Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Mexico instead of United States, you would:
Health
be 55.5% less likely to die by suicide
United States has a suicide rate of 15.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Mexico, it is 7.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.
live 3.6 years less
In United States, the average life expectancy is 79 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024. In Mexico, that number is 75 years (72 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2024.
see 89.8% less spent on your healthcare
United States spends $13,473 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Mexico spends $1,368 as of 2023.
have 29.7% fewer doctors per person
United States has 36.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Mexico has 25.9 as of 2022.
have 12.8% less access to essential health services
United States scores 86 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Mexico scores 75 as of 2021.
Economy
be 36.4% less likely to be unemployed
In United States, 4.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Mexico, that number is 2.7% as of 2025.
make 84.6% less money
United States has a GDP per capita of $90,027 as of 2025, while in Mexico, the GDP per capita is $13,889 as of 2025.
Life
have 45.8% more children
In United States, there are approximately 10.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Mexico, there are 15.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 2.5 times more likely to die during childbirth
In United States, approximately 17.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Mexico, 42.0 women do as of 2023.
be 2.2 times more likely to die during infancy
In United States, approximately 5.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Mexico, on the other hand, 12.1 children do as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 12.2% less likely to have internet access
In United States, approximately 94.7% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Mexico, about 83.1% do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 25.1% less on education
United States spends 5.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Mexico spends 4.1% of total GDP on education as of 2022.
spend 67.0% less on healthcare
United States spends 16.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Mexico, that number is 5.5% of GDP as of 2023.
Geography
see 53.2% less coastline
United States has a total of 19,924 km of coastline. In Mexico, that number is 9,330 km.
Safety
be 15.5% less likely to die in a road accident
In United States, road accidents kill 14.2 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Mexico, they kill 12.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.
be 4.3 times more likely to be murdered
United States has a homicide rate of 5.8 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Mexico, that number is 24.9 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 38.9% less likely to feel safe walking alone at night
In United States, 63% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2021. In Mexico, that number is 39% as of 2022.
Infrastructure
find 44.1% less home broadband
United States has 38.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Mexico has 21.7 as of 2024.
live with 59.6% more strain on fresh water
United States withdraws 28% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Mexico withdraws 45% as of 2022.
use 79.3% less electricity
United States uses 12,839 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Mexico uses 2,658 kWh as of 2024.
Environment
emit 73.3% less CO2
United States emits 13.6 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Mexico emits 3.6 tonnes as of 2024.
be 2.1 times more likely to die from air pollution
In United States, air pollution causes 14.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Mexico, it causes 30.0 as of 2019.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), The World Factbook. How we calculate this
Compare further: United States vs. Mexico
Mexico: At a glance
How big is Mexico compared to United States? See an in-depth size comparison.