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

Health

live 3.0 years less

In Malaysia, the average life expectancy is 77 years (74 years for men, 80 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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have 38.7% fewer doctors per person

Malaysia has 23.4 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Mauritius has 14.4 as of 2022.

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have 13.2% less access to essential health services

Malaysia scores 76 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Mauritius scores 66 as of 2021.

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be 86.2% more likely to die by suicide

Malaysia has a suicide rate of 5.7 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 49.7% more likely to be unemployed

In Malaysia, 3.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Mauritius, that number is 5.6% as of 2025.

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be 64.7% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Malaysia, 5.1% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Mauritius, however, that number is 8.4% as of 2023.

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Life

be 2.5 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Malaysia, approximately 26.0 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 97.1% more likely to die during infancy

In Malaysia, approximately 7.0 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 16.7% fewer children

In Malaysia, there are approximately 12.4 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 25.2% less likely to have internet access

In Malaysia, approximately 98.0% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Mauritius, about 73.3% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 21.1% more on education

Malaysia spends 3.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Mauritius spends 4.2% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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spend 40.7% more on healthcare

Malaysia spends 4.0% 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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Geography

see 96.2% less coastline

Malaysia has a total of 4,675 km of coastline. In Mauritius, that number is 177 km.

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Safety

be 30.2% less likely to die in a road accident

In Malaysia, road accidents kill 13.9 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Mauritius, they kill 9.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 3.1 times more likely to be murdered

Malaysia has a homicide rate of 0.7 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Mauritius, that number is 2.3 per 100,000 as of 2022.

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Infrastructure

find 2.1 times more home broadband

Malaysia has 13.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Mauritius has 28.0 as of 2024.

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live with 6.7 times more strain on fresh water

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

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use 51.5% less electricity

Malaysia uses 5,084 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Mauritius uses 2,465 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 55.6% less likely to die from air pollution

In Malaysia, air pollution causes 63.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Mauritius, it causes 28.0 as of 2019.

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emit 57.5% less CO2

Malaysia emits 8.3 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), The World Factbook. 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 Malaysia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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