If you lived in Jamaica instead of Turks and Caicos Islands, you would:

Health

live 6.6 years less

In Turks and Caicos Islands, the average life expectancy is 78 years (76 years for men, 80 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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Economy

make 78.7% less money

Turks and Caicos Islands has a GDP per capita of $37,507 as of 2024, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $8,003 as of 2025.

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Life

be 5.5 times more likely to die during infancy

In Turks and Caicos Islands, approximately 3.0 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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Basic Needs

be 11.4% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Turks and Caicos Islands, approximately 99% of people have access to drinking water (99% in urban areas, and 92% 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 86.8% more on education

Turks and Caicos Islands spends 3.0% 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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Geography

see 2.6 times more coastline

Turks and Caicos Islands has a total of 389 km of coastline. In Jamaica, that number is 1,022 km.

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Safety

be 35.2% less likely to be murdered

Turks and Caicos Islands has a homicide rate of 76.3 per 100,000 people as of 2022. In Jamaica, that number is 49.4 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 42.3% less CO2

Turks and Caicos Islands emits 4.9 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 (2022–2025), 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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