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

Health

live 5.4 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 Namibia, that number is 68 years (63 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 18.5 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). Namibia spends $1,068 as of 2023.

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have 2.7 times more doctors per person

Democratic Republic of the Congo has 2.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Namibia has 5.5 as of 2022.

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have 50.0% 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. Namibia scores 63 as of 2021.

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be 12.9 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 0.7% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Namibia, that number is 9.0% of people as of 2024.

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be 2.7 times more likely to be obese

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 6.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Namibia, that number is 18.3% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

make 6.0 times more money

Democratic Republic of the Congo has a GDP per capita of $807 as of 2025, while in Namibia, the GDP per capita is $4,876 as of 2025.

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be 4.4 times more likely to be unemployed

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 4.4% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Namibia, that number is 19.3% as of 2025.

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Life

be 67.4% 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 Namibia, 139.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 27.9% more likely to be literate

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, the literacy rate is 68.5% as of 2023. In Namibia, it is 87.6% as of 2023.

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be 35.5% 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 Namibia, on the other hand, 36.4 children do as of 2024.

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have 36.7% fewer children

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, there are approximately 40.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Namibia, there are 25.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 2.6 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 Namibia, that number is 57% of people on average (75% in urban areas, and 34% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 3.3 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 Namibia, about 64.9% do as of 2024.

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be 2.4 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 Namibia, that number is 87% of people on average (96% in urban areas, and 74% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 3.2 times more on education

Democratic Republic of the Congo spends 2.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Namibia spends 9.1% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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spend 2.6 times more on healthcare

Democratic Republic of the Congo spends 3.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Namibia, that number is 9.5% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 42.5 times more coastline

Democratic Republic of the Congo has a total of 37 km of coastline. In Namibia, that number is 1,572 km.

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Safety

be 35.0% more 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 Namibia, they kill 22.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 94.3 times more home broadband

Democratic Republic of the Congo has 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Namibia has 2.8 as of 2024.

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use 9.6 times more electricity

Democratic Republic of the Congo uses 129 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Namibia uses 1,232 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 34.8% more strain on fresh water

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

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Environment

be 40.3% 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 Namibia, it causes 43.0 as of 2019.

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emit 20.0 times more CO2

Democratic Republic of the Congo emits 0.1 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Namibia emits 1.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Namibia: At a glance

Namibia is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 823,290 sq km. South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia has been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990. Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in a landslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country during its first 14 years of self rule. POHAMBA was reelected in November 2009.
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How big is Namibia compared to Democratic Republic of the Congo? See an in-depth size comparison.

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