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

Health

be 40.0% less likely to be obese

In Bulgaria, 20.3% 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 29.4% less likely to die by suicide

Bulgaria has a suicide rate of 9.5 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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be 32.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Bulgaria, 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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live 9.8 years less

In Bulgaria, the average life expectancy is 76 years (72 years for men, 80 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 93.0% less spent on your healthcare

Bulgaria spends $2,970 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 96.0% fewer doctors per person

Bulgaria has 43.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Republic of the Congo has 1.7 as of 2022.

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have 43.8% less access to essential health services

Bulgaria scores 73 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 5.6 times more likely to be unemployed

In Bulgaria, 3.5% 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 87.6% less money

Bulgaria has a GDP per capita of $20,328 as of 2025, while in Republic of the Congo, the GDP per capita is $2,515 as of 2025.

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Life

have 3.7 times more children

In Bulgaria, there are approximately 8.3 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 40.2 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Bulgaria, approximately 6.0 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 18.1% less likely to be literate

In Bulgaria, the literacy rate is 98.4% as of 2021. In Republic of the Congo, it is 80.6% as of 2021.

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be 5.9 times more likely to die during infancy

In Bulgaria, approximately 4.6 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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Basic Needs

be 48.7% less likely to have access to electricity

In Bulgaria, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% 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 42.7% less likely to have internet access

In Bulgaria, approximately 82.4% 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 25.9% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Bulgaria, approximately 99% of people have access to drinking water (100% in urban areas, and 98% 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 25.8% less on education

Bulgaria spends 4.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Republic of the Congo spends 3.3% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 58.3% less on healthcare

Bulgaria spends 7.9% 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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Geography

see 52.3% less coastline

Bulgaria has a total of 354 km of coastline. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 169 km.

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Infrastructure

live with 99.9% less strain on fresh water

Bulgaria withdraws 40% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Republic of the Congo withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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find 96.6% less home broadband

Bulgaria has 37.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Republic of the Congo has 1.3 as of 2023.

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use 93.7% less electricity

Bulgaria uses 5,360 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 74.8% less CO2

Bulgaria emits 5.3 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), The World Factbook (2021), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (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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