Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 4.5 years longer

In Mauritania, the average life expectancy is 65 years (63 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Gabon, that number is 70 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022.

be 10.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Mauritania, 0.3% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Gabon, that number is 3.0% of people as of 2020.

be 18.1% more likely to be obese

In Mauritania, 12.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gabon, that number is 15.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 2.9 times more money

Mauritania has a GDP per capita of $5,000 as of 2020, while in Gabon, the GDP per capita is $14,400 as of 2020.

pay a 12.5% lower top tax rate

Mauritania has a top tax rate of 40.0% as of 2016. In Gabon, the top tax rate is 35.0% as of 2016.

be 2.7 times more likely to be unemployed

In Mauritania, 10.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2017. In Gabon, that number is 28.0% as of 2015.

Life

be 67.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Mauritania, approximately 766.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Gabon, 252.0 women do as of 2017.

be 58.3% more likely to be literate

In Mauritania, the literacy rate is 53.5% as of 2017. In Gabon, it is 84.7% as of 2018.

be 44.0% 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 Gabon, on the other hand, 28.6 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 2.9 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Mauritania, approximately 32% of people have electricity access (56% in urban areas, and 4% in rural areas) as of 2019. In Gabon, that number is 92% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 39% in rural areas) as of 2019.

be 51.2% more likely to have internet access

In Mauritania, approximately 41.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Gabon, about 62.0% do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 15.2% less on healthcare

Mauritania spends 3.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Gabon, that number is 2.8% of GDP as of 2019.

spend 47.4% more on education

Mauritania spends 1.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Gabon spends 2.8% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

Geography

see 17.4% more coastline

Mauritania has a total of 754 km of coastline. In Gabon, that number is 885 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, General Direction of Taxes.

Gabon: At a glance

Gabon is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 257,667 sq km. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009) following independence from France in 1960. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in December 2002 and the presidential elections in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Following President BONGO's death in 2009, new elections brought Ali BONGO Ondimba, son of the former president, to power. Despite constrained political conditions, Gabon's small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make it one of the more stable African countries.
Read more

How big is Gabon compared to Mauritania? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Gabon.or Mauritania It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.