Republic of the Congo: health and care

What is life expectancy in the Republic of the Congo?

Life expectancy at birth in the Republic of the Congo was 66.0 years in 2024, according to the World Bank, using UN Population Division estimates. It was 65.8 years in 2023.

No national life expectancy figure was found on the sites of the National Institute of Statistics and the Ministry of Health and Population, checked on 15 October 2026. Life expectancy at birth is the number of years a newborn would live if current death rates stayed the same. The same source puts under-five mortality at 39.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024.

Official sources: World Bank: life expectancy at birth, Congo · World Bank: under-five mortality, Congo

What is the fertility rate in the Republic of the Congo?

The fertility rate in the Republic of the Congo was 4.1 births per woman in 2024, according to the World Bank, using UN Population Division estimates. It was 4.2 in 2023.

The total fertility rate is the average number of children a woman would have if she experienced current birth rates at each age. A rate above about 2.1 means that, without migration, the population grows. The National Institute of Statistics lists a demographic and health survey page, but no fertility figure was published on it when checked on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Bank: fertility rate, Congo

How many doctors are there in the Republic of the Congo?

511 doctors were working in public health facilities in the Republic of the Congo in 2022, 0.9 per 10,000 people, according to the Ministry of Health and Population report on health workers published in May 2023. Brazzaville had 316 of them. The report counted 8,577 health workers in public facilities in all, and 754 midwives.

The count covers the public sector only, so doctors working only in private clinics are not included. The ratio varied from 1.5 per 10,000 in Brazzaville and Cuvette-Ouest to 0.2 in Bouenza and Plateaux. The report is published on the National Institute of Statistics site.

Official sources: Ministry of Health: health workforce report 2023 (PDF)

How long do people live in the Republic of the Congo?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 66.0 years. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 64.3 years; the Republic of the Congo is 21st highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 164th of 193.

What is the infant mortality rate in the Republic of the Congo?

The UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation puts the infant mortality rate in the Republic of the Congo at 27.0 per 1,000 in 2024. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 37.2 per 1,000, and the Republic of the Congo placed 41st highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 54th of 192.

What is the maternal mortality rate in the Republic of the Congo?

The WHO puts the maternal mortality ratio in the Republic of the Congo at 241 per 100,000 in 2023. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 27th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 257 per 100,000. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 30th highest.

What share of GDP does the Republic of the Congo spend on health care?

In 2023, current health spending in the Republic of the Congo was 3.3% of GDP, according to the WHO. Its high point since 2005 was 2020, at 4.0% of GDP; its low point was 2006, at 1.7% of GDP. It is 40th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 4.4% of GDP. Worldwide: 171st of 191.

How much do people in the Republic of the Congo pay for health care themselves?

According to the WHO, out-of-pocket health spending in the Republic of the Congo was 28.0% in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 52.0%; its low point was 2021, at 23.6%. It is 28th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 32.4%. Worldwide: 92nd of 191.

How many doctors per person does the Republic of the Congo have?

In 2022, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in the Republic of the Congo was 0.17 per 1,000, according to the WHO. The peak was 0.20 per 1,000 in 2006 and the low 0.10 per 1,000 in 2018. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 0.18 per 1,000, and the Republic of the Congo placed 25th highest of 46. Worldwide: 103rd of 125.

What is measles vaccine coverage in the Republic of the Congo?

72.0%: that is measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in the Republic of the Congo for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. Its high point since 2005 was 2011, at 83.0%; its low point was 2005, at 54.0%. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 81.0%, and the Republic of the Congo placed 29th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 159th of 191.