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

Health

live 4.6 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 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 12.7 times more spent on your healthcare

Laos spends $123 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Mauritius spends $1,566 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

have 4.3 times more doctors per person

Laos has 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Mauritius has 14.4 as of 2022.

View global rankings →

have 26.9% more access to essential health services

Laos scores 52 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Mauritius scores 66 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

be 2.3 times more likely to be obese

In Laos, 9.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Mauritius, that number is 21.1% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 2.3 times more likely to die by suicide

Laos has a suicide rate of 4.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Mauritius, it is 10.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Economy

be 44.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 15.0% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Mauritius, however, that number is 8.4% as of 2023.

View global rankings →

make 5.6 times more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $2,325 as of 2025, while in Mauritius, the GDP per capita is $12,991 as of 2025.

View global rankings →

be 4.7 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Mauritius, that number is 5.6% as of 2025.

View global rankings →

Life

be 41.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 112.0 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 24.7% more likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 75.6% as of 2023. In Mauritius, it is 94.3% as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 49.3% less likely to die during infancy

In Laos, approximately 27.2 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 50.8% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 20.9 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 11.8% more likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 65.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Mauritius, about 73.3% do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Expenditures

spend 3.5 times more on education

Laos spends 1.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Mauritius spends 4.2% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

View global rankings →

spend 4.2 times more on healthcare

Laos spends 1.3% 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 40.9% less likely to die in a road accident

In Laos, road accidents kill 16.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Mauritius, they kill 9.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Infrastructure

find 10.3 times more home broadband

Laos has 2.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Mauritius has 28.0 as of 2024.

View global rankings →

use 48.1% more electricity

Laos uses 1,665 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Mauritius uses 2,465 kWh as of 2023.

View global rankings →

live with 4.8 times more strain on fresh water

Laos withdraws 5% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Mauritius withdraws 23% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

Environment

be 59.4% less likely to die from air pollution

In Laos, air pollution causes 69.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Mauritius, it causes 28.0 as of 2019.

View global rankings →


Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). 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 Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

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