If you lived in Norway instead of Mali, you would:

Health

live 22.5 years longer

In Mali, the average life expectancy is 61 years (59 years for men, 62 years for women) as of 2024. In Norway, that number is 83 years (82 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 91.7 times more spent on your healthcare

Mali spends $104 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Norway spends $9,523 as of 2023.

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have 26.5 times more doctors per person

Mali has 1.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Norway has 49.8 as of 2023.

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have 2.1 times more access to essential health services

Mali scores 41 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Norway scores 87 as of 2021.

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be 51.9% more likely to be obese

In Mali, 13.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Norway, that number is 20.2% of people as of 2024.

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be 3.2 times more likely to die by suicide

Mali has a suicide rate of 4.2 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Norway, it is 13.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 73.2% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Mali, 45.5% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Norway, however, that number is 12.2% as of 2021.

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make 79.3 times more money

Mali has a GDP per capita of $1,193 as of 2025, while in Norway, the GDP per capita is $94,594 as of 2025.

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be 64.0% more likely to be unemployed

In Mali, 2.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Norway, that number is 4.6% as of 2025.

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Life

be 99.7% less likely to die during childbirth

In Mali, approximately 367.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Norway, 1.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 95.8% less likely to die during infancy

In Mali, approximately 47.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Norway, on the other hand, 2.0 children do as of 2024.

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have 75.5% fewer children

In Mali, there are approximately 39.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Norway, there are 9.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 83.5% more likely to have access to electricity

In Mali, approximately 54% of people have electricity access (92% in urban areas, and 23% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Norway, 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 2.7 times more likely to have internet access

In Mali, approximately 36.8% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Norway, about 99.0% do as of 2024.

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be 15.8% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Mali, approximately 86% of people have access to drinking water (94% in urban areas, and 80% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Norway, 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 29.9% more on education

Mali spends 4.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Norway spends 5.4% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 2.5 times more on healthcare

Mali spends 3.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Norway, that number is 9.4% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 92.6% less likely to die in a road accident

In Mali, road accidents kill 20.2 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Norway, they kill 1.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 58.6 times more home broadband

Mali has 0.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Norway has 45.2 as of 2024.

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live with 74.5% less strain on fresh water

Mali withdraws 8% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Norway withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 87.7% less likely to die from air pollution

In Mali, air pollution causes 65.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Norway, it causes 8.0 as of 2019.

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emit 23.9 times more CO2

Mali emits 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Norway emits 7.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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

Norway: At a glance

Norway is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 304,282 sq km. Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in 994. Conversion of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that lasted more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution. Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in return for accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence. Although Norway remained neutral in World War I, it suffered heavy losses to its shipping. Norway proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but was nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany (1940-45). In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU. Key domestic issues include immigration and integration of ethnic minorities, maintaining the country's extensive social safety net with an aging population, and preserving economic competitiveness.
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