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

Health

be 73.4% less likely to die by suicide

Paraguay has a suicide rate of 6.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Jamaica, it is 1.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 2.2 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Paraguay, 0.5% 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 2.4 years less

In Paraguay, the average life expectancy is 74 years (71 years for men, 77 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 40.9% less spent on your healthcare

Paraguay spends $1,469 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Jamaica spends $869 as of 2023.

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have 88.2% fewer doctors per person

Paraguay has 38.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Jamaica has 4.6 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 31.5% less likely to be unemployed

In Paraguay, 4.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Jamaica, that number is 3.3% as of 2025.

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be 51.2% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Paraguay, 16.0% live below the poverty line as of 2025. In Jamaica, however, that number is 7.8% as of 2024.

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make 13.9% more money

Paraguay has a GDP per capita of $7,027 as of 2025, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $8,003 as of 2025.

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Life

be 2.2 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Paraguay, approximately 58.0 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 13.1% more likely to die during infancy

In Paraguay, approximately 14.5 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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have 42.0% fewer children

In Paraguay, there are approximately 19.7 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 10.5% more likely to have internet access

In Paraguay, approximately 81.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Jamaica, about 90.1% do as of 2024.

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be 12.1% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Paraguay, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water (100% in urban areas, and 99% 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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Expenditures

spend 56.1% more on education

Paraguay spends 3.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Jamaica spends 5.5% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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Safety

be 61.5% more likely to feel safe walking alone at night

In Paraguay, 43% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2019. In Jamaica, that number is 70% as of 2019.

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be 15.2% less likely to die in a road accident

In Paraguay, road accidents kill 21.0 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Jamaica, they kill 17.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 7.3 times more likely to be murdered

Paraguay has a homicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Jamaica, that number is 49.4 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

find 24.1% more home broadband

Paraguay has 12.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Jamaica has 16.0 as of 2024.

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live with 6.7 times more strain on fresh water

Paraguay withdraws 2% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Jamaica withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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use 49.6% less electricity

Paraguay uses 2,389 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Jamaica uses 1,205 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 12.0% less likely to die from air pollution

In Paraguay, air pollution causes 25.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Jamaica, it causes 22.0 as of 2019.

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emit 2.4 times more CO2

Paraguay emits 1.2 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). 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 Paraguay? See an in-depth size comparison.

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