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

Health

be 70.8% less likely to die by suicide

Macedonia has a suicide rate of 5.8 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 Macedonia, 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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live 5.0 years less

In Macedonia, the average life expectancy is 77 years (74 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 31.2% more likely to be obese

In Macedonia, 26.8% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Jamaica, that number is 35.2% of people as of 2024.

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see 51.9% less spent on your healthcare

Macedonia spends $1,808 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Jamaica spends $869 as of 2023.

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have 84.4% fewer doctors per person

Macedonia has 29.4 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Jamaica has 4.6 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 73.2% less likely to be unemployed

In Macedonia, 12.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Jamaica, that number is 3.3% as of 2025.

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be 64.4% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Macedonia, 21.9% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Jamaica, however, that number is 7.8% as of 2024.

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make 23.7% less money

Macedonia has a GDP per capita of $10,490 as of 2025, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $8,003 as of 2025.

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Life

have 30.1% more children

In Macedonia, there are approximately 8.8 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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be 43.3 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Macedonia, approximately 3.0 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 6.6 times more likely to die during infancy

In Macedonia, approximately 2.5 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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Basic Needs

be 10.8% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Macedonia, 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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Safety

be 32.3 times more likely to be murdered

Macedonia has a homicide rate of 1.5 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Jamaica, that number is 49.4 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 3.1 times more likely to die in a road accident

In Macedonia, road accidents kill 5.7 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 76.4% less strain on fresh water

Macedonia withdraws 53% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Jamaica withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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find 46.5% less home broadband

Macedonia has 29.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Jamaica has 16.0 as of 2024.

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use 63.7% less electricity

Macedonia uses 3,320 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Jamaica uses 1,205 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 64.5% less likely to die from air pollution

In Macedonia, air pollution causes 62.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Jamaica, it causes 22.0 as of 2019.

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emit 29.0% less CO2

Macedonia emits 4.0 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). 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 Macedonia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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