If you lived in Jamaica instead of Republic of the Congo, you would:

Health

be 65.6% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Republic of the Congo, 3.2% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Jamaica, that number is 1.1% of people as of 2024.

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live 5.6 years longer

In Republic of the Congo, the average life expectancy is 66 years (64 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2024. In Jamaica, that number is 72 years (69 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 4.2 times more spent on your healthcare

Republic of the Congo spends $209 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Jamaica spends $869 as of 2023.

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have 2.7 times more doctors per person

Republic of the Congo has 1.7 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Jamaica has 4.6 as of 2023.

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have 80.5% more access to essential health services

Republic of the Congo scores 41 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Jamaica scores 74 as of 2021.

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be 74.8% less likely to die by suicide

Republic of the Congo has a suicide rate of 6.7 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Jamaica, it is 1.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 2.9 times more likely to be obese

In Republic of the Congo, 12.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Jamaica, that number is 35.2% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 83.5% less likely to be unemployed

In Republic of the Congo, 19.9% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Jamaica, that number is 3.3% as of 2025.

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make 3.2 times more money

Republic of the Congo has a GDP per capita of $2,515 as of 2025, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $8,003 as of 2025.

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Life

be 46.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Republic of the Congo, approximately 241.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Jamaica, 130.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 39.3% less likely to die during infancy

In Republic of the Congo, approximately 27.0 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Jamaica, on the other hand, 16.4 children do as of 2024.

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have 62.4% fewer children

In Republic of the Congo, there are approximately 30.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Jamaica, there are 11.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 90.4% more likely to have access to electricity

In Republic of the Congo, approximately 51% of people have electricity access (69% in urban areas, and 11% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Jamaica, that number is 98% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 96% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 90.7% more likely to have internet access

In Republic of the Congo, approximately 47.2% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Jamaica, about 90.1% do as of 2024.

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be 19.1% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Republic of the Congo, approximately 73% of people have access to drinking water (87% in urban areas, and 44% in rural areas) as of 2021. In Jamaica, that number is 88% of people on average (90% in urban areas, and 84% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 65.0% more on education

Republic of the Congo spends 3.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Jamaica spends 5.5% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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spend 2.3 times more on healthcare

Republic of the Congo spends 3.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Jamaica, that number is 7.6% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 6.0 times more coastline

Republic of the Congo has a total of 169 km of coastline. In Jamaica, that number is 1,022 km.

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Safety

be 2.1 times more likely to die in a road accident

In Republic of the Congo, road accidents kill 8.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Jamaica, they kill 17.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 12.6 times more home broadband

Republic of the Congo has 1.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Jamaica has 16.0 as of 2024.

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use 3.6 times more electricity

Republic of the Congo uses 338 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Jamaica uses 1,205 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 412.7 times more strain on fresh water

Republic of the Congo withdraws 0% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Jamaica withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 66.7% less likely to die from air pollution

In Republic of the Congo, air pollution causes 66.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Jamaica, it causes 22.0 as of 2019.

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emit 2.1 times more CO2

Republic of the Congo emits 1.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Jamaica emits 2.8 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Jamaica: At a glance

Jamaica is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 10,831 sq km. The island - discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1494 - was settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated and replaced by African slaves. England seized the island in 1655 and established a plantation economy based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter million slaves, many of whom became small farmers. Jamaica gradually increased its independence from Britain. In 1958 it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica gained full independence when it withdrew from the Federation in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence as rival gangs affiliated with the major political parties evolved into powerful organized crime networks involved in international drug smuggling and money laundering. Violent crime, drug trafficking, and poverty pose significant challenges to the government today. Nonetheless, many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute substantially to the economy.
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