Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 15.4 years less

In Iowa, the average life expectancy is 78 years (76 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 62 years (61 years for men, 64 years for women) as of 2022.

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Economy

make 90.3% less money

Iowa has a GDP per capita of $63,747 as of 2024, while in Republic of the Congo, the GDP per capita is $6,200 as of 2023.

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be 6.1 times more likely to be unemployed

In Iowa, 3.3% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 20.1% as of 2023.

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Basic Needs

be 63.5% less likely to have internet access

In Iowa, approximately 87.9% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Republic of the Congo, about 32.1% do as of 2021.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Compare further: Iowa vs. Republic of the Congo

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Republic of the Congo is 15.0% cheaper than Iowa
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Size Comparison · See true size
Iowa is about 2.4 times smaller than Republic of the Congo.
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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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How big is Republic of the Congo compared to Iowa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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