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

Health

live 20.3 years longer

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, the average life expectancy is 62 years (60 years for men, 64 years for women) as of 2024. In Finland, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 111.4 times more spent on your healthcare

Democratic Republic of the Congo spends $58 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Finland spends $6,433 as of 2023.

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have 17.4 times more doctors per person

Democratic Republic of the Congo has 2.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Finland has 36.1 as of 2021.

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have 2.0 times more access to essential health services

Democratic Republic of the Congo scores 42 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Finland scores 86 as of 2021.

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be 3.6 times more likely to be obese

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 6.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Finland, that number is 24.2% of people as of 2024.

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be 66.1% more likely to die by suicide

Democratic Republic of the Congo has a suicide rate of 8.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Finland, it is 14.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 78.3% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 56.2% live below the poverty line as of 2020. In Finland, however, that number is 12.2% as of 2022.

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make 69.6 times more money

Democratic Republic of the Congo has a GDP per capita of $807 as of 2025, while in Finland, the GDP per capita is $56,149 as of 2025.

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be 2.1 times more likely to be unemployed

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 4.4% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Finland, that number is 9.5% as of 2025.

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Life

be 98.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 427.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Finland, 8.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 96.6% less likely to die during infancy

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 56.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Finland, on the other hand, 1.9 children do as of 2024.

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have 80.9% fewer children

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, there are approximately 40.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Finland, there are 7.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 4.5 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 22% of people have electricity access (56% in urban areas, and 1% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Finland, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 4.8 times more likely to have internet access

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 19.7% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Finland, about 93.7% do as of 2024.

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be 2.8 times more likely to have access to drinking water

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 36% of people have access to drinking water (59% in urban areas, and 14% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Finland, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 2.2 times more on education

Democratic Republic of the Congo spends 2.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Finland spends 6.4% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 2.8 times more on healthcare

Democratic Republic of the Congo spends 3.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Finland, that number is 10.5% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 33.8 times more coastline

Democratic Republic of the Congo has a total of 37 km of coastline. In Finland, that number is 1,250 km.

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Safety

be 74.2% less likely to die in a road accident

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, road accidents kill 16.3 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Finland, they kill 4.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 1216.0 times more home broadband

Democratic Republic of the Congo has 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Finland has 36.5 as of 2024.

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use 115.3 times more electricity

Democratic Republic of the Congo uses 129 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Finland uses 14,819 kWh as of 2024.

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live with 30.9 times more strain on fresh water

Democratic Republic of the Congo withdraws 0% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Finland withdraws 7% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 90.3% less likely to die from air pollution

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, air pollution causes 72.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Finland, it causes 7.0 as of 2019.

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emit 92.3 times more CO2

Democratic Republic of the Congo emits 0.1 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Finland emits 5.5 tonnes as of 2024.

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

Finland: At a glance

Finland is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 303,815 sq km. Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries, and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It gained complete independence in 1917. During World War II, it successfully defended its independence through cooperation with Germany and resisted subsequent invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, Finland transformed from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the European Union since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro single currency at its initiation in January 1999. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are high quality education, promotion of equality, and a national social welfare system - currently challenged by an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy.
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