Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 20.9 years less

In South Korea, the average life expectancy is 83 years (80 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 62 years (61 years for men, 64 years for women) as of 2022.

be 2.0 times more likely to be obese

In South Korea, 4.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 9.6% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 87.7% less money

South Korea has a GDP per capita of $50,600 as of 2023, while in Republic of the Congo, the GDP per capita is $6,200 as of 2023.

be 7.6 times more likely to be unemployed

In South Korea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 20.1% as of 2023.

be 2.8 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Korea, 14.4% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Republic of the Congo, however, that number is 40.9% as of 2011.

Life

have 4.1 times more children

In South Korea, there are approximately 6.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Republic of the Congo, there are 28.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 35.2 times more likely to die during childbirth

In South Korea, approximately 8.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Republic of the Congo, 282.0 women do as of 2020.

be 17.8% less likely to be literate

In South Korea, the literacy rate is 98.0% as of 2019. In Republic of the Congo, it is 80.6% as of 2021.

be 16.7 times more likely to die during infancy

In South Korea, approximately 2.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Republic of the Congo, on the other hand, 47.9 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 49.4% less likely to have access to electricity

In South Korea, approximately 100% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Republic of the Congo, 51% of the population do as of 2022.

be 67.2% less likely to have internet access

In South Korea, approximately 98.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Republic of the Congo, about 32.1% do as of 2021.

be 15.7% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In South Korea, approximately 100% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In Republic of the Congo, 84% of people do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 46.4% less on healthcare

South Korea spends 8.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 4.5% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 93.0% less coastline

South Korea has a total of 2,413 km of coastline. In Republic of the Congo, that number is 169 km.

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

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 South Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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