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

Health

live 16.0 years longer

In Lesotho, the average life expectancy is 58 years (55 years for men, 60 years for women) as of 2024. In Mauritius, that number is 74 years (70 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 4.1 times more spent on your healthcare

Lesotho spends $386 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Mauritius spends $1,566 as of 2023.

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have 6.1 times more doctors per person

Lesotho has 2.4 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Mauritius has 14.4 as of 2022.

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have 24.5% more access to essential health services

Lesotho scores 53 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Mauritius scores 66 as of 2021.

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be 63.3% less likely to die by suicide

Lesotho has a suicide rate of 28.7 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Mauritius, it is 10.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 65.5% less likely to be unemployed

In Lesotho, 16.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Mauritius, that number is 5.6% as of 2025.

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make 11.9 times more money

Lesotho has a GDP per capita of $1,089 as of 2025, while in Mauritius, the GDP per capita is $12,991 as of 2025.

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Life

be 86.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Lesotho, approximately 478.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Mauritius, 66.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 75.5% less likely to die during infancy

In Lesotho, approximately 56.3 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.

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have 56.6% fewer children

In Lesotho, there are approximately 23.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Mauritius, there are 10.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 74.5% more likely to have access to electricity

In Lesotho, approximately 57% of people have electricity access (85% in urban areas, and 45% 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.

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be 41.5% more likely to have internet access

In Lesotho, approximately 51.8% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Mauritius, about 73.3% do as of 2024.

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be 28.0% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Lesotho, approximately 78% of people have access to drinking water (95% in urban areas, and 71% 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.

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Expenditures

spend 35.8% less on education

Lesotho spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Mauritius spends 4.2% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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spend 55.8% less on healthcare

Lesotho spends 12.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Mauritius, that number is 5.6% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 55.1% less likely to die in a road accident

In Lesotho, road accidents kill 21.6 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Mauritius, they kill 9.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 73.6 times more home broadband

Lesotho has 0.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Mauritius has 28.0 as of 2024.

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live with 8.9 times more strain on fresh water

Lesotho withdraws 3% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Mauritius withdraws 23% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 72.0% less likely to die from air pollution

In Lesotho, air pollution causes 100.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Mauritius, it causes 28.0 as of 2019.

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emit 8.2 times more CO2

Lesotho emits 0.4 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Mauritius emits 3.5 tonnes as of 2024.

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

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