If you lived in Liberia instead of Madagascar, you would:

Health

see 3.7 times more spent on your healthcare

Madagascar spends $63 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Liberia spends $233 as of 2023.

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have 28.6% more access to essential health services

Madagascar scores 35 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Liberia scores 45 as of 2021.

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live 1.5 years less

In Madagascar, the average life expectancy is 64 years (62 years for men, 66 years for women) as of 2024. In Liberia, that number is 62 years (61 years for men, 64 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 3.9 times more likely to be obese

In Madagascar, 4.5% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Liberia, that number is 17.8% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

make 52.7% more money

Madagascar has a GDP per capita of $599 as of 2025, while in Liberia, the GDP per capita is $915 as of 2025.

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Life

be 41.1% more likely to die during childbirth

In Madagascar, approximately 445.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Liberia, 628.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 47.0% more likely to die during infancy

In Madagascar, approximately 43.0 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Liberia, on the other hand, 63.2 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 72.5% more likely to have internet access

In Madagascar, approximately 18.7% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Liberia, about 32.2% do as of 2024.

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be 42.4% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Madagascar, approximately 55% of people have access to drinking water (78% in urban areas, and 39% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Liberia, that number is 79% of people on average (86% in urban areas, and 70% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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be 17.5% less likely to have access to electricity

In Madagascar, approximately 39% of people have electricity access (76% in urban areas, and 15% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Liberia, that number is 32% of people on average (53% in urban areas, and 9% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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Expenditures

spend 25.6% less on education

Madagascar spends 3.0% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Liberia spends 2.3% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 3.8 times more on healthcare

Madagascar spends 3.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Liberia, that number is 13.0% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 88.0% less coastline

Madagascar has a total of 4,828 km of coastline. In Liberia, that number is 579 km.

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Safety

be 32.0% less likely to die in a road accident

In Madagascar, road accidents kill 22.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Liberia, they kill 15.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 2.2 times more home broadband

Madagascar has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Liberia has 0.3 as of 2022.

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live with 97.7% less strain on fresh water

Madagascar withdraws 11% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Liberia withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Liberia: At a glance

Liberia is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 96,320 sq km. Settlement of freed slaves from the US in what is today Liberia began in 1822; by 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to establish a republic. William TUBMAN, president from 1944-71, did much to promote foreign investment and to bridge the economic, social, and political gaps between the descendants of the original settlers and the inhabitants of the interior. In 1980, a military coup led by Samuel DOE ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In December 1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion against DOE's regime that led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE was killed. A period of relative peace in 1997 allowed for elections that brought TAYLOR to power, but major fighting resumed in 2000. An August 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted the resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR, who faces war crimes charges in The Hague related to his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war. After two years of rule by a transitional government, democratic elections in late 2005 brought President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF to power. She subsequently won reelection in 2011 in a second round vote that was boycotted by the opposition and remains challenged to build Liberia's economy and reconcile a nation still recovering from 14 years of fighting. The United Nations Security Council in September 2012 passed Resolution 2066 which calls for a reduction of UN troops in Liberia by half by 2015, bringing the troop total down to fewer than 4000, and challenging Liberia's security sector to fill the gaps.
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