jamaica, that number is 35.2% of people as of 2024.

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see 40.5% less spent on your healthcare

Kazakhstan spends $1,460 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Jamaica spends $869 as of 2023.

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have 87.7% fewer doctors per person

Kazakhstan has 37.5 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Jamaica has 4.6 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 31.0% less likely to be unemployed

In Kazakhstan, 4.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Jamaica, that number is 3.3% as of 2025.

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be 56.0% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Kazakhstan, 5.0% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Jamaica, however, that number is 7.8% as of 2024.

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make 45.5% less money

Kazakhstan has a GDP per capita of $14,692 as of 2025, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $8,003 as of 2025.

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Life

be 13.0 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Kazakhstan, approximately 10.0 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 11.1% less likely to be literate

In Kazakhstan, the literacy rate is 99.8% as of 2018. In Jamaica, it is 88.7% as of 2015.

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be 2.2 times more likely to die during infancy

In Kazakhstan, approximately 7.4 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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have 41.3% fewer children

In Kazakhstan, there are approximately 19.5 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 10.5% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Kazakhstan, approximately 98% of people have access to drinking water (98% in urban areas, and 98% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Jamaica, that number is 88% of people on average (90% in urban areas, and 84% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 13.4% more on education

Kazakhstan spends 4.9% 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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spend 2.0 times more on healthcare

Kazakhstan spends 3.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Jamaica, that number is 7.6% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 19.4 times more likely to be murdered

Kazakhstan has a homicide rate of 2.5 per 100,000 people as of 2022. In Jamaica, that number is 49.4 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 45.9% more likely to die in a road accident

In Kazakhstan, road accidents kill 12.2 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Jamaica, they kill 17.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 64.3% less strain on fresh water

Kazakhstan withdraws 35% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Jamaica withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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use 76.6% less electricity

Kazakhstan uses 5,146 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Jamaica uses 1,205 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 67.6% less likely to die from air pollution

In Kazakhstan, air pollution causes 68.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Jamaica, it causes 22.0 as of 2019.

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emit 77.4% less CO2

Kazakhstan emits 12.6 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), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2015–2018). 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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