If you lived in Puerto Rico instead of Timor-Leste, you would:

Health

live 14.0 years longer

In Timor-Leste, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 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.

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be 11.7 times more likely to be obese

In Timor-Leste, 3.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, that number is 42.4% of people as of 2024.

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be 52.2% more likely to die by suicide

Timor-Leste has a suicide rate of 3.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Puerto Rico, it is 5.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 30.3 times more money

Timor-Leste has a GDP per capita of $1,341 as of 2025, while in Puerto Rico, the GDP per capita is $40,620 as of 2025.

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be 3.8 times more likely to be unemployed

In Timor-Leste, 1.6% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Puerto Rico, that number is 6.0% as of 2025.

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Life

be 94.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In Timor-Leste, approximately 192.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Puerto Rico, 11.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 33.1% more likely to be literate

In Timor-Leste, the literacy rate is 69.4% as of 2022. In Puerto Rico, it is 92.4% as of 2021.

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be 82.5% less likely to die during infancy

In Timor-Leste, approximately 34.6 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.

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have 73.8% fewer children

In Timor-Leste, there are approximately 21.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, there are 5.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 2.1 times more likely to have internet access

In Timor-Leste, approximately 40.8% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Puerto Rico, about 87.3% do as of 2022.

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be 14.5% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Timor-Leste, approximately 87% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, 100% of people do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 18.5% less on education

Timor-Leste spends 5.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Puerto Rico spends 4.3% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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Geography

see 29.0% less coastline

Timor-Leste has a total of 706 km of coastline. In Puerto Rico, that number is 501 km.

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Infrastructure

find 2799.0 times more home broadband

Timor-Leste has 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Puerto Rico has 28.0 as of 2024.

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live with 30.9% less strain on fresh water

Timor-Leste withdraws 28% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Puerto Rico withdraws 20% as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 9.6 times more CO2

Timor-Leste emits 0.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Puerto Rico emits 4.8 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 (2022). How we calculate this

Puerto Rico: At a glance

Puerto Rico is a territory in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 8,959 sq km. Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Christopher COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood.
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How big is Puerto Rico compared to Timor-Leste? See an in-depth size comparison.

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