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

Health

live 17.0 years longer

In Nigeria, the average life expectancy is 55 years (54 years for men, 55 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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see 3.3 times more spent on your healthcare

Nigeria spends $260 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Jamaica spends $869 as of 2023.

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have 21.1% more doctors per person

Nigeria has 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Jamaica has 4.6 as of 2023.

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have 94.7% more access to essential health services

Nigeria scores 38 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Jamaica scores 74 as of 2021.

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be 66.1% less likely to die by suicide

Nigeria 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 2.6 times more likely to be obese

In Nigeria, 13.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Jamaica, that number is 35.2% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 86.1% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Nigeria, 56.2% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Jamaica, however, that number is 7.8% as of 2024.

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make 6.5 times more money

Nigeria has a GDP per capita of $1,224 as of 2025, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $8,003 as of 2025.

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Life

be 86.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In Nigeria, approximately 993.0 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 76.5% less likely to die during infancy

In Nigeria, approximately 69.8 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 64.8% fewer children

In Nigeria, there are approximately 32.5 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 59.6% more likely to have access to electricity

In Nigeria, approximately 61% of people have electricity access (85% in urban areas, and 33% 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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be 2.2 times more likely to have internet access

In Nigeria, approximately 41.2% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Jamaica, about 90.1% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 17.2 times more on education

Nigeria spends 0.3% 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 81.4% more on healthcare

Nigeria spends 4.2% 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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Geography

see 19.8% more coastline

Nigeria has a total of 853 km of coastline. In Jamaica, that number is 1,022 km.

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Safety

be 3.1 times more likely to be murdered

Nigeria has a homicide rate of 15.8 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 11.8% less likely to feel safe walking alone at night

In Nigeria, 79% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2019. In Jamaica, that number is 70% as of 2019.

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Infrastructure

find 199.8 times more home broadband

Nigeria has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Jamaica has 16.0 as of 2024.

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use 8.4 times more electricity

Nigeria uses 144 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Jamaica uses 1,205 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 28.0% more strain on fresh water

Nigeria withdraws 10% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Jamaica withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 71.4% less likely to die from air pollution

In Nigeria, air pollution causes 77.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Jamaica, it causes 22.0 as of 2019.

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emit 5.0 times more CO2

Nigeria emits 0.6 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. 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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