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

Health

live 2.2 years longer

In Burundi, the average life expectancy is 64 years (62 years for men, 66 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 2.1 times more spent on your healthcare

Burundi spends $100 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 2.2 times more doctors per person

Burundi has 0.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Republic of the Congo has 1.7 as of 2022.

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be 12.3% less likely to die by suicide

Burundi has a suicide rate of 7.7 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 4.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Burundi, 0.8% 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 2.4 times more likely to be obese

In Burundi, 5.2% 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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Economy

make 10.8 times more money

Burundi has a GDP per capita of $234 as of 2025, while in Republic of the Congo, the GDP per capita is $2,515 as of 2025.

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be 21.6 times more likely to be unemployed

In Burundi, 0.9% 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 38.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Burundi, approximately 392.0 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 11.5% less likely to die during infancy

In Burundi, approximately 30.5 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 4.4 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Burundi, approximately 12% of people have electricity access (65% in urban areas, and 2% 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 5.5 times more likely to have internet access

In Burundi, approximately 8.6% 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 11.5% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Burundi, approximately 66% of people have access to drinking water (91% in urban areas, and 61% 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

Burundi spends 4.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2025. Republic of the Congo spends 3.3% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 63.7% less on healthcare

Burundi spends 9.1% 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 31.7% less likely to die in a road accident

In Burundi, road accidents kill 12.3 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 63.5 times more home broadband

Burundi has 0.0 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 99.7% less strain on fresh water

Burundi withdraws 10% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Republic of the Congo withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 19.1 times more CO2

Burundi emits 0.1 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), 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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How big is Republic of the Congo compared to Burundi? See an in-depth size comparison.

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