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

Health

be 79.6% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Botswana, 15.7% 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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be 38.4% less likely to be obese

In Botswana, 19.8% 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 19.6% less likely to die by suicide

Botswana has a suicide rate of 8.3 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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live 3.3 years less

In Botswana, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 66 years (64 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 84.1% less spent on your healthcare

Botswana spends $1,310 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 54.4% fewer doctors per person

Botswana has 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Republic of the Congo has 1.7 as of 2022.

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have 25.5% less access to essential health services

Botswana scores 55 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Republic of the Congo scores 41 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 18.8% less likely to be unemployed

In Botswana, 24.5% 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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make 67.7% less money

Botswana has a GDP per capita of $7,778 as of 2025, while in Republic of the Congo, the GDP per capita is $2,515 as of 2025.

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Life

be 15.9% less likely to die during infancy

In Botswana, approximately 32.1 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 24.9% more children

In Botswana, there are approximately 24.4 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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be 55.5% more likely to die during childbirth

In Botswana, approximately 155.0 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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Basic Needs

be 32.5% less likely to have access to electricity

In Botswana, approximately 76% of people have electricity access (98% in urban areas, and 25% 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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be 17.8% less likely to have internet access

In Botswana, approximately 57.5% 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 19.9% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Botswana, approximately 92% of people have access to drinking water (97% in urban areas, and 78% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 73% of people on average (87% in urban areas, and 44% in rural areas) as of 2021.

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Expenditures

spend 58.6% less on education

Botswana spends 8.1% 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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spend 47.3% less on healthcare

Botswana spends 6.3% 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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Safety

be 49.1% less likely to die in a road accident

In Botswana, road accidents kill 16.5 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

live with 98.7% less strain on fresh water

Botswana withdraws 2% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Republic of the Congo withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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find 82.9% less home broadband

Botswana has 7.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Republic of the Congo has 1.3 as of 2023.

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use 79.4% less electricity

Botswana uses 1,641 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Republic of the Congo uses 338 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 51.1% less CO2

Botswana emits 2.7 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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be 20.0% more likely to die from air pollution

In Botswana, air pollution causes 55.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Republic of the Congo, it causes 66.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). 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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How big is Republic of the Congo compared to Botswana? See an in-depth size comparison.

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