If you lived in Puerto Rico instead of Uruguay, you would:

Health

live 3.6 years longer

In Uruguay, the average life expectancy is 78 years (74 years for men, 82 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 78.1% less likely to die by suicide

Uruguay has a suicide rate of 24.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Puerto Rico, it is 5.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 21.3% more likely to be obese

In Uruguay, 35.0% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Puerto Rico, that number is 42.4% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 20.3% less likely to be unemployed

In Uruguay, 7.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Puerto Rico, that number is 6.0% as of 2025.

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make 61.1% more money

Uruguay has a GDP per capita of $25,216 as of 2025, while in Puerto Rico, the GDP per capita is $40,620 as of 2025.

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Life

be 26.7% less likely to die during childbirth

In Uruguay, approximately 15.0 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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have 41.8% fewer children

In Uruguay, there are approximately 9.8 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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Expenditures

spend 10.3% less on education

Uruguay spends 4.8% 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 24.1% less coastline

Uruguay has a total of 660 km of coastline. In Puerto Rico, that number is 501 km.

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Safety

be 29.7% more likely to be murdered

Uruguay has a homicide rate of 11.2 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Puerto Rico, that number is 14.6 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

find 15.3% less home broadband

Uruguay has 33.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Puerto Rico has 28.0 as of 2024.

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live with 62.2% more strain on fresh water

Uruguay withdraws 12% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Puerto Rico withdraws 20% as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 87.5% more CO2

Uruguay emits 2.6 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), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. 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 Uruguay? See an in-depth size comparison.

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