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

Health

be 46.5% less likely to be obese

In Puerto Rico, 42.4% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Gabon, that number is 22.7% of people as of 2024.

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live 13.4 years less

In Puerto Rico, the average life expectancy is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2024. In Gabon, that number is 69 years (66 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 34.7% more likely to die by suicide

Puerto Rico has a suicide rate of 5.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Gabon, it is 7.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 3.4 times more likely to be unemployed

In Puerto Rico, 6.0% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Gabon, that number is 20.1% as of 2025.

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make 79.7% less money

Puerto Rico has a GDP per capita of $40,620 as of 2025, while in Gabon, the GDP per capita is $8,263 as of 2025.

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Life

have 4.8 times more children

In Puerto Rico, there are approximately 5.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Gabon, there are 27.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 21.2 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 Gabon, 233.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 4.3 times 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 Gabon, on the other hand, 25.9 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 21.3% less likely to have internet access

In Puerto Rico, approximately 87.3% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Gabon, about 68.7% do as of 2024.

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be 11.4% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Puerto Rico, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Gabon, 89% of people do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 45.7% less on education

Puerto Rico spends 4.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Gabon spends 2.3% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Geography

see 76.6% more coastline

Puerto Rico has a total of 501 km of coastline. In Gabon, that number is 885 km.

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Infrastructure

live with 97.4% less strain on fresh water

Puerto Rico withdraws 20% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Gabon withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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find 83.2% less home broadband

Puerto Rico has 28.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Gabon has 4.7 as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 57.5% less CO2

Puerto Rico emits 4.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Gabon emits 2.0 tonnes as of 2024.

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

Gabon: At a glance

Gabon is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 257,667 sq km. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009) following independence from France in 1960. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in December 2002 and the presidential elections in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Following President BONGO's death in 2009, new elections brought Ali BONGO Ondimba, son of the former president, to power. Despite constrained political conditions, Gabon's small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make it one of the more stable African countries.
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How big is Gabon compared to Puerto Rico? See an in-depth size comparison.

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