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

Health

live 19.3 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 United Kingdom, that number is 81 years (80 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 114.4 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). United Kingdom spends $6,606 as of 2024.

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have 15.9 times more doctors per person

Democratic Republic of the Congo has 2.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. United Kingdom has 33.0 as of 2023.

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have 2.1 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. United Kingdom scores 88 as of 2021.

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be 4.1 times more likely to be obese

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 6.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In United Kingdom, that number is 27.4% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 66.9% 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 United Kingdom, however, that number is 18.6% as of 2017.

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make 71.4 times more money

Democratic Republic of the Congo has a GDP per capita of $807 as of 2025, while in United Kingdom, the GDP per capita is $57,602 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 United Kingdom, 8.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 92.7% 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 United Kingdom, on the other hand, 4.1 children do as of 2024.

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have 75.8% fewer children

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, there are approximately 40.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In United Kingdom, there are 9.9 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 United Kingdom, 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 4.9 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 United Kingdom, about 95.5% 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 United Kingdom, 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 2.1 times more on education

Democratic Republic of the Congo spends 2.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. United Kingdom spends 5.9% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

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spend 3.0 times more on healthcare

Democratic Republic of the Congo spends 3.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In United Kingdom, that number is 11.1% of GDP as of 2024.

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Geography

see 335.9 times more coastline

Democratic Republic of the Congo has a total of 37 km of coastline. In United Kingdom, that number is 12,429 km.

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Safety

be 85.3% 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 United Kingdom, they kill 2.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 1405.3 times more home broadband

Democratic Republic of the Congo has 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. United Kingdom has 42.2 as of 2024.

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use 32.6 times more electricity

Democratic Republic of the Congo uses 129 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. United Kingdom uses 4,195 kWh as of 2024.

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live with 62.4 times more strain on fresh water

Democratic Republic of the Congo withdraws 0% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. United Kingdom withdraws 14% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 81.9% 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 United Kingdom, it causes 13.0 as of 2019.

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emit 70.3 times more CO2

Democratic Republic of the Congo emits 0.1 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. United Kingdom emits 4.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

United Kingdom: At a glance

United Kingdom (sometimes abbreviated UK) is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 241,930 sq km. The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The UK is also an active member of the EU, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999. The latter was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process, but devolution was fully completed in March 2010.
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