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

Health

have 19.4% more access to essential health services

Libya scores 62 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Jamaica scores 74 as of 2021.

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be 66.2% less likely to die by suicide

Libya 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 11.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Libya, 0.1% 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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see 17.7% less spent on your healthcare

Libya spends $1,055 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Jamaica spends $869 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 82.5% less likely to be unemployed

In Libya, 18.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Jamaica, that number is 3.3% as of 2025.

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make 24.1% more money

Libya has a GDP per capita of $6,449 as of 2025, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $8,003 as of 2025.

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Life

be 2.2 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Libya, 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 2.1 times more likely to die during infancy

In Libya, approximately 7.9 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 30.6% fewer children

In Libya, there are approximately 16.5 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 33.5% more likely to have access to electricity

In Libya, approximately 73% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 96% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Jamaica, that number is 98% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 96% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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Geography

see 42.3% less coastline

Libya has a total of 1,770 km of coastline. In Jamaica, that number is 1,022 km.

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Safety

be 47.6% less likely to die in a road accident

In Libya, road accidents kill 34.0 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Jamaica, they kill 17.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 3.5 times more home broadband

Libya has 4.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Jamaica has 16.0 as of 2024.

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live with 98.5% less strain on fresh water

Libya withdraws 817% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Jamaica withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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use 68.3% less electricity

Libya uses 3,796 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Jamaica uses 1,205 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 59.3% less likely to die from air pollution

In Libya, air pollution causes 54.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Jamaica, it causes 22.0 as of 2019.

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emit 67.2% less CO2

Libya emits 8.7 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), The World Factbook. 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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