Quality of life comparison
If you lived in South Africa instead of Mauritania, you would:
Health
be 63.7 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS
In Mauritania, 0.3% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In South Africa, that number is 19.1% of people as of 2020.
be 2.2 times more likely to be obese
In Mauritania, 12.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In South Africa, that number is 28.3% of people as of 2016.
Economy
make 2.1 times more money
Mauritania has a GDP per capita of $6,400 as of 2024, while in South Africa, the GDP per capita is $13,600 as of 2024.
be 47.8% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Mauritania, 31.8% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In South Africa, however, that number is 16.6% as of 2016.
be 3.2 times more likely to be unemployed
In Mauritania, 10.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2024. In South Africa, that number is 33.2% as of 2024.
pay a 12.5% higher top tax rate
Mauritania has a top tax rate of 40.0% as of 2016. In South Africa, the top tax rate is 45.0% as of 2017.
Life
be 69.0% less likely to die during childbirth
In Mauritania, approximately 381.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2023. In South Africa, 118.0 women do as of 2023.
be 36.1% more likely to be literate
In Mauritania, the literacy rate is 67.0% as of 2021. In South Africa, it is 91.2% as of 2024.
be 49.3% 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 South Africa, on the other hand, 25.9 children do as of 2022.
have 49.4% fewer children
In Mauritania, there are approximately 34.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2025. In South Africa, there are 17.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2025.
Basic Needs
be 76.5% more likely to have access to electricity
In Mauritania, approximately 49% of people have electricity access (90% in urban areas, and 1% in rural areas) as of 2022. In South Africa, that number is 86% of people on average (87% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2022.
be 2.1 times more likely to have internet access
In Mauritania, approximately 37.0% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In South Africa, about 76.0% do as of 2023.
be 21.5% 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 South Africa, that number is 94% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 84% in rural areas) as of 2022.
Expenditures
spend 3.5 times more on education
Mauritania spends 1.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. South Africa spends 6.6% of total GDP on education as of 2021.
spend 2.5 times more on healthcare
Mauritania spends 3.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In South Africa, that number is 8.6% of GDP as of 2020.
Geography
see 3.7 times more coastline
Mauritania has a total of 754 km of coastline. In South Africa, that number is 2,798 km.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, South African Revenue Service.
South Africa: At a glance
How big is South Africa compared to Mauritania? See an in-depth size comparison.