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

Health

live 1.6 years longer

In Mauritania, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024. In Guyana, that number is 70 years (67 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 4.4 times more spent on your healthcare

Mauritania spends $302 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Guyana spends $1,331 as of 2023.

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have 5.3 times more doctors per person

Mauritania has 2.6 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Guyana has 13.9 as of 2020.

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have 90.0% more access to essential health services

Mauritania scores 40 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Guyana scores 76 as of 2021.

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be 16.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Mauritania, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Guyana, that number is 1.6% of people as of 2024.

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be 25.1% more likely to be obese

In Mauritania, 24.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Guyana, that number is 30.1% of people as of 2024.

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be 9.1 times more likely to die by suicide

Mauritania has a suicide rate of 2.7 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Guyana, it is 24.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 14.8 times more money

Mauritania has a GDP per capita of $2,198 as of 2025, while in Guyana, the GDP per capita is $32,414 as of 2025.

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be 15.9% more likely to be unemployed

In Mauritania, 10.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Guyana, that number is 12.0% as of 2025.

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Life

be 80.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In Mauritania, approximately 381.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Guyana, 75.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 32.5% more likely to be literate

In Mauritania, the literacy rate is 67.0% as of 2021. In Guyana, it is 88.8% as of 2021.

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be 23.2% less likely to die during infancy

In Mauritania, approximately 30.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Guyana, on the other hand, 23.2 children do as of 2024.

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have 41.6% fewer children

In Mauritania, there are approximately 34.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Guyana, there are 19.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 96.6% more likely to have access to electricity

In Mauritania, approximately 50% of people have electricity access (94% in urban areas, and 1% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Guyana, that number is 99% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 81.3% more likely to have internet access

In Mauritania, approximately 45.8% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Guyana, about 83.0% do as of 2024.

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be 23.8% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Mauritania, approximately 77% of people have access to drinking water (90% in urban areas, and 59% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Guyana, that number is 96% of people on average (95% in urban areas, and 96% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 43.1% less on healthcare

Mauritania spends 4.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Guyana, that number is 2.5% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 39.1% less coastline

Mauritania has a total of 754 km of coastline. In Guyana, that number is 459 km.

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Safety

be 19.1 times more likely to be murdered

Mauritania has a homicide rate of 1.0 per 100,000 people as of 2020. In Guyana, that number is 19.1 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 60.0% more likely to die in a road accident

In Mauritania, road accidents kill 9.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Guyana, they kill 15.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 13.6 times more home broadband

Mauritania has 0.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Guyana has 12.9 as of 2022.

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live with 75.1% less strain on fresh water

Mauritania withdraws 13% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Guyana withdraws 3% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 16.1% less likely to die from air pollution

In Mauritania, air pollution causes 62.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Guyana, it causes 52.0 as of 2019.

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emit 4.7 times more CO2

Mauritania emits 1.0 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Guyana emits 4.6 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), The World Factbook (2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Guyana: At a glance

Guyana is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 196,849 sq km. Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to settlement of urban areas by former slaves and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011.
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How big is Guyana compared to Mauritania? See an in-depth size comparison.

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