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

Health

live 7.5 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2024. In Mauritius, that number is 74 years (70 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

see 4.7 times more spent on your healthcare

Afghanistan spends $330 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Mauritius spends $1,566 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

have 4.5 times more doctors per person

Afghanistan has 3.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Mauritius has 14.4 as of 2022.

View global rankings →

have 61.0% more access to essential health services

Afghanistan scores 41 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Mauritius scores 66 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

be 2.9 times more likely to die by suicide

Afghanistan has a suicide rate of 3.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Mauritius, it is 10.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Economy

be 57.8% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 13.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Mauritius, that number is 5.6% as of 2025.

View global rankings →

make 31.2 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $417 as of 2024, while in Mauritius, the GDP per capita is $12,991 as of 2025.

View global rankings →

Life

be 87.3% 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 Mauritius, 66.0 women do as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 2.5 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Mauritius, it is 94.3% as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 71.4% 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 Mauritius, on the other hand, 13.8 children do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

have 70.6% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 35.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Mauritius, there are 10.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Basic Needs

be 17.2% more 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 Mauritius, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 4.6 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 16.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Mauritius, about 73.3% do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 23.6% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Afghanistan, approximately 81% of people have access to drinking water (97% in urban areas, and 75% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Mauritius, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Expenditures

spend 62.8% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Mauritius, that number is 5.6% of GDP as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Safety

be 43.7% less likely to be murdered

Afghanistan has a homicide rate of 4.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Mauritius, that number is 2.3 per 100,000 as of 2022.

View global rankings →

be 59.8% less likely to die in a road accident

In Afghanistan, road accidents kill 24.1 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Mauritius, they kill 9.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Infrastructure

find 349.6 times more home broadband

Afghanistan has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Mauritius has 28.0 as of 2024.

View global rankings →

live with 58.1% less strain on fresh water

Afghanistan withdraws 55% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Mauritius withdraws 23% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

Environment

be 80.4% less likely to die from air pollution

In Afghanistan, air pollution causes 143.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Mauritius, it causes 28.0 as of 2019.

View global rankings →

emit 12.6 times more CO2

Afghanistan emits 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Mauritius emits 3.5 tonnes as of 2024.

View global rankings →


Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021). How we calculate this

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 Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

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