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Haiti vs Jamaica
Side-by-side comparison of Haiti and Jamaica from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Haiti
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 222 years
Jamaica
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 64 years
In short
Jamaica scores 41.3 in the NationsTree Index (123rd in the world) and Haiti scores 15.5 (195th), a gap of 25.8 points. Their trees are 3.0 m and 3.5 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Haiti has 4.2 times the population of Jamaica. Haiti is 2.5 times larger than Jamaica by land area. Haiti and Jamaica have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Haiti 11.9 million and Jamaica 2.8 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $13,291 in Jamaica and $3,134 in Haiti (2025, international dollars). People in Jamaica live on average 6.5 years longer (71.6 vs 65.1 years).
Of 29 indicators reported by both countries, Haiti ranks higher in the world on 7 and Jamaica on 22. Haiti is clearly stronger in main industries and land & people. Jamaica is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, infrastructure & digital and trade.
As a nation, Haiti is the older of the two (statehood since 1804, 222 years), compared with Jamaica (since 1962). Over the last five years Jamaica improved faster (direction score 28 vs 13 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Haiti and Jamaica.
Haiti
60%
184th of 193
Jamaicabetter
99%
1st of 193
UnemploymentEconomy
Haiti
14.9%
171st of 187
Jamaicabetter
3.3%
50th of 187
General government gross debtEconomy
Haitibetter
12.3%
12th of 189
Jamaica
66.0%
129th of 189
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Haitibetter
76.7%
22nd of 212
Jamaica
10.5%
144th of 212
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
Haiti
10.6
204th of 205
Jamaicabetter
56.2
91st of 205
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Jamaica overtook Haiti in GDP (PPP) in 2025, the latest year with data.
Jamaica has been ahead of Haiti in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Jamaica has been ahead of Haiti in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Haiti has been ahead of Jamaica in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
HaitiJamaica All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Haiti | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 27,750144th/216 · 2024 | 10,991163rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 27,560142nd/216 · 2024 | 10,830160th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 11.9 m82nd/217 · 2025 | 2.8 m140th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.13%94th/217 · 2025 | -0.07%177th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 427.228th/216 · 2024 | 262.250th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 55.6%143rd/217 · 2025 | 59.4%129th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 30.8%68th/217 · 2025 | 18.3%137th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 4.8%154th/217 · 2025 | 8.6%111th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $32.08 bn112th/210 · 2025 | $22.70 bn126th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $37.31 bn143rd/199 · 2025 | $37.71 bn142nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $31.88 bn143rd/199 · 2025 | $32.22 bn142nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $2,694167th/210 · 2025 | $8,003113th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $3,134185th/199 · 2025 | $13,291128th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $2,010166th/201 · 2025 | $7,790104th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | -2.7%206th/210 · 2025 | 0.1%194th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 28.6%173rd/180 · 2025 | 4.0%123rd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 14.9%171st/187 · 2025 | 3.3%50th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 97.9%47th/55 · 2020 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 12.3%12th/189 · 2025 | 66.0%129th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -0.3%42nd/192 · 2025 | -2.5%92nd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 15.8%52nd/197 · 2025 | 8.7%79th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 27.5%66th/200 · 2025 | 16.3%154th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 20.2%18th/192 · 2025 | 7.7%127th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 54.2%127th/200 · 2025 | 59.8%85th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $500.4 m167th/182 · 2025 | — |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $4.60 bn141st/182 · 2025 | — |
| Exports % of GDP | 1.6%182nd/183 · 2025 | — |
| Imports % of GDP | 14.3%178th/183 · 2025 | — |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 15.9%182nd/183 · 2025 | — |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 2.2%2017 | 23.9%34th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 64.3%2017 | 3.9%156th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 23.3%2017 | 29.5%50th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 9.5%2017 | 42.4%10th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | — | 2.6%126th/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 1.4%65th/191 · 2025 | 1.5%63rd/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.0%174th/196 · 2025 | 1.2%133rd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.3%143rd/209 · 2021 | 0.5%133rd/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.29%63rd/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.33%78th/209 · 2021 | 0.16%100th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 36.5%18th/206 · 2024 | 11.5%89th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,131124th/183 · 2022 | 3,81272nd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 938,000100th/194 · 2019 | 1.3 m85th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $620.0 m89th/175 · 2018 | $2.06 bn2011 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 34.8%23rd/168 · 2018 | 48.1%2011 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 65.1190th/217 · 2024 | 71.6142nd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 52.8170th/196 · 2024 | 17.8116th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.29134th/174 · 2022 | 0.46127th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 4.925th/145 · 2023 | 1.797th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 60%184th/193 · 2024 | 99%1st/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 31.0%2017 | 77.4%76th/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | — | 84.5%122nd/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 19.5%2012 | 52.8%2017 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 7.4%153rd/217 · 2025 | 11.7%119th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.2%174th/193 · 2023 | 7.6%71st/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 68.0%2017 | 79.9%1999 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | — | 26.2%2015 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.554166th/193 · 2023 | 0.720117th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 41.12012 | 39.986th/108 · 2021 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 40.4%2012 | 1.4%55th/108 · 2021 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 53.9%195th/215 · 2024 | 97.7%143rd/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 73.6%61st/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 47.9%149th/186 · 2024 | 90.1%55th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 65185th/210 · 2022 | 11898th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.3184th/208 · 2022 | 16.098th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 1.80161st/164 · 2022 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 74,542139th/161 · 2023 | 180,9512018 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.3030th/203 · 2024 | 2.84108th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 76.7%22nd/212 · 2021 | 10.5%144th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 15.890th/200 · 2023 | 21.7125th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 13.5%150th/214 · 2024 | 56.5%42nd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 325140th/149 · 2024 | 837101st/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 10.6204th/205 · 2025 | 56.291st/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 17.0199th/207 · 2025 | 46.295th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 32.0195th/207 · 2025 | 58.199th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 41.4184th/207 · 2025 | 75.177th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 29.5194th/205 · 2025 | 55.892nd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 35.1166th/205 · 2025 | 68.664th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 41.2139th/145 · 2023 | 49.4142nd/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $39.1 m146th/156 · 2025 | $286.6 m116th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.1%153rd/156 · 2025 | 1.4%95th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 2.4%135th/154 · 2025 | 4.1%107th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 1,000161st/170 · 2020 | 6,000145th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.02%165th/168 · 2020 | 0.41%126th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.0 m150th/163 · 2025 | 10.0 m109th/163 · 2024 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | — | 0.06%2002 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 22014 | 3118th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 38160th/197 · 2023 | 161131st/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Haiti or Jamaica?
Haiti has the larger population: 11.9 m (2025) compared with 2.8 m for Jamaica (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Haiti or Jamaica?
Haiti is larger: 27,750 km² (2024) compared with 10,991 km² for Jamaica (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Haiti or Jamaica?
Jamaica has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $37.71 bn intl. (2025) compared with $37.31 bn intl. for Haiti (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Haiti or Jamaica?
Jamaica has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $13,291 intl. (2025) compared with $3,134 intl. for Haiti (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Haiti or Jamaica?
Jamaica has the higher life expectancy at birth: 71.6 years (2024) compared with 65.1 years for Haiti (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Haiti or Jamaica?
Jamaica spends more on the military: $286.6 m (2025) compared with $39.1 m for Haiti (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Haiti or Jamaica?
Jamaica: 41.3 points (123rd in the world); Haiti: 15.5 points (195th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Bahamas
Guyana
Nicaragua
Trinidad and TobagoSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Haiti vs Jamaica — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/haiti-vs-jamaica. Data as of 26 October 2026.