Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Gabon instead of Malawi, you would:

Health

be 63.0% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Malawi, 8.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Gabon, that number is 3.0% of people as of 2020.

live 2.7 years less

In Malawi, the average life expectancy is 72 years (69 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2022. In Gabon, that number is 70 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022.

be 2.6 times more likely to be obese

In Malawi, 5.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gabon, that number is 15.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 11.6 times more money

Malawi has a GDP per capita of $1,700 as of 2023, while in Gabon, the GDP per capita is $19,800 as of 2023.

be 34.1% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Malawi, 50.7% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In Gabon, however, that number is 33.4% as of 2017.

be 4.0 times more likely to be unemployed

In Malawi, 5.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Gabon, that number is 20.4% as of 2023.

pay a 16.7% higher top tax rate

Malawi has a top tax rate of 30.0% as of 2016. In Gabon, the top tax rate is 35.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 40.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In Malawi, approximately 381.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Gabon, 227.0 women do as of 2020.

be 27.0% more likely to be literate

In Malawi, the literacy rate is 67.3% as of 2021. In Gabon, it is 85.5% as of 2021.

be 14.6% less likely to die during infancy

In Malawi, approximately 33.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Gabon, on the other hand, 28.6 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 6.7 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Malawi, approximately 14% of people have electricity access (54% in urban areas, and 6% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Gabon, that number is 94% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 27% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 3.0 times more likely to have internet access

In Malawi, approximately 24.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Gabon, about 72.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 37.0% less on healthcare

Malawi spends 5.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Gabon, that number is 3.4% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 10.3% more on education

Malawi spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Gabon spends 3.2% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Malawi Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, General Direction of Taxes.

Gabon: At a glance

Gabon is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 257,667 sq km. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009) following independence from France in 1960. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in December 2002 and the presidential elections in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Following President BONGO's death in 2009, new elections brought Ali BONGO Ondimba, son of the former president, to power. Despite constrained political conditions, Gabon's small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make it one of the more stable African countries.
Read more

How big is Gabon compared to Malawi? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Gabon.or Malawi It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.