Congo, DR (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Congo, DR Democratic Republic of the Congo
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	185th best
Capital	Kinshasa
Land Area	2 267 050km21
Location	Africa
Population	84.1m2
Life Expectancy	59.19yrs (2017)3
GNI	$1 076 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	CD, COD, 1805
Internet Domain	.cd6
Currency	Franc (CDF)7
Telephone	+2438

1. Overview
2. Congo, DR National and Social Development
3. Congo, DR's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Congo, DR's Health
6. Congo, DR's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Congo, DR's Modernity and Learning
8. Congo, DR's Culture, Peace and Inequality
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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1. Overview

#angola #belgium #burundi #chad #namibia #rwanda #sudan #uganda #zimbabwe

“Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the then-Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but its early years were marred by political and social instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years through several sham elections, as well as through brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA. He renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but in August 1998 his regime was itself challenged by a second insurrection again backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervened to support KABILA's regime. In January 2001, KABILA was assassinated and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state. In October 2002, the new president was successful in negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying the eastern DRC; two months later, the Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. A transitional government was set up in July 2003; it held a successful constitutional referendum in December 2005 and elections for the presidency, National Assembly, and provincial legislatures took place in 2006. In 2009, following a resurgence of conflict in the eastern DRC, the government signed a peace agreement with the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP), a primarily Tutsi rebel group. An attempt to integrate CNDP members into the Congolese military failed, prompting their defection in 2012 and the formation of the M23 armed group - named after the 23 March 2009 peace agreements. Renewed conflict has lead to the displacement of large numbers of persons and significant human rights abuses. As of February 2013, peace talks between the Congolese government and the M23 were on-going. In addition, the DRC continues to experience violence committed by other armed groups including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda and Mai Mai groups. In the most recent national elections, held in November 2011, disputed results allowed Joseph KABILA to be reelected to the presidency .”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Compelling conversations with locals; exhilarating interactions in impenetrable forests and beckoning rivers are all on show in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As much a geographical concept as a fully fledged nation, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC; formerly Zaïre) has one of the saddest chapters in modern history: from the brazen political folly of King Leopold of Belgium to the hideously corrupt kleptocracy of maverick leader Mobutu Sese Seko and the blood-stained battlegrounds of Africa's first 'world war'.

But after a decades-long decline in which much of the country descended into anarchy, Africa's second-largest nation is headed in the right direction. It still has a long way to go, but new roads, enormous untapped mineral wealth and the world´s largest UN peacekeeping force have bred optimism among its tormented but resilient population.

Carpeted by huge swaths of rain forest and punctuated by gushing rivers and smoking volcanoes, DRC is the ultimate African adventure. There is absolutely nothing soft nor easy about it but for an African immersion you´ll never forget, this is the place to be.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Congo, DR National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
176	Eritrea	0.492
177	Guinea-Bissau	0.483
178	Liberia	0.481
179	Congo, DR	0.479
180	Afghanistan	0.478
181	Sierra Leone	0.477
182	Guinea	0.465
183	Yemen	0.455
	Africa Avg	0.56
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
186	Liberia	$1 289
187	Niger	$1 240
188	Mozambique	$1 198
189	Congo, DR	$1 076
190	Somalia	$1 018
191	Central African Rep.	$0 966
192	S. Sudan	$0 768
193	Burundi	$0 732
	Africa Avg	$5 339
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	29.1
2	Norway	32.3
3	Sweden	34.1
	...
182	Mauritania	120.3
183	Yemen	122.5
184	Zimbabwe	122.9
185	Congo, DR	123.5
186	Nauru	124.3
187	Central African Rep.	125.4
188	Marshall Islands	127.3
189	Chad	127.3
	Africa Avg	119.0
	World Avg	88.9
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Congo, DR's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

