Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Virgin Islands instead of Democratic Republic of the Congo, you would:

Health

live 18.4 years longer

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, the average life expectancy is 62 years (60 years for men, 64 years for women) as of 2022. In Virgin Islands, that number is 80 years (77 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 33.6 times more money

Democratic Republic of the Congo has a GDP per capita of $1,100 as of 2022, while in Virgin Islands, the GDP per capita is $37,000 as of 2016.

be 54.1% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 63.0% live below the poverty line as of 2014. In Virgin Islands, however, that number is 28.9% as of 2002.

be 2.7 times more likely to be unemployed

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 4.7% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Virgin Islands, that number is 12.9% as of 2022.

Life

be 87.4% less likely to die during infancy

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 60.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Virgin Islands, on the other hand, 7.7 children do as of 2022.

have 71.7% fewer children

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, there are approximately 39.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Virgin Islands, there are 11.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 4.8 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 21% of the population has electricity access as of 2021. In Virgin Islands, 100% of the population do as of 2021.

be 2.8 times more likely to have internet access

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 23.2% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Virgin Islands, about 64.8% do as of 2022.

be 66.2% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 59% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In Virgin Islands, 99% of people do as of 2020.

Geography

see 5.1 times more coastline

Democratic Republic of the Congo has a total of 37 km of coastline. In Virgin Islands, that number is 188 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Virgin Islands: At a glance

Virgin Islands (sometimes abbreviated USVI) is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 346 sq km. The Danes secured control over the southern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix during the 17th and early 18th centuries. Sugarcane, produced by African slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish holdings, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.
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How big is Virgin Islands compared to Democratic Republic of the Congo? See an in-depth size comparison.

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