Photo: Christina Bergey derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
DR Congo: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
DR Congo is placed joint 197th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 61.9 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 89.68 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
joint197th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 61.9Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 89.68Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 44.7Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- 43.9Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024Population in severe food insecurity (%)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place DR Congo on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
61.9
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
DR Congo: 61.9. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Middle Africa
- 69.72 São Tomé and Príncipe
- Land neighbours
- Angola 64.62 · Burundi 63.65 · Central African Republic 57.41 · Republic of the Congo 65.77 · Rwanda 67.79 · South Sudan 57.62 · Tanzania 67 · Uganda 68.25 · Zambia 66.35
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
89.68
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
DR Congo: 89.68. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Middle Africa
- 13.55 São Tomé and Príncipe
- Land neighbours
- Angola 49 · Burundi 47.06 · Central African Republic 89.73 · Republic of the Congo 39.11 · Rwanda 37.74 · South Sudan 96.71 · Tanzania 37 · Uganda 48.71 · Zambia 48.37
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · DR Congo’s is from 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
44.7
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
DR Congo: 44.7. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Middle Africa
- 11.74 São Tomé and Príncipe
- Land neighbours
- Angola 37.57 · Burundi 52.8 · Central African Republic 37.9 · Republic of the Congo 21.19 · Rwanda 33.12 · South Sudan 31.28 · Tanzania 30.01 · Uganda 24.4 · Zambia 34.59
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
43.9
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
DR Congo: 43.9. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Middle Africa
- 16.2 Angola
- Land neighbours
- Angola 16.2 · Burundi 20.9 · South Sudan 62.9 · Tanzania 22.9 · Uganda 12.7 · Zambia 17.2
02Over time
Which way DR Congo is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
DR CongoWorld median
DR Congo rose from 51.89 in 2000 to 61.9 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year DR Congo World median 2023 61.9 74.630 2022 61.0 74.313 2021 60.0 72.433 2020 60.4 73.063 2019 60.2 74.196 2018 59.9 74.081 2017 59.5 74.029 2016 59.1 74.013 2015 58.7 73.783 2014 58.2 73.330 2013 57.8 73.386 2012 57.4 73.210 2011 56.9 73.003 2010 56.4 72.827 2009 55.8 72.426 2008 55.4 72.264 2007 55.0 72.113 2006 54.5 72.027 2005 54.0 71.876 2004 53.5 71.477 2003 53.0 71.409 2002 52.4 71.173 2001 52.2 70.926 2000 51.9 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
DR CongoWorld median
DR Congo fell from 184.57 in 2000 to 89.68 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year DR Congo World median 2024 89.678 14.5 2023 91.314 15.2 2022 92.483 14.7 2021 92.913 15.1 2020 92.734 15.3 2019 92.232 15.7 2018 91.712 16.3 2017 91.455 16.8 2016 91.518 17.5 2015 91.923 17.9 2014 92.732 18.3 2013 94.061 18.7 2012 95.916 18.8 2011 98.343 19.0 2010 101.387 19.2 2009 104.953 20.8 2008 109.153 20.7 2007 113.792 21.8 2006 118.908 22.8 2005 124.395 24.0 2004 159.438 25.9 2003 165.872 26.9 2002 172.189 28.0 2001 178.450 29.1 2000 184.571 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
DR CongoWorld median
DR Congo rose from 38.5 in 2019 to 43.9 in 2024; the world median went from 4.95 to 4.9.
