Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 19.1 years longer

In Somalia, the average life expectancy is 56 years (53 years for men, 58 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 17.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Somalia, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Mauritius, that number is 1.7% of people as of 2020.

be 30.1% more likely to be obese

In Somalia, 8.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Mauritius, that number is 10.8% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 16.3 times more money

Somalia has a GDP per capita of $1,400 as of 2022, while in Mauritius, the GDP per capita is $22,800 as of 2022.

be 67.2% less likely to be unemployed

In Somalia, 19.3% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Mauritius, that number is 6.3% as of 2022.

be 81.1% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Somalia, 54.4% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Mauritius, however, that number is 10.3% as of 2017.

Life

be 86.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Somalia, approximately 621.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Mauritius, 84.0 women do as of 2020.

be 86.0% less likely to die during infancy

In Somalia, approximately 86.5 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 73.8% fewer children

In Somalia, there are approximately 37.4 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 Somalia, approximately 49% of people have electricity access (71% in urban areas, and 31% in rural areas) as of 2021. In Mauritius, that number is 100% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

be 4.7 times more likely to have internet access

In Somalia, approximately 14.5% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Mauritius, about 68.0% do as of 2021.

be 18.6% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Somalia, approximately 84% of people have improved drinking water access (96% in urban areas, and 74% 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 16.3 times more on education

Somalia spends 0.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Mauritius spends 4.9% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

Geography

see 94.1% less coastline

Somalia has a total of 3,025 km of coastline. In Mauritius, that number is 177 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

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 Somalia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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