If you lived in Ecuador instead of Benin, you would:

Health

live 16.6 years longer

In Benin, the average life expectancy is 61 years (60 years for men, 62 years for women) as of 2024. In Ecuador, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 9.0 times more spent on your healthcare

Benin spends $138 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Ecuador spends $1,238 as of 2023.

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have 10.7 times more doctors per person

Benin has 2.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Ecuador has 23.1 as of 2020.

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have 2.0 times more access to essential health services

Benin scores 38 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Ecuador scores 77 as of 2021.

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be 2.4 times more likely to be obese

In Benin, 12.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Ecuador, that number is 28.9% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

make 4.3 times more money

Benin has a GDP per capita of $1,658 as of 2025, while in Ecuador, the GDP per capita is $7,125 as of 2025.

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be 2.1 times more likely to be unemployed

In Benin, 1.6% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Ecuador, that number is 3.3% as of 2025.

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Life

be 89.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In Benin, approximately 518.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Ecuador, 55.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 82.0% more likely to be literate

In Benin, the literacy rate is 51.4% as of 2022. In Ecuador, it is 93.5% as of 2024.

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be 75.9% less likely to die during infancy

In Benin, approximately 45.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Ecuador, on the other hand, 10.9 children do as of 2024.

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have 55.7% fewer children

In Benin, there are approximately 33.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Ecuador, there are 14.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 73.2% more likely to have access to electricity

In Benin, approximately 57% of people have electricity access (70% in urban areas, and 44% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Ecuador, that number is 99% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 96% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 2.3 times more likely to have internet access

In Benin, approximately 34.0% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Ecuador, about 77.2% do as of 2024.

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be 32.3% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Benin, approximately 70% of people have access to drinking water (76% in urban areas, and 63% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Ecuador, that number is 92% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 81% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 14.2% more on education

Benin spends 3.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Ecuador spends 3.7% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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spend 2.3 times more on healthcare

Benin spends 3.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Ecuador, that number is 7.6% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 18.5 times more coastline

Benin has a total of 121 km of coastline. In Ecuador, that number is 2,237 km.

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Infrastructure

find 61.6 times more home broadband

Benin has 0.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Ecuador has 17.2 as of 2024.

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use 14.6 times more electricity

Benin uses 115 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Ecuador uses 1,676 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 6.9 times more strain on fresh water

Benin withdraws 1% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Ecuador withdraws 7% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 70.1% less likely to die from air pollution

In Benin, air pollution causes 77.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Ecuador, it causes 23.0 as of 2019.

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emit 5.4 times more CO2

Benin emits 0.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Ecuador emits 2.6 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Ecuador: At a glance

Ecuador is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 276,841 sq km. What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador marked 30 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period was marred by political instability. Protests in Quito contributed to the mid-term ouster of three of Ecuador's last four democratically elected presidents. In late 2008, voters approved a new constitution, Ecuador's 20th since gaining independence. General elections were held in February 2013, and voters re-elected President Rafael CORREA.
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