Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 45.2% less likely to die by suicide

Puerto Rico has a suicide rate of 5.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Iraq, it is 3.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 9.5 years less

In Puerto Rico, the average life expectancy is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2024. In Iraq, that number is 72 years (70 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2024.

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Economy

be 2.6 times more likely to be unemployed

In Puerto Rico, 6.0% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Iraq, that number is 15.5% as of 2025.

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make 86.7% less money

Puerto Rico has a GDP per capita of $40,620 as of 2025, while in Iraq, the GDP per capita is $5,410 as of 2025.

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Life

have 4.5 times more children

In Puerto Rico, there are approximately 5.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Iraq, there are 25.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 6.0 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 Iraq, 66.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 3.3 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 Iraq, on the other hand, 20.1 children do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 88.4% less coastline

Puerto Rico has a total of 501 km of coastline. In Iraq, that number is 58 km.

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Safety

be 72.0% more likely to die in a road accident

In Puerto Rico, road accidents kill 12.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Iraq, they kill 21.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 37.0% less home broadband

Puerto Rico has 28.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Iraq has 17.6 as of 2024.

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live with 3.0 times more strain on fresh water

Puerto Rico withdraws 20% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Iraq withdraws 60% as of 2022.

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

Compare further: Puerto Rico vs. Iraq

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Iraq is 62.5% cheaper than Puerto Rico overall
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Size Comparison · See true size
Puerto Rico is about 48 times smaller than Iraq.
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Moving from Puerto Rico to Iraq · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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Iraq: At a glance

Iraq is a sovereign country in Middle East, with a total land area of approximately 437,367 sq km. Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was SADDAM Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions over a period of 12 years led to the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. US forces remained in Iraq under a UNSC mandate through 2009 and under a bilateral security agreement thereafter, helping to provide security and to train and mentor Iraqi security forces. In October 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and, pursuant to this document, elected a 275-member Council of Representatives (COR) in December 2005. The COR approved most cabinet ministers in May 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half century. In January 2009 and April 2013, Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all governorates except for the three governorates comprising the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kirkuk Governorate. Iraq held a national legislative election in March 2010 - choosing 325 legislators in an expanded COR - and, after nine months of deadlock the COR approved the new government in December 2010. Nearly nine years after the start of the Second Gulf War in Iraq, US military operations there ended in mid-December 2011.
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