Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 9.6 years longer

In Mauritania, the average life expectancy is 65 years (63 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Mauritius, that number is 75 years (72 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

be 15.0% less likely to be obese

In Mauritania, 12.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Mauritius, that number is 10.8% of people as of 2016.

be 5.7 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Mauritania, 0.3% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Mauritius, that number is 1.7% of people as of 2020.

Economy

make 4.2 times more money

Mauritania has a GDP per capita of $6,300 as of 2023, while in Mauritius, the GDP per capita is $26,600 as of 2023.

be 42.3% less likely to be unemployed

In Mauritania, 10.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Mauritius, that number is 6.1% as of 2023.

be 67.6% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Mauritania, 31.8% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In Mauritius, however, that number is 10.3% as of 2017.

pay a 62.5% lower top tax rate

Mauritania has a top tax rate of 40.0% as of 2016. In Mauritius, the top tax rate is 15.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 81.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In Mauritania, approximately 465.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Mauritius, 84.0 women do as of 2020.

be 37.6% more likely to be literate

In Mauritania, the literacy rate is 67.0% as of 2021. In Mauritius, it is 92.2% as of 2021.

be 76.3% 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 Mauritius, on the other hand, 12.1 children do as of 2022.

have 64.0% fewer children

In Mauritania, there are approximately 27.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Mauritius, there are 9.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 2.0 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Mauritania, approximately 49% of people have electricity access (90% in urban areas, and 1% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Mauritius, that number is 100% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 15.3% more likely to have internet access

In Mauritania, approximately 59.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Mauritius, about 68.0% do as of 2021.

be 17.3% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Mauritania, approximately 85% of people have improved drinking water access (99% in urban areas, and 68% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Mauritius, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 2.6 times more on education

Mauritania spends 1.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Mauritius spends 4.9% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

spend 97.1% more on healthcare

Mauritania spends 3.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Mauritius, that number is 6.7% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 76.5% less coastline

Mauritania has a total of 754 km of coastline. In Mauritius, that number is 177 km.

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

Mauritius: At a glance

Mauritius is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 2,030 sq km. Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in the 16th century and subsequently settled by the Dutch - who named it in honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU - in the 17th century. The French assumed control in 1715, developing the island into an important naval base overseeing Indian Ocean trade, and establishing a plantation economy of sugar cane. The British captured the island in 1810, during the Napoleonic Wars. Mauritius remained a strategically important British naval base, and later an air station, playing an important role during World War II for anti-submarine and convoy operations, as well as the collection of signals intelligence. Independence from the UK was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of Africa's highest per capita incomes.
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How big is Mauritius compared to Mauritania? See an in-depth size comparison.

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