If you lived in Puerto Rico instead of Nepal, you would:

Health

live 11.3 years longer

In Nepal, the average life expectancy is 71 years (69 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, that number is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 46.5% less likely to die by suicide

Nepal has a suicide rate of 10.1 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Puerto Rico, it is 5.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 5.3 times more likely to be obese

In Nepal, 8.0% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, that number is 42.4% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 42.7% less likely to be unemployed

In Nepal, 10.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Puerto Rico, that number is 6.0% as of 2025.

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make 26.4 times more money

Nepal has a GDP per capita of $1,536 as of 2025, while in Puerto Rico, the GDP per capita is $40,620 as of 2025.

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Life

be 92.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In Nepal, approximately 142.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Puerto Rico, 11.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 29.8% more likely to be literate

In Nepal, the literacy rate is 71.2% as of 2021. In Puerto Rico, it is 92.4% as of 2021.

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be 72.8% less likely to die during infancy

In Nepal, approximately 22.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, on the other hand, 6.0 children do as of 2022.

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have 69.9% fewer children

In Nepal, there are approximately 19.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, there are 5.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 88.4% more likely to have internet access

In Nepal, approximately 46.3% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, about 87.3% do as of 2022.

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Expenditures

spend 15.7% more on education

Nepal spends 3.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Puerto Rico spends 4.3% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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Safety

be 55.7% less likely to die in a road accident

In Nepal, road accidents kill 28.2 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Puerto Rico, they kill 12.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 6.8 times more likely to be murdered

Nepal has a homicide rate of 2.1 per 100,000 people as of 2020. In Puerto Rico, that number is 14.6 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

find 2.8 times more home broadband

Nepal has 10.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Puerto Rico has 28.0 as of 2024.

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live with 2.4 times more strain on fresh water

Nepal withdraws 8% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Puerto Rico withdraws 20% as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 8.9 times more CO2

Nepal emits 0.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Puerto Rico emits 4.8 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), The World Factbook (2021–2022), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021). How we calculate this

Puerto Rico: At a glance

Puerto Rico is a territory in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 8,959 sq km. Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Christopher COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood.
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