Congo, DR's population is predicted to rise to 105.96 million by 2030. These millions of extra people will all need space to live, food to eat, energy to consume, and will increase the burden on the planet's resources. This country has a fertility rate of 6.11. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
13	Philippines	106.7m
14	Egypt	98.4m
15	Vietnam	95.5m
16	Congo, DR	84.1m
17	Germany	83.1m
18	Turkey	82.3m
19	Iran	81.8m
20	Thailand	69.4m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
182	Burkina Faso	59.3
183	Namibia	59.3
184	Zimbabwe	59.3
185	Congo, DR	59.2
186	Mali	58.9
187	Guinea	58.9
188	Ivory Coast	58.6
189	Swaziland	57.1
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
201	Nigeria	5.14
202	Angola	5.21
203	Mali	5.87
204	Central African Rep.	5.92
205	Congo, DR	6.11
206	Somalia	6.20
207	Chad	6.22
208	Niger	6.75
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15
Pos.		2016 Per 10015
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
19	Yemen	05.7
20=	Cameroon	05.8
20=	Niger	05.8
20=	Congo, DR	05.8
20=	Benin	05.8
24	Burundi	05.9
25=	Liberia	05.9
26	Iraq	06.0
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.		2017 %16
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
150	Vanuatu	1.2%
151	Ethiopia	1.2%
152	Sao Tome & Principe	1.1%
153	Congo, DR	1.1%
154	Bosnia & Herzegovina	1.1%
155	Guinea	1.0%
156	Iraq	1.0%
157	Mexico	0.9%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants17
Pos.		2010 %17
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
165	Zambia	1.4%
166	Cameroon	1.4%
167	Malawi	1.4%
168	Congo, DR	1.3%
169	N. Korea	1.3%
170	Thailand	1.2%
171	UAE	1.2%
172	Mongolia	1.2%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#congo #congo_dr_human_rights #DR #equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank18
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
183	Syria	137.3
184	Iraq	138.0
185	Swaziland	138.1
186	Congo, DR	141.3
187	Angola	141.9
188	Saudi Arabia	143.6
	Africa Avg	110.04
	World Avg	86.55
q=199.

Congo, DR is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Congo, DR does better than average for its nominal commitment to Human Rights₁₉ and in LGBT equality₂₀. However Congo, DR performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average for supporting press freedom₂₁, freethought₂₂ and in its average Freedom in the World rating. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in terms of commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₃ (amongst the lowest in Africa), opposing gender inequality₂₄, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₅ (amongst the worst in Africa) and in eliminating modern slavery₂₆. From 2016 to 2017, thousands of civilians have been killed by government forces, hundreds of schools attacked, millions displaced from their homes and human rights observers have been executed₂₇. To be amongst the worst countries in the world on so many factors means that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the most difficult places on Earth to be a Human Being.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights and Freedom in the Democratic Republic of Congo

5. Congo, DR's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	Mauritius	71.9
2	Tunisia	75.6
3	Morocco	88.2
	...
27=	Mauritania	128.5
28	Togo	128.9
29	Guinea-Bissau	129.4
30	Congo, DR	129.6
31	Zimbabwe	130.1
32	Gabon	130.3
33	Sudan	130.3
34	Tanzania	130.8
35	Malawi	131.5
	Africa Avg	111.13
q=54.

Health (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
177	Togo	128.9
178	Guinea-Bissau	129.4
179	Kiribati	129.5
180	Congo, DR	129.6
181	Zimbabwe	130.1
182	Gabon	130.3
183	Sudan	130.3
184	Tanzania	130.8
	World Avg	97.60
q=213.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₂₉. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Cook Islands, The Marshall Islands and Niue₂₉.

25 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans₂₉, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Australasia₂₉.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

