If you lived in Mozambique instead of Papua New Guinea, you would:

Health

be 62.0% less likely to be obese

In Papua New Guinea, 28.0% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Mozambique, that number is 10.7% of people as of 2024.

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have 2.9 times more doctors per person

Papua New Guinea has 0.6 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Mozambique has 1.8 as of 2022.

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have 46.7% more access to essential health services

Papua New Guinea scores 30 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Mozambique scores 44 as of 2021.

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be 7.7 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Papua New Guinea, 1.5% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Mozambique, that number is 11.5% of people as of 2024.

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live 2.5 years less

In Papua New Guinea, the average life expectancy is 66 years (64 years for men, 69 years for women) as of 2024. In Mozambique, that number is 64 years (60 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 5.8 times more likely to die by suicide

Papua New Guinea has a suicide rate of 1.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Mozambique, it is 10.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 2.6 times more likely to be unemployed

In Papua New Guinea, 2.6% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Mozambique, that number is 6.6% as of 2025.

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make 79.2% less money

Papua New Guinea has a GDP per capita of $3,020 as of 2025, while in Mozambique, the GDP per capita is $627 as of 2025.

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Life

be 47.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 189.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Mozambique, 99.0 women do as of 2023.

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have 52.4% more children

In Papua New Guinea, there are approximately 24.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Mozambique, there are 37.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 29.1% less likely to be literate

In Papua New Guinea, the literacy rate is 87.0% as of 2022. In Mozambique, it is 61.7% as of 2022.

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be 39.6% more likely to die during infancy

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 31.3 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Mozambique, on the other hand, 43.7 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 75.6% more likely to have access to electricity

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 20% of people have electricity access (65% in urban areas, and 13% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Mozambique, that number is 36% of people on average (79% in urban areas, and 9% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 25.0% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 53% of people have access to drinking water (84% in urban areas, and 48% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Mozambique, that number is 67% of people on average (89% in urban areas, and 52% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 7.7 times more on education

Papua New Guinea spends 0.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Mozambique spends 6.0% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 3.0 times more on healthcare

Papua New Guinea spends 2.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Mozambique, that number is 8.5% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 52.1% less coastline

Papua New Guinea has a total of 5,152 km of coastline. In Mozambique, that number is 2,470 km.

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Safety

be 61.7% less likely to be murdered

Papua New Guinea has a homicide rate of 9.4 per 100,000 people as of 2010. In Mozambique, that number is 3.6 per 100,000 as of 2011.

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be 34.9% more likely to die in a road accident

In Papua New Guinea, road accidents kill 14.9 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Mozambique, they kill 20.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 39.1% less home broadband

Papua New Guinea has 0.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Mozambique has 0.1 as of 2024.

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live with 13.5 times more strain on fresh water

Papua New Guinea withdraws 0% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Mozambique withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 44.2% less CO2

Papua New Guinea emits 0.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Mozambique emits 0.3 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 68.4% more likely to die from air pollution

In Papua New Guinea, air pollution causes 38.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Mozambique, it causes 64.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2010–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Mozambique: At a glance

Mozambique is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 786,380 sq km. Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development until the mid 1990s. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo) party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement between Frelimo and rebel Mozambique National Resistance (Renamo) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In December 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected successor, Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, promised to continue the sound economic policies that have encouraged foreign investment. President GUEBUZA was reelected to a second term in October 2009. However, the elections were flawed by voter fraud, questionable disqualification of candidates, and Frelimo use of government resources during the campaign. As a result, Freedom House removed Mozambique from its list of electoral democracies.
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