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

Health

live 1.4 years longer

In Turkmenistan, the average life expectancy is 70 years (67 years for men, 73 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 75.3% less likely to die by suicide

Turkmenistan has a suicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Jamaica, it is 1.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 58.4% more likely to be obese

In Turkmenistan, 22.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Jamaica, that number is 35.2% of people as of 2024.

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see 31.3% less spent on your healthcare

Turkmenistan spends $1,264 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Jamaica spends $869 as of 2023.

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have 76.2% fewer doctors per person

Turkmenistan has 19.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Jamaica has 4.6 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 23.0% less likely to be unemployed

In Turkmenistan, 4.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Jamaica, that number is 3.3% as of 2025.

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make 22.4% more money

Turkmenistan has a GDP per capita of $6,540 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 infancy

In Turkmenistan, approximately 30.4 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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be 26.0 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Turkmenistan, approximately 5.0 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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have 45.2% fewer children

In Turkmenistan, there are approximately 20.9 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 3.6 times more likely to have internet access

In Turkmenistan, approximately 25.3% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Jamaica, about 90.1% do as of 2024.

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be 12.4% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Turkmenistan, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2024. 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 28.4% more on education

Turkmenistan spends 4.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Jamaica spends 5.5% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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spend 38.2% more on healthcare

Turkmenistan spends 5.5% 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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Safety

be 2.2 times more likely to die in a road accident

In Turkmenistan, road accidents kill 8.0 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 3.1 times more home broadband

Turkmenistan has 5.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Jamaica has 16.0 as of 2024.

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live with 90.8% less strain on fresh water

Turkmenistan withdraws 135% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Jamaica withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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use 56.6% less electricity

Turkmenistan uses 2,778 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Jamaica uses 1,205 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 74.7% less likely to die from air pollution

In Turkmenistan, air pollution causes 87.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Jamaica, it causes 22.0 as of 2019.

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emit 73.8% less CO2

Turkmenistan emits 10.9 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 (2022). 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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