Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Jamaica instead of North Korea, you would:
Health
be 81.8% less likely to die by suicide
North Korea has a suicide rate of 9.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Jamaica, it is 1.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.
live 2.1 years less
In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 74 years (72 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2024. In Jamaica, that number is 72 years (69 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2024.
be 2.9 times more likely to be obese
In North Korea, 11.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Jamaica, that number is 35.2% of people as of 2024.
Life
be 94.0% more likely to die during childbirth
In North Korea, approximately 67.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Jamaica, 130.0 women do as of 2023.
be 11.3% less likely to be literate
In North Korea, the literacy rate is 100.0% as of 2015. In Jamaica, it is 88.7% as of 2015.
be 23.3% more likely to die during infancy
In North Korea, approximately 13.3 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.
have 11.0% fewer children
In North Korea, there are approximately 12.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Jamaica, there are 11.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 69.9% more likely to have access to electricity
In North Korea, approximately 58% of people have electricity access (36% in urban areas, and 11% 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.
Geography
see 59.0% less coastline
North Korea has a total of 2,495 km of coastline. In Jamaica, that number is 1,022 km.
Infrastructure
live with 55.4% less strain on fresh water
North Korea withdraws 28% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Jamaica withdraws 12% as of 2022.
use 52.8% more electricity
North Korea uses 789 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Jamaica uses 1,205 kWh as of 2023.
Environment
be 74.4% less likely to die from air pollution
In North Korea, air pollution causes 86.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Jamaica, it causes 22.0 as of 2019.
emit 13.6% more CO2
North Korea emits 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Jamaica emits 2.8 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2024), The World Factbook (2015), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019). How we calculate this
Compare further: North Korea vs. Jamaica
Jamaica: At a glance
How big is Jamaica compared to North Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.