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

Health

be 31.8% less likely to be obese

In Puerto Rico, 42.4% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Ecuador, that number is 28.9% of people as of 2024.

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live 4.3 years less

In Puerto Rico, the average life expectancy is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2024. In Ecuador, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 39.5% more likely to die by suicide

Puerto Rico has a suicide rate of 5.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Ecuador, it is 7.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 44.7% less likely to be unemployed

In Puerto Rico, 6.0% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Ecuador, that number is 3.3% as of 2025.

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make 82.5% less money

Puerto Rico has a GDP per capita of $40,620 as of 2025, while in Ecuador, the GDP per capita is $7,125 as of 2025.

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Life

have 2.6 times more children

In Puerto Rico, there are approximately 5.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Ecuador, there are 14.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 5.0 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Puerto Rico, approximately 11.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Ecuador, 55.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 80.5% more likely to die during infancy

In Puerto Rico, approximately 6.0 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Ecuador, on the other hand, 10.9 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 11.6% less likely to have internet access

In Puerto Rico, approximately 87.3% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Ecuador, about 77.2% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 13.6% less on education

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

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Geography

see 4.5 times more coastline

Puerto Rico has a total of 501 km of coastline. In Ecuador, that number is 2,237 km.

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Safety

be 3.1 times more likely to be murdered

Puerto Rico has a homicide rate of 14.6 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Ecuador, that number is 45.7 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 87.2% more likely to die in a road accident

In Puerto Rico, road accidents kill 12.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Ecuador, they kill 23.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 65.3% less strain on fresh water

Puerto Rico withdraws 20% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Ecuador withdraws 7% as of 2022.

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find 38.4% less home broadband

Puerto Rico has 28.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Ecuador has 17.2 as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 45.2% less CO2

Puerto Rico emits 4.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Ecuador emits 2.6 tonnes as of 2024.

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

Ecuador: At a glance

Ecuador is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 276,841 sq km. What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador marked 30 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period was marred by political instability. Protests in Quito contributed to the mid-term ouster of three of Ecuador's last four democratically elected presidents. In late 2008, voters approved a new constitution, Ecuador's 20th since gaining independence. General elections were held in February 2013, and voters re-elected President Rafael CORREA.
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How big is Ecuador compared to Puerto Rico? See an in-depth size comparison.

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