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

Health

be 90.6% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

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

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live 10.8 years longer

In Republic of the Congo, the average life expectancy is 66 years (64 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2024. In Malaysia, that number is 77 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 6.9 times more spent on your healthcare

Republic of the Congo spends $209 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Malaysia spends $1,441 as of 2023.

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have 13.5 times more doctors per person

Republic of the Congo has 1.7 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Malaysia has 23.4 as of 2023.

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have 85.4% more access to essential health services

Republic of the Congo scores 41 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Malaysia scores 76 as of 2021.

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be 15.8% less likely to die by suicide

Republic of the Congo has a suicide rate of 6.7 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Malaysia, it is 5.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 91.2% more likely to be obese

In Republic of the Congo, 12.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Malaysia, that number is 23.3% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 81.1% less likely to be unemployed

In Republic of the Congo, 19.9% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Malaysia, that number is 3.8% as of 2025.

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make 5.2 times more money

Republic of the Congo has a GDP per capita of $2,515 as of 2025, while in Malaysia, the GDP per capita is $13,125 as of 2025.

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Life

be 89.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Republic of the Congo, approximately 241.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Malaysia, 26.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 18.8% more likely to be literate

In Republic of the Congo, the literacy rate is 80.6% as of 2021. In Malaysia, it is 95.8% as of 2022.

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be 74.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Republic of the Congo, approximately 27.0 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Malaysia, on the other hand, 7.0 children do as of 2024.

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have 59.4% fewer children

In Republic of the Congo, there are approximately 30.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Malaysia, there are 12.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 94.9% more likely to have access to electricity

In Republic of the Congo, approximately 51% of people have electricity access (69% in urban areas, and 11% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Malaysia, 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 2.1 times more likely to have internet access

In Republic of the Congo, approximately 47.2% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Malaysia, about 98.0% do as of 2024.

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be 33.3% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Republic of the Congo, approximately 73% of people have access to drinking water (87% in urban areas, and 44% in rural areas) as of 2021. In Malaysia, that number is 98% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 95% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 20.0% more on healthcare

Republic of the Congo spends 3.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Malaysia, that number is 4.0% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 27.7 times more coastline

Republic of the Congo has a total of 169 km of coastline. In Malaysia, that number is 4,675 km.

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Safety

be 65.5% more likely to die in a road accident

In Republic of the Congo, road accidents kill 8.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Malaysia, they kill 13.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 10.7 times more home broadband

Republic of the Congo has 1.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Malaysia has 13.6 as of 2024.

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use 15.0 times more electricity

Republic of the Congo uses 338 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Malaysia uses 5,084 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 114.7 times more strain on fresh water

Republic of the Congo withdraws 0% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Malaysia withdraws 3% as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 6.2 times more CO2

Republic of the Congo emits 1.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Malaysia emits 8.3 tonnes as of 2024.

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

Malaysia: At a glance

Malaysia is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 328,657 sq km. During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula except Singapore formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore, as well as Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo, joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's independence were marred by a communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's withdrawal in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to the development of manufacturing, services, and tourism. Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (in office since April 2009) has continued these pro-business policies and has introduced some civil reforms.
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