Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Puerto Rico instead of South Korea, you would:
Health
be 80.3% less likely to die by suicide
South Korea has a suicide rate of 27.5 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Puerto Rico, it is 5.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.
live 1.7 years less
In South Korea, the average life expectancy is 84 years (81 years for men, 87 years for women) as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, that number is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2024.
be 5.1 times more likely to be obese
In South Korea, 8.4% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, that number is 42.4% of people as of 2024.
Economy
make 12.1% more money
South Korea has a GDP per capita of $36,227 as of 2025, while in Puerto Rico, the GDP per capita is $40,620 as of 2025.
be 2.2 times more likely to be unemployed
In South Korea, 2.7% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Puerto Rico, that number is 6.0% as of 2025.
Life
have 21.3% more children
In South Korea, there are approximately 4.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, there are 5.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 2.8 times more likely to die during childbirth
In South Korea, approximately 4.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Puerto Rico, 11.0 women do as of 2023.
be 2.6 times more likely to die during infancy
In South Korea, approximately 2.3 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, on the other hand, 6.0 children do as of 2022.
Basic Needs
be 10.8% less likely to have internet access
In South Korea, approximately 97.9% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, about 87.3% do as of 2022.
Expenditures
spend 21.1% less on education
South Korea spends 5.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Puerto Rico spends 4.3% of total GDP on education as of 2024.
Geography
see 79.2% less coastline
South Korea has a total of 2,413 km of coastline. In Puerto Rico, that number is 501 km.
Safety
be 30.4 times more likely to be murdered
South Korea has a homicide rate of 0.5 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Puerto Rico, that number is 14.6 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 81.2% more likely to die in a road accident
In South Korea, road accidents kill 6.9 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Puerto Rico, they kill 12.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
live with 77.1% less strain on fresh water
South Korea withdraws 85% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Puerto Rico withdraws 20% as of 2022.
find 41.4% less home broadband
South Korea has 47.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Puerto Rico has 28.0 as of 2024.
Environment
emit 57.6% less CO2
South Korea emits 11.4 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Puerto Rico emits 4.8 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), The World Factbook (2022), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021). How we calculate this
Compare further: South Korea vs. Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: At a glance
How big is Puerto Rico compared to South Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.