Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Mauritius instead of South Africa, you would:

Health

be 91.1% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Mauritius, that number is 1.7% of people as of 2020.

live 9.5 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 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 61.8% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Mauritius, that number is 10.8% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 86.0% more money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Mauritius, the GDP per capita is $26,600 as of 2023.

be 78.3% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Mauritius, that number is 6.1% as of 2023.

be 38.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Mauritius, however, that number is 10.3% as of 2017.

pay a 66.7% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Mauritius, the top tax rate is 15.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 33.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Mauritius, 84.0 women do as of 2020.

be 53.3% less likely to die during infancy

In South Africa, approximately 25.9 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 44.6% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 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 15.6% more likely to have access to electricity

In South Africa, approximately 86% of people have electricity access (87% in urban areas, and 92% 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.

Expenditures

spend 25.8% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Mauritius spends 4.9% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

spend 22.1% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Mauritius, that number is 6.7% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 93.7% less coastline

South Africa has a total of 2,798 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, South African Revenue Service.

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.
Read more

How big is Mauritius compared to South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

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