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

Health

be 45.1% less likely to be obese

In Turkmenistan, 22.2% 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 4.2 years less

In Turkmenistan, the average life expectancy is 70 years (67 years for men, 73 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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see 83.5% less spent on your healthcare

Turkmenistan spends $1,264 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 91.0% fewer doctors per person

Turkmenistan has 19.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Republic of the Congo has 1.7 as of 2022.

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have 45.3% less access to essential health services

Turkmenistan scores 75 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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Economy

be 4.7 times more likely to be unemployed

In Turkmenistan, 4.3% 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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be 204.5 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Turkmenistan, 0.2% live below the poverty line as of 2012. In Republic of the Congo, however, that number is 40.9% as of 2011.

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make 61.5% less money

Turkmenistan has a GDP per capita of $6,540 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 11.2% less likely to die during infancy

In Turkmenistan, approximately 30.4 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 45.5% more children

In Turkmenistan, there are approximately 20.9 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 48.2 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Turkmenistan, approximately 5.0 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 19.3% less likely to be literate

In Turkmenistan, the literacy rate is 99.9% as of 2022. In Republic of the Congo, it is 80.6% as of 2021.

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Basic Needs

be 86.8% more likely to have internet access

In Turkmenistan, approximately 25.3% 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 48.7% less likely to have access to electricity

In Turkmenistan, 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 26.5% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Turkmenistan, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 73% of people on average (87% in urban areas, and 44% in rural areas) as of 2021.

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Expenditures

spend 22.1% less on education

Turkmenistan 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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spend 40.0% less on healthcare

Turkmenistan spends 5.5% 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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Infrastructure

live with 100.0% less strain on fresh water

Turkmenistan withdraws 135% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Republic of the Congo withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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find 75.7% less home broadband

Turkmenistan has 5.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Republic of the Congo has 1.3 as of 2023.

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use 87.8% less electricity

Turkmenistan uses 2,778 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Republic of the Congo uses 338 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 24.1% less likely to die from air pollution

In Turkmenistan, air pollution causes 87.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Republic of the Congo, it causes 66.0 as of 2019.

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emit 87.7% less CO2

Turkmenistan emits 10.9 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 (2019–2021), The World Factbook (2011–2022), 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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