DR Congo

The country faces significant public health challenges, evidenced by a relatively low life expectancy of 61.9 years and a high infant mortality rate of 44.5 per 1,000 live births. These figures indicate substantial unmet needs in healthcare access, sanitation, and maternal/child health services.

Nearly 45% of the population lives in urban areas, which is a surprisingly high rate for a country with such low GDP per capita and limited infrastructure access. This rapid urbanization suggests massive internal migration towards major cities (like Kinshasa), likely straining urban services and contributing to the challenge of providing basic utilities.

Over half of the country's land area is covered by forest (54.19%), positioning DR Congo as a critical global ecological asset. However, only 22.1% of the population has access to electricity, indicating a significant infrastructure deficit that likely contributes to reliance on traditional energy sources (like wood) despite the environmental importance of the forests.

DR Congo has an extremely high fertility rate (6.05 births per woman), which is a key driver of its massive and rapidly expanding population (over 105 million). This demographic structure creates immense pressure on resources, infrastructure, and the job market for future generations.