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

Health

live 10.6 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 Venezuela, that number is 73 years (69 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 3.2 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). Venezuela spends $186 as of 2023.

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have 78.6% 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. Venezuela scores 75 as of 2021.

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be 3.4 times more likely to be obese

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 6.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Venezuela, that number is 23.0% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

make 4.3 times more money

Democratic Republic of the Congo has a GDP per capita of $807 as of 2025, while in Venezuela, the GDP per capita is $3,495 as of 2025.

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be 19.9% more likely to be unemployed

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 4.4% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Venezuela, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.

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Life

be 46.8% 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 Venezuela, 227.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 42.3% more likely to be literate

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, the literacy rate is 68.5% as of 2023. In Venezuela, it is 97.5% as of 2021.

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be 62.4% 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 Venezuela, on the other hand, 21.2 children do as of 2024.

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have 62.7% fewer children

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, there are approximately 40.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Venezuela, there are 15.2 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 Venezuela, 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 3.9 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 Venezuela, about 76.7% do as of 2024.

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be 2.6 times more likely to have access to drinking water

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 36% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Venezuela, 93% of people do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 75.7 times more coastline

Democratic Republic of the Congo has a total of 37 km of coastline. In Venezuela, that number is 2,800 km.

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Safety

be 19.0% 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 Venezuela, they kill 13.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 431.3 times more home broadband

Democratic Republic of the Congo has 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Venezuela has 12.9 as of 2024.

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use 15.2 times more electricity

Democratic Republic of the Congo uses 129 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Venezuela uses 1,953 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 32.8 times more strain on fresh water

Democratic Republic of the Congo withdraws 0% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Venezuela withdraws 8% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 55.6% 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 Venezuela, it causes 32.0 as of 2019.

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emit 56.5 times more CO2

Democratic Republic of the Congo emits 0.1 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Venezuela emits 3.4 tonnes as of 2024.

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

Venezuela: At a glance

Venezuela is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 882,050 sq km. Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president from 1999 to 2013, sought to implement his "21st Century Socialism," which purported to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking capitalist globalization and existing democratic institutions. His hand-picked successor, President Nicolas MADURO, continues CHAVEZ's socialist programs. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, rampant violent crime, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, foreign exchange controls that discourage private-sector investment, high inflation, a decline in the quality of fundamental houman rights, and widespread scarcity of consumer goods.
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