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

Health

live 7.0 years longer

In Somalia, the average life expectancy is 59 years (56 years for men, 62 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 18.2% less likely to be obese

In Somalia, 14.9% 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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see 4.0 times more spent on your healthcare

Somalia spends $52 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Republic of the Congo spends $209 as of 2023.

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have 51.9% more access to essential health services

Somalia scores 27 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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be 15.7% less likely to die by suicide

Somalia has a suicide rate of 8.0 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 32.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Somalia, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 3.2% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

make 3.8 times more money

Somalia has a GDP per capita of $661 as of 2025, while in Republic of the Congo, the GDP per capita is $2,515 as of 2025.

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Life

be 57.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Somalia, approximately 563.0 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 48.9% more likely to be literate

In Somalia, the literacy rate is 54.1% as of 2022. In Republic of the Congo, it is 80.6% as of 2021.

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be 58.7% less likely to die during infancy

In Somalia, approximately 65.4 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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have 28.2% fewer children

In Somalia, there are approximately 42.4 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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Basic Needs

be 69.1% more likely to have internet access

In Somalia, approximately 27.9% 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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Expenditures

spend 11.8% less on healthcare

Somalia spends 3.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 3.3% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 94.4% less coastline

Somalia has a total of 3,025 km of coastline. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 169 km.

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Safety

be 58.4% less likely to die in a road accident

In Somalia, road accidents kill 20.2 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

find 76.4% more home broadband

Somalia has 0.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Republic of the Congo has 1.3 as of 2023.

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live with 99.9% less strain on fresh water

Somalia withdraws 25% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Republic of the Congo withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 26.8 times more CO2

Somalia emits 0.1 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), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), The World Factbook (2021), World Health Organization (2024). 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 Somalia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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