Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Mauritania instead of Afghanistan, you would:
Health
live 2.4 years longer
In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2024. In Mauritania, that number is 69 years (67 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024.
be 24.7% less likely to die by suicide
Afghanistan has a suicide rate of 3.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Mauritania, it is 2.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.
be 17.1% more likely to be obese
In Afghanistan, 20.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Mauritania, that number is 24.1% of people as of 2024.
have 17.7% fewer doctors per person
Afghanistan has 3.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Mauritania has 2.6 as of 2022.
Economy
be 22.7% less likely to be unemployed
In Afghanistan, 13.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Mauritania, that number is 10.3% as of 2025.
be 32.5% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Afghanistan, 47.1% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In Mauritania, however, that number is 31.8% as of 2019.
make 5.3 times more money
Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $417 as of 2024, while in Mauritania, the GDP per capita is $2,198 as of 2025.
Life
be 26.9% less likely to die during childbirth
In Afghanistan, approximately 521.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Mauritania, 381.0 women do as of 2023.
be 79.8% more likely to be literate
In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Mauritania, it is 67.0% as of 2021.
be 37.5% less likely to die during infancy
In Afghanistan, approximately 48.3 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Mauritania, on the other hand, 30.2 children do as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 2.8 times more likely to have internet access
In Afghanistan, approximately 16.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Mauritania, about 45.8% do as of 2024.
be 41.0% less likely to have access to electricity
In Afghanistan, approximately 85% of people have electricity access (96% in urban areas, and 81% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Mauritania, that number is 50% of people on average (94% in urban areas, and 1% in rural areas) as of 2023.
Expenditures
spend 71.0% less on healthcare
Afghanistan spends 15.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Mauritania, that number is 4.3% of GDP as of 2023.
Safety
be 75.2% less likely to be murdered
Afghanistan has a homicide rate of 4.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Mauritania, that number is 1.0 per 100,000 as of 2020.
be 60.6% less likely to die in a road accident
In Afghanistan, road accidents kill 24.1 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Mauritania, they kill 9.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
find 11.9 times more home broadband
Afghanistan has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Mauritania has 0.9 as of 2024.
live with 75.8% less strain on fresh water
Afghanistan withdraws 55% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Mauritania withdraws 13% as of 2022.
Environment
be 56.6% less likely to die from air pollution
In Afghanistan, air pollution causes 143.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Mauritania, it causes 62.0 as of 2019.
emit 3.5 times more CO2
Afghanistan emits 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Mauritania emits 1.0 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2019–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this
Compare further: Afghanistan vs. Mauritania
Mauritania: At a glance
How big is Mauritania compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.