Quality of life comparison
If you lived in United States instead of Puerto Rico, you would:
Health
live 3.0 years less
In Puerto Rico, the average life expectancy is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2024. In United States, that number is 79 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024.
be 2.9 times more likely to die by suicide
Puerto Rico has a suicide rate of 5.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In United States, it is 15.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
be 29.9% less likely to be unemployed
In Puerto Rico, 6.0% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In United States, that number is 4.2% as of 2025.
make 2.2 times more money
Puerto Rico has a GDP per capita of $40,620 as of 2025, while in United States, the GDP per capita is $90,027 as of 2025.
Life
have 86.0% more children
In Puerto Rico, there are approximately 5.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In United States, there are 10.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 54.5% 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 United States, 17.0 women do as of 2023.
Expenditures
spend 26.9% more on education
Puerto Rico spends 4.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. United States spends 5.4% of total GDP on education as of 2021.
Geography
see 39.8 times more coastline
Puerto Rico has a total of 501 km of coastline. In United States, that number is 19,924 km.
Safety
be 60.5% less likely to be murdered
Puerto Rico has a homicide rate of 14.6 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In United States, that number is 5.8 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 13.6% more likely to die in a road accident
In Puerto Rico, road accidents kill 12.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In United States, they kill 14.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
find 38.8% more home broadband
Puerto Rico has 28.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. United States has 38.9 as of 2024.
live with 44.1% more strain on fresh water
Puerto Rico withdraws 20% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. United States withdraws 28% as of 2022.
Environment
emit 2.8 times more CO2
Puerto Rico emits 4.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. United States emits 13.6 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators (2021). How we calculate this
Compare further: Puerto Rico vs. United States
United States: At a glance
How big is United States compared to Puerto Rico? See an in-depth size comparison.