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

Health

live 8.3 years longer

In Central African Republic, the average life expectancy is 58 years (56 years for men, 60 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 52.8% more spent on your healthcare

Central African Republic spends $137 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 2.3 times more doctors per person

Central African Republic has 0.7 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Republic of the Congo has 1.7 as of 2022.

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have 28.1% more access to essential health services

Central African Republic scores 32 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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be 27.0% less likely to die by suicide

Central African Republic has a suicide rate of 9.2 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 33.3% more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Central African Republic, 2.4% 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 11.6% more likely to be obese

In Central African Republic, 10.9% 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 4.5 times more money

Central African Republic has a GDP per capita of $556 as of 2025, while in Republic of the Congo, the GDP per capita is $2,515 as of 2025.

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be 3.2 times more likely to be unemployed

In Central African Republic, 6.2% 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 65.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Central African Republic, approximately 692.0 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 2.1 times more likely to be literate

In Central African Republic, the literacy rate is 37.5% as of 2020. In Republic of the Congo, it is 80.6% as of 2021.

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be 54.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Central African Republic, approximately 58.8 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 34.1% fewer children

In Central African Republic, there are approximately 46.2 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 access to electricity

In Central African Republic, approximately 18% of people have electricity access (37% 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 3.4 times more likely to have internet access

In Central African Republic, approximately 13.8% 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 2.0 times more likely to have access to drinking water

In Central African Republic, approximately 36% of people have access to drinking water (48% in urban areas, and 27% 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 69.0% less on healthcare

Central African Republic spends 10.7% 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 82.5% more on education

Central African Republic spends 1.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Republic of the Congo spends 3.3% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Safety

be 67.6% less likely to die in a road accident

In Central African Republic, road accidents kill 25.9 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

Central African Republic has 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Republic of the Congo has 1.3 as of 2023.

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live with 91.2% less strain on fresh water

Central African Republic withdraws 0% 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 32.7% less likely to die from air pollution

In Central African Republic, air pollution causes 98.0 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 22.3 times more CO2

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

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