Every year’s figures
Year DR Congo World median 2024 43.9 4.9 2023 42.5 4.7 2022 41.7 5.4 2021 40.3 5.7 2020 39.2 5.6 2019 38.5 5.0 2018 — 4.2 2017 — 4.0 2016 — 3.4 2015 — 3.4
03In context
DR Congo beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
DR Congo and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Republic of the Congo | 158th | 65.77 | 39.11 | 21.19 | — |
 Uganda | =159th | 68.25 | 48.71 | 24.4 | 12.7 |
 Rwanda | 164th | 67.79 | 37.74 | 33.12 | — |
 Tanzania | 169th | 67 | 37 | 30.01 | 22.9 |
 Zambia | 174th | 66.35 | 48.37 | 34.59 | 17.2 |
 Angola | 178th | 64.62 | 49 | 37.57 | 16.2 |
 Burundi | =186th | 63.65 | 47.06 | 52.8 | 20.9 |
 Central African Republic | =197th | 57.41 | 89.73 | 37.9 | — |
| DR Congo | =197th | 61.9 | 89.68 | 44.7 | 43.9 |
 South Sudan | 200th | 57.62 | 96.71 | 31.28 | 62.9 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Middle Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below DR Congo in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where DR Congo is ahead of the world, and behind
53 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median5
Statistics on which DR Congo does better than the middle country measured.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7452.2640.74No earlier reading
DR Congo: 52.26 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 39th of 136 · derived.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.54.1565.5▲ Improved since 2014
DR Congo: 4.156 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 116th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Insecticide-Treated Net UseMAP · 2025 · world median 4546.3445No real change since 2015
DR Congo: 46.34 · world median 45 · Population that slept under an insecticide-treated net (%). Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 8.586 to 88.58; higher is better.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9553.2152.95No earlier reading
DR Congo: 53.21 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 67th of 136 · derived.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.2110.1610.21▲ Improved since 2010
DR Congo: 10.16 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 81st of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median37
Statistics on which DR Congo does worse than the middle country measured.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.4813.993.48▼ Worsened since 2015
DR Congo: 13.99 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.2629.1121.26No earlier reading
DR Congo: 29.11 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 36th of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with DiarrhoeaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 41.534.841.5No earlier reading
DR Congo: 34.8 · world median 41.5 · Children under 5 with diarrhoea given oral rehydration salts (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 9.9 to 95.4; higher is better.
Position 91st of 127 · derived.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.983.396.9No earlier reading
DR Congo: 83.3 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5467.23.546No earlier reading
DR Congo: 7.2 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 36th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8351.4784.83▼ Worsened since 2013
DR Congo: 51.47 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3913.616.39No real change since 2013
DR Congo: 13.6 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 186th of 222 · derived.
Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum)MAP · 2024 · world median 8.10672.368.106▲ Improved since 2014
DR Congo: 72.36 · world median 8.106 · Deaths from P. falciparum malaria per 100,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 133.27; lower is better.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4530.514.45▲ Improved since 2013
DR Congo: 30.5 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 33rd of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.13423.628.134▼ Worsened since 2014
DR Congo: 23.62 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 27th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.5220.762▲ Improved since 2013
DR Congo: 0.522 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 171st of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Violent Discipline of ChildrenUNICEF · 2025 · world median 75.888.875.8No earlier reading
DR Congo: 88.8 · world median 75.8 · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 37.6 to 94; lower is better.
Position 11th of 90 · derived, 1st = worst.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.3310.039No real change since 2018
DR Congo: 0.331 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 13th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.737.567.7No earlier reading
DR Congo: 37.5 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.
Position 114th of 127 · derived.
Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two DaysUNICEF · 2025 · world median 82.932.382.9No earlier reading
DR Congo: 32.3 · world median 82.9 · Newborns with a health check within 2 days of birth (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.3 to 99.9; higher is better.
Position 99th of 109 · derived.
INFORM Severity IndexACAPS · 2025 · world median 3.14.43.1▲ Improved since 2020
DR Congo: 4.4 · world median 3.1 · INFORM Severity (1–5, most severe crisis). ACAPS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.3 to 4.7; lower is better.
Position 8th of 81 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 916591No real change since 2015
DR Congo: 65 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum)MAP · 2025 · world median 52.47283.3852.47▼ Worsened since 2015
DR Congo: 283.38 · world median 52.47 · New P. falciparum malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 334.75; lower is better.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7254.13133.7▼ Worsened since 2013
DR Congo: 254.13 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 18th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.46106.8827.46No real change since 2013
DR Congo: 106.88 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 17th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8144.981No earlier reading
DR Congo: 44.9 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 142nd of 153 · derived.
Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 37.5713.9337.57No earlier reading
DR Congo: 13.93 · world median 37.57 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at least 5 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 8.089 to 85.88; higher is better.
