Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Lebanon instead of Mauritania, you would:

Health

live 13.5 years longer

In Mauritania, the average life expectancy is 65 years (63 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Lebanon, that number is 79 years (77 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2022.

be 2.5 times more likely to be obese

In Mauritania, 12.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Lebanon, that number is 32.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 2.5 times more money

Mauritania has a GDP per capita of $5,300 as of 2022, while in Lebanon, the GDP per capita is $13,000 as of 2021.

be 13.8% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Mauritania, 31.8% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In Lebanon, however, that number is 27.4% as of 2011.

pay a 50.0% lower top tax rate

Mauritania has a top tax rate of 40.0% as of 2016. In Lebanon, the top tax rate is 20.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 95.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Mauritania, approximately 465.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Lebanon, 21.0 women do as of 2020.

be 41.9% more likely to be literate

In Mauritania, the literacy rate is 67.0% as of 2021. In Lebanon, it is 95.1% as of 2018.

be 86.2% less likely to die during infancy

In Mauritania, approximately 51.0 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Lebanon, on the other hand, 7.0 children do as of 2022.

have 53.7% fewer children

In Mauritania, there are approximately 27.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Lebanon, there are 12.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 2.1 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Mauritania, approximately 48% of the population has electricity access as of 2021. In Lebanon, 100% of the population do as of 2021.

be 47.5% more likely to have internet access

In Mauritania, approximately 59.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Lebanon, about 87.0% do as of 2021.

be 17.4% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Mauritania, approximately 85% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In Lebanon, 100% of people do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 10.5% less on education

Mauritania spends 1.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Lebanon spends 1.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 2.4 times more on healthcare

Mauritania spends 3.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Lebanon, that number is 8.0% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 70.2% less coastline

Mauritania has a total of 754 km of coastline. In Lebanon, that number is 225 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Finance, Lebanon.

Lebanon: At a glance

Lebanon is a sovereign country in Middle East, with a total land area of approximately 10,230 sq km. Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French demarcated the region of Lebanon in 1920 and granted this area independence in 1943. Since independence the country has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. The country's 1975-90 civil war that resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities, was followed by years of social and political instability. Sectarianism is a key element of Lebanese political life. Neighboring Syria has long influenced Lebanon's foreign policy and internal policies, and its military occupied Lebanon from 1976 until 2005. The Lebanon-based Hizballah militia and Israel continued attacks and counterattacks against each other after Syria's withdrawal, and fought a brief war in 2006. Lebanon's borders with Syria and Israel remain unresolved.
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How big is Lebanon compared to Mauritania? See an in-depth size comparison.

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