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

Health

be 59.5% less likely to die by suicide

France has a suicide rate of 16.6 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 10.7 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In France, 0.3% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2023. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 3.2% of people as of 2024.

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live 17.0 years less

In France, the average life expectancy is 83 years (80 years for men, 86 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 97.0% less spent on your healthcare

France spends $6,868 per person on healthcare as of 2024 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Republic of the Congo spends $209 as of 2023.

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have 94.7% fewer doctors per person

France has 32.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Republic of the Congo has 1.7 as of 2022.

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have 51.8% less access to essential health services

France scores 85 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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Economy

be 2.6 times more likely to be unemployed

In France, 7.5% 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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make 94.9% less money

France has a GDP per capita of $48,986 as of 2025, while in Republic of the Congo, the GDP per capita is $2,515 as of 2025.

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Life

have 3.1 times more children

In France, there are approximately 9.7 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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be 34.4 times more likely to die during childbirth

In France, approximately 7.0 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 7.9 times more likely to die during infancy

In France, approximately 3.4 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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Basic Needs

be 48.7% less likely to have access to electricity

In France, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% 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 46.7% less likely to have internet access

In France, approximately 88.7% 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 26.5% less likely to have access to drinking water

In France, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water (100% in urban areas, and 100% 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 37.2% less on education

France spends 5.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Republic of the Congo spends 3.3% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 71.4% less on healthcare

France spends 11.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2024. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 3.3% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 96.5% less coastline

France has a total of 4,853 km of coastline. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 169 km.

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Safety

be 78.7% more likely to die in a road accident

In France, road accidents kill 4.7 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

live with 99.9% less strain on fresh water

France withdraws 21% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Republic of the Congo withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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find 97.4% less home broadband

France has 48.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Republic of the Congo has 1.3 as of 2023.

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use 94.8% less electricity

France uses 6,447 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Republic of the Congo uses 338 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 66.5% less CO2

France emits 4.0 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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be 6.6 times more likely to die from air pollution

In France, air pollution causes 10.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Republic of the Congo, it causes 66.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), The World Factbook. 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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