Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 1.0 years less

In Maryland, the average life expectancy is 77 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020. In Jamaica, that number is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

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Economy

make 85.1% less money

Maryland has a GDP per capita of $69,127 as of 2024, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $10,300 as of 2023.

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be 19.5% more likely to be unemployed

In Maryland, 3.7% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Jamaica, that number is 4.4% as of 2023.

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Basic Needs

be 10.5% less likely to have internet access

In Maryland, approximately 91.6% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Jamaica, about 82.0% do as of 2021.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Compare further: Maryland vs. Jamaica
Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Jamaica is 34.0% cheaper than Maryland
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Size Comparison · See true size
Maryland is about 2.3 times bigger than Jamaica.
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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 Maryland? See an in-depth size comparison.

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