If you lived in Jamaica instead of Russia, you would:

Health

be 92.1% less likely to die by suicide

Russia has a suicide rate of 21.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Jamaica, it is 1.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 1.8 years less

In Russia, the average life expectancy is 73 years (68 years for men, 79 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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be 99.8% more likely to be obese

In Russia, 17.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Jamaica, that number is 35.2% of people as of 2024.

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see 72.9% less spent on your healthcare

Russia spends $3,204 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Jamaica spends $869 as of 2023.

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have 91.0% fewer doctors per person

Russia has 51.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Jamaica has 4.6 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 54.5% more likely to be unemployed

In Russia, 2.1% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Jamaica, that number is 3.3% as of 2025.

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make 54.4% less money

Russia has a GDP per capita of $17,547 as of 2025, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $8,003 as of 2025.

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Life

have 36.3% more children

In Russia, there are approximately 8.4 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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be 14.4 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Russia, approximately 9.0 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 4.0 times more likely to die during infancy

In Russia, approximately 4.1 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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Expenditures

spend 32.5% more on education

Russia spends 4.2% 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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Geography

see 97.3% less coastline

Russia has a total of 37,653 km of coastline. In Jamaica, that number is 1,022 km.

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Safety

be 7.3 times more likely to be murdered

Russia has a homicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Jamaica, that number is 49.4 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 23.0% less likely to feel safe walking alone at night

In Russia, 90% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2020. In Jamaica, that number is 70% as of 2019.

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be 67.9% more likely to die in a road accident

In Russia, road accidents kill 10.6 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 41.1% less home broadband

Russia has 27.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Jamaica has 16.0 as of 2024.

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live with 3.0 times more strain on fresh water

Russia withdraws 4% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Jamaica withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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use 83.5% less electricity

Russia uses 7,285 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Jamaica uses 1,205 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 43.6% less likely to die from air pollution

In Russia, air pollution causes 39.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Jamaica, it causes 22.0 as of 2019.

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emit 79.7% less CO2

Russia emits 14.0 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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