Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 6.7 years longer

In Mauritania, the average life expectancy is 65 years (63 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Guyana, that number is 72 years (70 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.3 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Mauritania, 0.3% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Guyana, that number is 1.3% of people as of 2020.

be 59.1% more likely to be obese

In Mauritania, 12.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Guyana, that number is 20.2% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 3.7 times more money

Mauritania has a GDP per capita of $5,000 as of 2020, while in Guyana, the GDP per capita is $18,700 as of 2020.

be 12.9% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Mauritania, 31.0% live below the poverty line as of 2014. In Guyana, however, that number is 35.0% as of 2006.

Life

be 65.4% more likely to be literate

In Mauritania, the literacy rate is 53.5% as of 2017. In Guyana, it is 88.5% as of 2015.

be 56.6% 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 Guyana, on the other hand, 22.1 children do as of 2022.

have 40.4% fewer children

In Mauritania, there are approximately 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Guyana, there are 16.7 babies per 1,000 people 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 Guyana, that number is 92% of people on average (97% in urban areas, and 90% in rural areas) as of 2018.

be 13.6% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Mauritania, approximately 85% of people have improved drinking water access (99% in urban areas, and 68% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Guyana, that number is 97% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 96% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 2.4 times more on education

Mauritania spends 1.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Guyana spends 4.5% of total GDP on education as of 2018.

spend 48.5% more on healthcare

Mauritania spends 3.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Guyana, that number is 4.9% of GDP as of 2019.

Geography

see 39.1% less coastline

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

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

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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