Moving to Democratic Republic of the Congo from Belgium

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Belgium to Democratic Republic of the Congo — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Belgium to Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Belgium and Democratic Republic of the Congo stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BE
4.6
CD
16.3

Belgium performs better than Democratic Republic of the Congo across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BE
$7,489
CD
$58
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BE
35.7
CD
2.1

Democratic Republic of the Congo generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BE
15.0
CD
72.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BE
7.3t
CD
0.1t

Belgium generally does better on environment, though Democratic Republic of the Congo leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BE
44.2
CD
0.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BE
52.8%
CD
0.2%

Belgium generally does better on infrastructure, though Democratic Republic of the Congo leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

BE
5.9%
CD
4.4%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

BE
$60,750
CD
$807

Belgium generally does better on employment & economy, though Democratic Republic of the Congo leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

BE
82.3 yrs
CD
62.1 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BE
3.1
CD
56.4

Belgium performs better than Democratic Republic of the Congo across all family life metrics.

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Belgium and Democratic Republic of the Congo. To live, work, or study long-term in Democratic Republic of the Congo, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Democratic Republic of the Congo's immigration authority.

Belgium passport

Belgium passport holder visiting Democratic Republic of the Congo

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Belgium passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Democratic Republic of the Congo passport

Democratic Republic of the Congo passport holder visiting Belgium

Visa Required
Democratic Republic of the Congo passport holders need a visa to enter Belgium.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Democratic Republic of the Congo?

With 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Democratic Republic of the Congo can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Belgium and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Is Democratic Republic of the Congo safe for expats?

Belgium performs better than Democratic Republic of the Congo across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Democratic Republic of the Congo compared to Belgium?

Democratic Republic of the Congo generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 2.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Democratic Republic of the Congo, compared to 35.7 in Belgium. Democratic Republic of the Congo scores 42 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Belgium: 86).

What language do they speak in Democratic Republic of the Congo?

The official languages in Democratic Republic of the Congo are French, Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili and Tshiluba. In Belgium, the official languages are Dutch, French and German.

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At a Glance

BE CD
Population 11,941,781 112,832,473
Currency Euro (€) Congolese Franc (CDF)
Languages Dutch, French, German French, Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili, Tshiluba
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +32 +243
Time zones 1 2
Emergency number 112 —