Congo, DR is a pretty unhealthy country. Congo, DR comes in the best 20 in its smoking rate₃₀. It does better than average in the prevalence of overweight adults₃₁ and in its alcohol consumption rate₃₂. Congo, DR does not succeed in everything, however. Congo, DR does worse than average when it comes to its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₃ and in its immunizations take-up₃₄. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in terms of its adolescent birth rate₃₅, its average life expectancy₁₁ and in its fertility rate₁₄ (amongst the worst in Africa). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Congo DR in 1990 was 48.6yrs, somewhat lower than the global average of 64.6. It improved by +11.7yrs in the 30 years from then, (much better than the global average of +7.9yrs). It has had a long-term consistent fertility rate, and is one of only 22 countries to vary by less than 1.0 each decade since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate was 6.74 in 1987.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
182	Burkina Faso	59.3
183	Namibia	59.3
184	Zimbabwe	59.3
185	Congo, DR	59.2
186	Mali	58.9
187	Guinea	58.9
188	Ivory Coast	58.6
189	Swaziland	57.1
	Africa Avg	62.79
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better32
Pos.		2016 Per Capita32
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
48=	Samoa	2.5
48=	Micronesia	2.5
48=	Guatemala	2.5
51	Congo, DR	2.6
52=	Uzbekistan	2.7
52=	Ghana	2.7
52=	Maldives	2.7
55	Ethiopia	2.9
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
201	Nigeria	5.14
202	Angola	5.21
203	Mali	5.87
204	Central African Rep.	5.92
205	Congo, DR	6.11
206	Somalia	6.20
207	Chad	6.22
208	Niger	6.75
	Africa Avg	3.97
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking Rates Lower is better30
Pos.		201430
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
4	Uganda	41
5	Rwanda	53
6	Samoa	54
7	Congo, DR	74
8	Ethiopia	76
9	Vanuatu	76
10	Guyana	77
11	Suriname	79
12	Malawi	80
	Africa Avg	340
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
124	Antigua & Barbuda	124
125	Burkina Faso	125
126	Mauritius	126
127	Congo, DR	127
128	Gabon	128
129	Ivory Coast	129
130	Mongolia	130
131	Afghanistan	131
	Africa Avg	117.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better31
Pos.		1976 %31
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
31	Tanzania	9.0
32=	Philippines	9.1
32=	Guinea	9.1
34	Congo, DR	9.2
35=	Nigeria	9.2
36	Gambia	9.3
37	Mauritania	9.7
38	Benin	9.8
	Africa Avg	13.4
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better36
Pos.		2022 %36
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
10	Bangladesh	5.3%
11	Niger	5.3%
12	Chad	5.7%
13	Congo, DR	5.8%
14	Burkina Faso	6.1%
15	Malawi	6.4%
16	Sierra Leone	6.5%
17	Nepal	6.6%
	Africa Avg	13.7%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better35
Pos.		2022 Per 100035
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
176	Congo, (Brazzaville)	101.2
177	Ivory Coast	103.3
178	Uganda	105.7
179	Congo, DR	107.5
180	Cameroon	108.6
181	Burkina Faso	108.7
182	Guinea	112.2
183	Somalia	116.1
	Africa Avg	84.6
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better34
Pos.		2015 Avg %34
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
164	Philippines	77.9
165	Sweden	77.8
166	Ivory Coast	76.9
167	Congo, DR	76.5
168	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	76.5
169	Indonesia	76.4
170	Mali	76.0
171	India	75.1
	Africa Avg	81.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Congo DR was amongst 49 countries in the 1990s who had an adolescent birth rate of over 100 (per 1000 girls aged 15-19); in the 2010s it was still amongst only 27 countries that fell into the same grouping.

6. Congo, DR's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #brazil #burundi #climate_change #congo,_dr #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2025)37
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank37
1	Morocco	46.5
2	Burundi	47.8
3	Mali	51.0
	...
20	Guinea	67.1
21	Ivory Coast	70.8
22	Togo	71.1
23	Congo, DR	73.0
24	Swaziland	74.2
25	Chad	74.4
26	Cape Verde	75.6
27	Malawi	76.0
28	Benin	76.5
	Africa Avg	80.07
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)37
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank37
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
64	Yemen	71.9
65	Pakistan	72.0
66	France	72.8
67	Congo, DR	73.0
68	Romania	73.8
69	Swaziland	74.2
70	Chad	74.4
71	UK	74.4
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₃₈. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Congo, DR is 67th in the world with regard to its responsibility towards the environment. This is derived from 21 data sets. Congo, DR does the best in reducing annual meat consumption per person₃₉. It comes in the best 20 in energy to GDP efficiency₄₀. It does better than average in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. But, things still need to improve in Congo, DR. Congo, DR does worse than average for the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₁ and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₂. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in its environmental performance₄₃ (amongst the worst in Africa).

Environmental Performance Higher is better43
Pos.		201843
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
173	Lesotho	33.8
174	Haiti	33.7
175	Madagascar	33.7
176	Nepal	31.4
177	India	30.6
178	Congo, DR	30.4
179	Bangladesh	29.6
180	Burundi	27.4
	Africa Avg	46.4
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better40
Pos.		2022 Avg40
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
12	Afghanistan	0.43
13	Guinea-Bissau	0.45
14	Niger	0.48
15	Congo, DR	0.49
16	Nigeria	0.49
17	Myanmar (Burma)	0.53
18	Gabon	0.55
19	Switzerland	0.55
	Africa Avg	0.83
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
58	Papua New Guinea	66%
59	Italy	66%
60	Morocco	66%
61	Congo, DR	65%
62	Sri Lanka	65%
63	Madagascar	65%
64	China	64%
65	Malaysia	64%
	Africa Avg	56.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better41
Pos.		2011 %41
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
121	Liberia	23.1%
122	Netherlands	23.0%
123	Finland	22.9%
124	Congo, DR	22.8%
125	UK	22.6%
126	Malawi	22.0%
127	UAE	20.8%
128	Norway	20.5%
	Africa Avg	38.3%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better39
Pos.		2021 kg39
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
4	Madagascar	05.4
5	India	05.7
6	Nigeria	07.0
7	Ethiopia	07.1
8	Rwanda	07.6
9	Mali	07.8
10	Niger	08.1
11	Afghanistan	08.7
12	Uganda	09.4
	Africa Avg	24.9
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, the Democratic Republic of the Congo had the 2nd-lowest meat consumption per person in the world; only Burundis ate less meat.₃₉

