Moving to South Africa from Democratic Republic of the Congo
What to Expect
Considering a move from Democratic Republic of the Congo to South Africa? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Democratic Republic of the Congo to South Africa, and you’d need to navigate life in Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Democratic Republic of the Congo to South Africa.
people born in Democratic Republic of the Congo live in South Africa · UN DESA
Who's moving to South Africa?
Top countries of origin for South Africa's foreign-born residents.
- 690,243
- 350,463
- 192,008
- 94,119
- 67,382
-
6.63,892
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in South Africa compared to Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Democratic Republic of the Congo performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Democratic Republic of the Congo generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Democratic Republic of the Congo generally does better on environment, though South Africa leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
South Africa generally does better on infrastructure, though Democratic Republic of the Congo leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
South Africa generally does better on employment & economy, though Democratic Republic of the Congo leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
South Africa performs significantly better than Democratic Republic of the Congo across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa. To live, work, or study long-term in South Africa, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Africa's immigration authority.
Democratic Republic of the Congo passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Online (e-Visa)
South Africa passport holder visiting Democratic Republic of the Congo
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from South Africa?
Connectivity is usually fine (South Africa: 3.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does South Africa offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is South Africa safe for expats?
Democratic Republic of the Congo performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Democratic Republic of the Congo generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 8.1 doctors per 10,000 people in South Africa, compared to 1.9 in Democratic Republic of the Congo. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Democratic Republic of the Congo: 42).
What language do they speak in South Africa?
The official languages in South Africa are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. In Democratic Republic of the Congo, the official languages are French, Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili and Tshiluba.
Compare further: Democratic Republic of the Congo vs. South Africa
More relocation comparisons
At a Glance
CD
|
ZA
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 108,407,721 | 57,516,665 |
| Currency | Congolese Franc (CDF) | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Languages | French, Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili, Tshiluba | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
| Driving side | Right | Left |
| Calling code | +243 | +27 |
| Time zones | 2 | 1 |
| Emergency number | — | 10111 |