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

Health

be 71.2% less likely to be obese

In Puerto Rico, 42.4% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 12.2% of people as of 2024.

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live 15.9 years less

In Puerto Rico, the average life expectancy is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 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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be 23.8% more likely to die by suicide

Puerto Rico has a suicide rate of 5.4 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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Economy

be 3.3 times more likely to be unemployed

In Puerto Rico, 6.0% 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 93.8% less money

Puerto Rico has a GDP per capita of $40,620 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 5.3 times more children

In Puerto Rico, there are approximately 5.7 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 21.9 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Puerto Rico, approximately 11.0 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 12.8% less likely to be literate

In Puerto Rico, the literacy rate is 92.4% as of 2021. In Republic of the Congo, it is 80.6% as of 2021.

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be 4.5 times more likely to die during infancy

In Puerto Rico, approximately 6.0 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. 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 Puerto Rico, 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 45.9% less likely to have internet access

In Puerto Rico, approximately 87.3% of the population has internet access as of 2022. 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 Puerto Rico, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Republic of the Congo, 73% of people do as of 2021.

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Expenditures

spend 21.8% less on education

Puerto Rico spends 4.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Republic of the Congo spends 3.3% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Geography

see 66.3% less coastline

Puerto Rico has a total of 501 km of coastline. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 169 km.

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Safety

be 32.8% less likely to die in a road accident

In Puerto Rico, road accidents kill 12.5 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 99.8% less strain on fresh water

Puerto Rico withdraws 20% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Republic of the Congo withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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find 95.5% less home broadband

Puerto Rico has 28.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Republic of the Congo has 1.3 as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 72.2% less CO2

Puerto Rico emits 4.8 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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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), The World Factbook (2021–2022), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021). 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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How big is Republic of the Congo compared to Puerto Rico? See an in-depth size comparison.

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