Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 64.8% less likely to be obese

In Puerto Rico, 42.4% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Somalia, that number is 14.9% of people as of 2024.

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live 22.9 years less

In Puerto Rico, the average life expectancy is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2024. In Somalia, that number is 59 years (56 years for men, 62 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 46.9% more likely to die by suicide

Puerto Rico has a suicide rate of 5.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Somalia, it is 8.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 3.2 times more likely to be unemployed

In Puerto Rico, 6.0% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Somalia, that number is 18.9% as of 2025.

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make 98.4% less money

Puerto Rico has a GDP per capita of $40,620 as of 2025, while in Somalia, the GDP per capita is $661 as of 2025.

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Life

have 7.4 times more children

In Puerto Rico, there are approximately 5.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Somalia, there are 42.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 51.2 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 Somalia, 563.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 41.4% less likely to be literate

In Puerto Rico, the literacy rate is 92.4% as of 2021. In Somalia, it is 54.1% as of 2022.

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be 10.8 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 Somalia, on the other hand, 65.4 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 49.7% less likely to have access to electricity

In Puerto Rico, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Somalia, that number is 50% of people on average (79% in urban areas, and 24% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 68.0% less likely to have internet access

In Puerto Rico, approximately 87.3% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Somalia, about 27.9% do as of 2024.

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be 24.7% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Puerto Rico, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Somalia, 75% of people do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 6.0 times more coastline

Puerto Rico has a total of 501 km of coastline. In Somalia, that number is 3,025 km.

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Safety

be 61.6% more likely to die in a road accident

In Puerto Rico, road accidents kill 12.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Somalia, they kill 20.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 97.4% less home broadband

Puerto Rico has 28.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Somalia has 0.7 as of 2023.

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live with 25.5% more strain on fresh water

Puerto Rico withdraws 20% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Somalia withdraws 25% as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 99.0% less CO2

Puerto Rico emits 4.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Somalia emits 0.1 tonnes as of 2024.

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

Compare further: Puerto Rico vs. Somalia

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Somalia is 73.0% cheaper than Puerto Rico overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
Puerto Rico is about 70 times smaller than Somalia.
→
Moving from Puerto Rico to Somalia · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
→

Somalia: At a glance

Somalia is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 627,337 sq km. Britain withdrew from British Somaliland in 1960 to allow its protectorate to join with Italian Somaliland and form the new nation of Somalia. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed SIAD Barre ushered in an authoritarian socialist rule characterized by the persecution, jailing, and torture of political opponents and dissidents. After the regime's collapse early in 1991, Somalia descended into turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy. In May 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool. Although not recognized by any government, this entity has maintained a stable existence and continues efforts to establish a constitutional democracy, including holding municipal, parliamentary, and presidential elections. The regions of Bari, Nugaal, and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring semi-autonomous state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998 but does not aim at independence; it has also made strides toward reconstructing a legitimate, representative government but has suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border with Somaliland as it also claims portions of eastern Sool and Sanaag. Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order still had not been restored. In 2000, the Somalia National Peace Conference (SNPC) held in Djibouti resulted in the formation of an interim government, known as the Transitional National Government (TNG). When the TNG failed to establish adequate security or governing institutions, the Government of Kenya, under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), led a subsequent peace process that concluded in October 2004 with the election of Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed as President of a second interim government, known as the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of the Somali Republic. The TFG included a 275-member parliamentary body, known as the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP). President YUSUF resigned late in 2008 while United Nations-sponsored talks between the TFG and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) were underway in Djibouti. In January 2009, following the creation of a TFG-ARS unity government, Ethiopian military forces, which had entered Somalia in December 2006 to support the TFG in the face of advances by the opposition Islamic Courts Union (ICU), withdrew from the country. The TFP was doubled in size to 550 seats with the addition of 200 ARS and 75 civil society members of parliament. The expanded parliament elected Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed, the former ICU and ARS chairman as president in January 2009. The creation of the TFG was based on the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC), which outlined a five-year mandate leading to the establishment of a new Somali constitution and a transition to a representative government following national elections. In 2009, the TFP amended the TFC to extend TFG's mandate until 2011 and in 2011 Somali principals agreed to institute political transition by August 2012. The transition process ended in September 2012 when clan elders replaced the TFP by appointing 275 members to a new parliament who subsequently elected a new president.
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