Life in DR Congo: Every Number That Shapes It (1800–2100)

Behind every statistic lies the weight of an individual biography. When we look at the Democratic Republic of Congo, we see a landscape defined by profound shifts in human development. From the basic metrics of health to the expansion of daily opportunity, these figures chart a path of transition. What begins as a collection of dry metrics reveals the tangible reality of millions, reflecting both the persistent hurdles of the past and the gradual, measurable improvements that have redefined the possibilities of a life lived within these borders across three centuries.

The historical trajectory from the 1950s to the 2020s maps a nation in motion. In the 1950s, life expectancy at birth was 36, while today it reaches 62 years. Income per person has risen from 1,500 to 3,800 international dollars. While child mortality has dropped from 320 to 75 per 1,000 births, other indicators confirm the move toward a modern society: electricity at home climbed from 3 to 48 %, and the share of the population living in cities increased from 11 to 41 %.

For a child born in the 2020s, these data points represent the framework of their future. They will likely see 6 years of schooling and encounter a world where 29 % of the population has internet access. Though extreme poverty remains at 35 %, the average male height has shifted from 167 to 169 cm, and the homicide rate has moved from 11 to 9.5 per 100,000. You can now visit our interactive tool to see your parallel life in DR Congo.