Position 107th of 115 · derived.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.65427.0546.65No real change since 2013
DR Congo: 427.05 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 13th of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.85817.752.858No real change since 2014
DR Congo: 17.75 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 13th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.6040.351No real change since 2013
DR Congo: 0.604 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 162nd of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.3660.564No real change since 2017
DR Congo: 0.366 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 162nd of 172 · derived.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2534.671.25▲ Improved since 2013
DR Congo: 34.6 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 186th of 196 · derived.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.16325.868.163No real change since 2013
DR Congo: 25.86 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 10th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 905590▼ Worsened since 2015
DR Congo: 55 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2656.4212.26▼ Worsened since 2014
DR Congo: 56.42 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 9th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.490.126.4▲ Improved since 2017
DR Congo: 90.1 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 5th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.390.25No real change since 2014
DR Congo: 0.39 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9822,0692,982▼ Worsened since 2014
DR Congo: 2,069 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 151st of 155 · derived.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.238.55.2▼ Worsened since 2013
DR Congo: 38.5 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 5th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.981.720.9▼ Worsened since 2019
DR Congo: 81.7 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 4th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 418241No real change since 2012
DR Congo: 82 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.696.89102.69No real change since 2013
DR Congo: 6.89 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Global Report on Food CrisesFSIN · 2024 · world median 222222▼ Worsened since 2016
DR Congo: 22 · world median 22 · In IPC Phase 3+ (% of analysed population). Food Security Information Network (FSIN), 2025 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3 to 56; lower is better.
Position 22nd of 44 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end10
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Children with Functional DifficultiesUNICEF · 2024 · world median 1319.513No earlier reading
DR Congo: 19.5 · world median 13 · Children aged 5-17 with a functional difficulty (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.9 to 35.2.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.884.826.88No earlier reading
DR Congo: 4.82 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8935.9238.89Moved since 2015
DR Congo: 35.92 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 125th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.657.920.65No earlier reading
DR Congo: 7.9 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2526.341.25Moved since 2013
DR Congo: 26.3 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.41635.4Moved since 2013
DR Congo: 16 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.173.2916.17Moved since 2013
DR Congo: 3.29 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.730.121.73No real change since 2014
DR Congo: 0.12 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 165th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.552.664.55Moved since 2017
DR Congo: 2.66 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.833.4957.83No real change since 2013
DR Congo: 3.49 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
No current reading for DR Congo
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry On, Agreement That Vaccines Are Safe, Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff (last 2018), Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, HPV Vaccination Coverage, Girls and Malaria Incidence (P. vivax). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among DR Congo’s 15 topics
Health & Wellbeing is DR Congo’s 14th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability8th of 1864/4 keys
- Energy53rd of 1653/3 keys
- Gender & Equality130th of 1834/4 keys
- Work & Labour137th of 1824/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties159th of 1984/4 keys
- Peace & Security144th of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technology166th of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience180th of 1934/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions182nd of 1944/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade167th of 1773/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital187th of 1963/3 keys
- Economy & Innovation172nd of 1764/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture181st of 1844/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 197th of 2004/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality157th of 1593/3 keys
No standing on Education & Knowledge: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders DR Congo can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Africa
Cabo Verde80th4/4 keysHighest in Middle Africa
São Tomé and Príncipe=110th3/4 keysThis page
DR Congo=197th4/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about DR Congo and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
DR Congo on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does DR Congo rank on health & wellbeing?
DR Congo is placed joint 197th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for DR Congo?
61.9 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for DR Congo?
89.68 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does DR Congo compare with Tanzania on health & wellbeing?
Tanzania is placed 169th of 200, and DR Congo joint 197th. Life Expectancy at Birth: Tanzania 67, DR Congo 61.9; Under-Five Mortality Rate: Tanzania 37, DR Congo 89.68; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: Tanzania 30.01, DR Congo 44.7; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity: Tanzania 22.9, DR Congo 43.9.
How have DR Congo’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 51.89 in 2000 to 61.9 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 184.57 in 2000 to 89.68 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity rose from 38.5 in 2019 to 43.9 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for DR Congo?
No current reading is published for DR Congo on Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry On, Agreement That Vaccines Are Safe, Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, HPV Vaccination Coverage, Girls and Malaria Incidence (P. vivax). They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 53 statistics on this page come from 17 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
DR Congo’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- DR Congo (banner) — Christina Bergey derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). DR Congo: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/dr-congo/health