If you lived in Republic of the Congo instead of Afghanistan, you would:

Health

be 40.7% less likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 20.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 12.2% of people as of 2024.

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be 32.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Afghanistan, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 3.2% of people as of 2024.

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see 36.7% less spent on your healthcare

Afghanistan spends $330 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Republic of the Congo spends $209 as of 2023.

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have 45.4% fewer doctors per person

Afghanistan has 3.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Republic of the Congo has 1.7 as of 2022.

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be 86.4% more likely to die by suicide

Afghanistan has a suicide rate of 3.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Republic of the Congo, it is 6.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 6.0 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $417 as of 2024, while in Republic of the Congo, the GDP per capita is $2,515 as of 2025.

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be 48.9% more likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 13.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 19.9% as of 2025.

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Life

be 53.7% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 521.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Republic of the Congo, 241.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 2.2 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Republic of the Congo, it is 80.6% as of 2021.

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be 44.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Afghanistan, approximately 48.3 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Republic of the Congo, on the other hand, 27.0 children do as of 2024.

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have 13.1% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 35.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Republic of the Congo, there are 30.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 2.9 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 16.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Republic of the Congo, about 47.2% do as of 2024.

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be 39.9% less likely to have access to electricity

In Afghanistan, approximately 85% of people have electricity access (96% in urban areas, and 81% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 51% of people on average (69% in urban areas, and 11% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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Expenditures

spend 78.0% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 3.3% of GDP as of 2023.

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spend 15.2% more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Republic of the Congo spends 3.3% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Safety

be 65.1% less likely to die in a road accident

In Afghanistan, road accidents kill 24.1 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Republic of the Congo, they kill 8.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 15.9 times more home broadband

Afghanistan has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Republic of the Congo has 1.3 as of 2023.

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live with 99.9% less strain on fresh water

Afghanistan withdraws 55% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Republic of the Congo withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 53.8% less likely to die from air pollution

In Afghanistan, air pollution causes 143.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Republic of the Congo, it causes 66.0 as of 2019.

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emit 4.8 times more CO2

Afghanistan emits 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Republic of the Congo emits 1.3 tonnes as of 2024.

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

Republic of the Congo: At a glance

Republic of the Congo is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 341,500 sq km. Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis. The Republic of Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.
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