7. Congo, DR's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2020)44
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank44
1	S. Africa	56.9
2	Tunisia	70.8
3=	Mauritius	79.6
	...
35	Sudan	139.0
36	Mali	139.1
37	Tanzania	140.1
38	Congo, DR	141.3
39	Mozambique	142.4
40	Madagascar	146.6
41=	Comoros	147.0
41=	Mauritania	147.0
43	Djibouti	148.0
	Africa Avg	120.19
q=53.

Modernity & Learning (2020)44
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank44
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
168	Cambodia	140.0
169	Tanzania	140.1
170	Yemen	141.2
171	Congo, DR	141.3
172	Mozambique	142.4
173	Madagascar	146.6
174=	Comoros	147.0
174=	Mauritania	147.0
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₄₅. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₅. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₆.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₄₇

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₅, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₅.

For more, see:

• "Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2948
2	Israel	4.1148
3	Japan	3.5848
	...
109=	Myanmar (Burma)	0.1149
110	Peru	0.1050
111	Paraguay	0.0951
112=	Congo, DR	0.0852
112=	Indonesia	0.0853
114	Saudi Arabia	0.0754
115=	Algeria	0.0750
115=	Cape Verde	0.0755
	Africa Avg	0.36
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better56
Pos.		201856
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
108	Tunisia	51.8%
109	India	51.6%
110	Kuwait	51.5%
111	Congo, DR	50.7%
112	Macedonia	49.8%
113	Indonesia	48.8%
114	Congo, (Brazzaville)	48.8%
115	Iraq	48.0%
	Africa Avg	34.4%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better57
Pos.		2021 Years57
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
168	Madagascar	10.1
169	Honduras	10.1
170	Nigeria	10.1
171	Congo, DR	9.8
172	Guinea	9.8
173	Equatorial Guinea	9.7
174	Haiti	9.7
175	Ethiopia	9.7
	Africa Avg	11.0
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
135	Uruguay	135
136	Honduras	136
137	Papua New Guinea	137
138	Congo, DR	138
139	Ecuador	139
140	Syria	140
141	Mauritania	141
142	Nigeria	142
	Africa Avg	106.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Religiosity Lower is better58
Pos.		2018 %58
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
82=	Niger	86
83	Kenya	87
84=	Mozambique	87
85	Congo, DR	88
86=	Nigeria	88
86=	Nicaragua	88
88	Djibouti	89
89=	Ghana	89
	Africa Avg	87.0
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users Higher is better59
Pos.		201659
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
188	Central African Rep.	5%
189	Madagascar	4%
190	Ethiopia	4%
191	Congo, DR	4%
192	Guinea-Bissau	4%
193	Chad	3%
194	Myanmar (Burma)	3%
195	Sierra Leone	2%
	Africa Avg	18.4%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better60
Pos.		202460
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
114	Tajikistan	25.9%
115	Zimbabwe	24.9%
116	Mali	24.9%
117	Ethiopia	23.7%
118	Cameroon	23.4%
119	Mozambique	21.4%
120	Congo, DR	18.5%
121	Yemen	14.9%
	Africa Avg	32.3%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. Congo, DR's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charitability #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

Compared to Africa (2020)61
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank61
1	Mauritius	48.3
2	Sao Tome & Principe	67.7
3	Tunisia	74.9
	...
45	Sudan	122.7
46	Equatorial Guinea	123.0
47	Burundi	123.1
48	Comoros	130.7
49	Chad	132.1
50	Congo, DR	133.7
51	Central African Rep.	137.1
52	S. Sudan	137.8
53	Somalia	152.9
	Africa Avg	101.84
q=53.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)61
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank61
1	Denmark	11.2
2	Norway	13.9
3	Netherlands	14.4
	...
173	Yemen	130.3
174	Comoros	130.7
175	Chad	132.1
176	Congo, DR	133.7
177	Central African Rep.	137.1
178	S. Sudan	137.8
179	Afghanistan	140.3
180	Somalia	152.9
	World Avg	78.12
q=180.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture:

Congo DR has a consistently awful long-term record on corruption, spanning at least three decades.

