Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 57.9% less likely to be obese

In Puerto Rico, 42.4% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Maldives, that number is 17.9% of people as of 2024.

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be 72.9% less likely to die by suicide

Puerto Rico has a suicide rate of 5.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Maldives, it is 1.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 24.7% less likely to be unemployed

In Puerto Rico, 6.0% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Maldives, that number is 4.5% as of 2025.

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make 64.0% less money

Puerto Rico has a GDP per capita of $40,620 as of 2025, while in Maldives, the GDP per capita is $14,615 as of 2025.

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Life

be 22.2% less 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 Maldives, on the other hand, 4.7 children do as of 2024.

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have 85.8% more children

In Puerto Rico, there are approximately 5.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Maldives, there are 10.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 2.9 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 Maldives, 32.0 women do as of 2023.

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Expenditures

spend 21.1% more on education

Puerto Rico spends 4.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Maldives spends 5.2% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Geography

see 28.5% more coastline

Puerto Rico has a total of 501 km of coastline. In Maldives, that number is 644 km.

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Safety

be 89.6% less likely to die in a road accident

In Puerto Rico, road accidents kill 12.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Maldives, they kill 1.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 19.8% less strain on fresh water

Puerto Rico withdraws 20% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Maldives withdraws 16% as of 2022.

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find 29.8% less home broadband

Puerto Rico has 28.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Maldives has 19.6 as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 25.9% less CO2

Puerto Rico emits 4.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Maldives emits 3.6 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

Compare further: Puerto Rico vs. Maldives

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Maldives is 23.6% cheaper than Puerto Rico overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
Puerto Rico is about 31 times bigger than Maldives.
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Moving from Puerto Rico to Maldives · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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Maldives: At a glance

Maldives is a sovereign country in South Asia, with a total land area of approximately 298 sq km. A sultanate since the 12th century, the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887. It became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated the islands' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Following political demonstrations in the capital Male in August 2003, the president and his government pledged to embark upon a process of liberalization and democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Progress was sluggish, however, and many promised reforms were slow to be realized. Nonetheless, political parties were legalized in 2005. In June 2008, a constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" - finalized a new constitution, which was ratified by the president in August. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been jailed several years earlier by the former regime. President NASHEED faced a number of challenges including strengthening democracy and combating poverty and drug abuse. In early February 2012, after several weeks of street protests following his sacking of a top judge, NASHEED resigned the presidency and handed over power to Vice President Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku. In mid-2012, a Commission of National Inquiry was set by the government to probe events leading up to NASHEED's resignation. Though the commission found no evidence of a coup, the report recommended the need to strengthen the country's democratic institutions to avert similar events in the future, and to further investigate alleged police misconduct during the crisis. Maldivian officials have played a prominent role in international climate change discussions (due to the islands' low elevation and the threat from sea-level rise) on the UN Human Rights Council and in other international forums, as well as in encouraging regional cooperation, especially between India and Pakistan.
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How big is Maldives compared to Puerto Rico? See an in-depth size comparison.

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