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

Health

live 3.4 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 Palau, that number is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 8.9 times more spent on your healthcare

Republic of the Congo spends $209 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Palau spends $1,857 as of 2023.

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have 10.5 times more doctors per person

Republic of the Congo has 1.7 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Palau has 18.1 as of 2023.

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have 58.5% more access to essential health services

Republic of the Congo scores 41 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Palau scores 65 as of 2021.

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be 3.3 times more likely to be obese

In Republic of the Congo, 12.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Palau, that number is 40.5% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

make 7.8 times more money

Republic of the Congo has a GDP per capita of $2,515 as of 2025, while in Palau, the GDP per capita is $19,532 as of 2025.

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Life

be 63.1% 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 Palau, 89.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 23.9% more likely to be literate

In Republic of the Congo, the literacy rate is 80.6% as of 2021. In Palau, it is 99.8% as of 2020.

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be 31.1% 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 Palau, on the other hand, 18.6 children do as of 2024.

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have 64.9% fewer children

In Republic of the Congo, there are approximately 30.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Palau, there are 10.7 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 Palau, 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 77.6% more likely to have internet access

In Republic of the Congo, approximately 47.2% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Palau, about 83.9% do as of 2024.

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be 35.4% 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 Palau, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 99% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 3.3 times more on healthcare

Republic of the Congo spends 3.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Palau, that number is 10.8% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 9.0 times more coastline

Republic of the Congo has a total of 169 km of coastline. In Palau, that number is 1,519 km.

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Safety

be 2.6 times 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 Palau, they kill 22.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 5.8 times more home broadband

Republic of the Congo has 1.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Palau has 7.3 as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 61.8 times more CO2

Republic of the Congo emits 1.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Palau emits 82.8 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), The World Factbook (2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Palau: At a glance

Palau is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 459 sq km. After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986 but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year when the islands gained independence.
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How big is Palau compared to Republic of the Congo? See an in-depth size comparison.

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