Corruption Higher is better62
Pos.		2022 Points62
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
163	Eritrea	22.0
164	Congo, (Brazzaville)	21.0
165=	Guinea-Bissau	21.0
166	Congo, DR	20.0
167=	Nicaragua	19.0
167=	Comoros	19.0
167=	Turkmenistan	19.0
167=	Chad	19.0
	Africa Avg	32.31
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Happiness Higher is better63
Pos.		2024 Score63
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
138	Lesotho	3.8
139	Comoros	3.8
140	Yemen	3.6
141	Congo, DR	3.5
142	Botswana	3.4
143	Zimbabwe	3.4
144	Malawi	3.3
145	Lebanon	3.2
	Africa Avg	4.42
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
156	Iraq	156
157	Iran	157
158	Gabon	158
159	Central African Rep.	159
160	Burundi	160
161	Rwanda	161
162	Congo, DR	162
163	Libya	163
	Africa Avg	117.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
60	Kyrgyzstan	60
61	Qatar	61
62	USA	62
63	Congo, DR	63
64	Honduras	64
65	S. Korea	65
66	Benin	66
67	Lesotho	67
	Africa Avg	96.7
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index Lower is better64
Pos.		2023 Score64
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
156	Somalia	3.04
157	Ukraine	3.04
158	Russia	3.14
159	Congo, DR	3.21
160	S. Sudan	3.22
161	Syria	3.29
162	Yemen	3.35
163	Afghanistan	3.45
	Africa Avg	2.29
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
88	Honduras	88
89	Namibia	89
90	Uganda	90
91	Congo, DR	91
92	Pakistan	92
93	Estonia	93
94	Bahamas	94
95	Mauritania	95
	Africa Avg	83.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
152	Grenada	152
153	Angola	153
154	Guyana	154
155	Congo, DR	155
156	Ivory Coast	156
157	St Lucia	157
158	Vietnam	158
159	Laos	159
	Africa Avg	104.5
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better65
Pos.		2019 Score65
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
138	Mali	6.65
139	Libya	6.77
140	Egypt	6.79
141	Congo, DR	7.04
142	Philippines	7.14
143	Yemen	7.26
144	India	7.52
145	Somalia	7.80
	Africa Avg	3.41
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better66
Pos.		201966
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
174	Cameroon	33.50
175	Equatorial Guinea	34.60
176	Benin	34.90
177	Congo, DR	36.10
178	S. Sudan	36.20
179	Mali	36.70
180	Nigeria	37.10
181	Somalia	38.90
	Africa Avg	26.10
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better67
Pos.		2023 %67
1	Slovakia	24.1%68
2	Slovenia	24.3%68
3	Belarus	24.4%69
	...
143	S. Sudan	44.1%70
144	Turkey	44.4%68
145	Ecuador	44.6%71
146=	Congo, DR	44.7%69
146=	Venezuela	44.7%72
148	Lesotho	44.9%73
149	Paraguay	45.1%74
150	Comoros	45.3%75
	Africa Avg	40.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Democratic Republic of Congo - only for 2 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better76
Pos.		2018 Severity76
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
88	Guinea	.336
89	Benin	.368
90	Guinea-Bissau	.372
91	Congo, DR	.389
92	Burundi	.403
93	Mozambique	.411
94	Madagascar	.453
95	Mali	.457
	Africa Avg	.264
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)58
Pos.		Lower is better %58
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
82=	Niger	86
83	Kenya	87
84=	Mozambique	87
85	Congo, DR	88
86=	Nigeria	88
86=	Nicaragua	88
88	Djibouti	89
89=	Ghana	89
89=	Guatemala	89
91	Honduras	90
92=	Cameroon	90
92=	Rwanda	90
92=	Liberia	90
95	Morocco	91
96=	Guinea-Bissau	91
96=	Philippines	91
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₇₇:

Christian	95.8%
Muslim	1.5%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.1%
Folk Religion	0.7%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	1.8%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 10%₇₈.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems