Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Egypt instead of Mauritania, you would:

Health

live 9.2 years longer

In Mauritania, the average life expectancy is 65 years (63 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Egypt, that number is 74 years (73 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2022.

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be 2.5 times more likely to be obese

In Mauritania, 12.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Egypt, that number is 32.0% of people as of 2016.

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Economy

make 2.6 times more money

Mauritania has a GDP per capita of $6,400 as of 2024, while in Egypt, the GDP per capita is $16,800 as of 2024.

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be 30.8% less likely to be unemployed

In Mauritania, 10.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2024. In Egypt, that number is 7.2% as of 2024.

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pay a 43.8% lower top tax rate

Mauritania has a top tax rate of 40.0% as of 2016. In Egypt, the top tax rate is 22.5% as of 2016.

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Life

be 95.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Mauritania, approximately 381.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2023. In Egypt, 17.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 18.7% more likely to be literate

In Mauritania, the literacy rate is 67.0% as of 2021. In Egypt, it is 79.5% as of 2022.

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be 65.3% less likely to die during infancy

In Mauritania, approximately 51.0 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Egypt, on the other hand, 17.7 children do as of 2022.

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have 45.2% fewer children

In Mauritania, there are approximately 34.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2025. In Egypt, there are 18.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2025.

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Basic Needs

be 2.0 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Mauritania, approximately 49% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Egypt, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

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be 97.3% more likely to have internet access

In Mauritania, approximately 37.0% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Egypt, about 73.0% do as of 2023.

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be 27.0% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Mauritania, approximately 78% of people have improved drinking water access (95% in urban areas, and 56% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Egypt, that number is 99% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 98% in rural areas) as of 2022.

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Expenditures

spend 31.6% more on education

Mauritania spends 1.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Egypt spends 2.5% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

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spend 29.4% more on healthcare

Mauritania spends 3.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Egypt, that number is 4.4% of GDP as of 2020.

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Geography

see 3.2 times more coastline

Mauritania has a total of 754 km of coastline. In Egypt, that number is 2,450 km.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, Egyptian Tax Authority.

Egypt: At a glance

Egypt is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 995,450 sq km. The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 elevated Egypt as an important world transportation hub. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty from Britain in 1952. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure. Inspired by the 2010 Tunisian revolution, Egyptian opposition groups led demonstrations and labor strikes countrywide, culminating in President Hosni MUBARAK's ouster. Egypt's military assumed national leadership until a new parliament was in place in early 2012; later that same year, Mohammed MORSI won the presidential election. Following often violent protests throughout the spring of 2013 against MORSI's government and the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), and massive anti-government demonstrations, the Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF) intervened and removed MORSI from power in mid-July 2013 and replaced him with interim president Adly MANSOUR. In mid-January 2014, voters approved a new constitution by referendum. Presidential elections to replace MANSOUR are scheduled for late May 2014. According to the constitution and the government's transitional road map, preparations for parliamentary elections will begin by mid-July 2014.
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