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DR Congo vs Ghana
Side-by-side comparison of DR Congo and Ghana from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
DR Congo
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 66 years
In short
Ghana scores 39.6 in the NationsTree Index (130th in the world) and DR Congo scores 22.0 (183rd), a gap of 17.6 points. Their trees are 7.5 m and 9.8 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
DR Congo has 3.2 times the population of Ghana. DR Congo is 9.8 times larger than Ghana by land area. The economy of Ghana is 39% larger than that of DR Congo (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: DR Congo 112.8 million and Ghana 35.1 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $8,610 in Ghana and $1,920 in DR Congo (2025, international dollars). People in Ghana live on average 3.6 years longer (65.7 vs 62.1 years).
Of 32 indicators reported by both countries, DR Congo ranks higher in the world on 4 and Ghana on 28. DR Congo is clearly stronger in military, environment & energy and land & people. Ghana is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, society & health and infrastructure & digital.
As a nation, Ghana is the older of the two (statehood since 1957, 69 years), compared with DR Congo (since 1960). Over the last five years Ghana improved faster (direction score 56 vs 35 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between DR Congo and Ghana.
DR Congo
65%
178th of 193
Ghanabetter
95%
59th of 193
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
DR Congo
18.1
199th of 205
Ghanabetter
55.1
96th of 205
Rule of lawInstitutions & safety
DR Congo
31.2
197th of 207
Ghanabetter
58.6
97th of 207
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
DR Congobetter
8,789
52nd of 183
Ghana
914
132nd of 183
General government gross debtEconomy
DR Congobetter
20.4%
19th of 189
Ghana
48.8%
82nd of 189
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Ghana overtook DR Congo in GDP (PPP) in 1993 and has stayed ahead since.
Ghana has been ahead of DR Congo in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Ghana has been ahead of DR Congo in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
DR Congo has been ahead of Ghana in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
DR CongoGhana All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | DR Congo | Ghana |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 2,345,41011th/216 · 2024 | 238,53981st/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 2,267,05011th/216 · 2024 | 227,53382nd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 112.8 m15th/217 · 2025 | 35.1 m47th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 3.20%10th/217 · 2025 | 1.83%58th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 48.2155th/216 · 2024 | 151.375th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 45.1%161st/217 · 2025 | 58.9%132nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 45.9%5th/217 · 2025 | 35.4%51st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.1%191st/217 · 2025 | 3.8%172nd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $91.03 bn81st/210 · 2025 | $114.21 bn70th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $216.62 bn78th/199 · 2025 | $301.91 bn69th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $185.11 bn77th/199 · 2025 | $258.00 bn68th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $807202nd/210 · 2025 | $3,257156th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $1,920194th/199 · 2025 | $8,610147th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $720193rd/201 · 2025 | $2,630159th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 5.8%39th/210 · 2025 | 6.0%34th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.9%2016 | 14.2%167th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 4.4%73rd/187 · 2025 | 3.0%40th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 14.9%3rd/55 · 2022 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 20.4%19th/189 · 2025 | 48.8%82nd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -2.4%88th/192 · 2025 | -1.3%59th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 8.9%76th/197 · 2025 | 21.3%33rd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 39.7%15th/200 · 2025 | 29.3%57th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 7.9%124th/192 · 2025 | 10.1%96th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 48.0%156th/200 · 2025 | 42.9%174th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $39.52 bn74th/182 · 2025 | $29.20 bn85th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $39.98 bn70th/182 · 2025 | $28.24 bn84th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 43.4%68th/183 · 2025 | 35.1%94th/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 43.9%91st/183 · 2025 | 33.9%116th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 87.3%83rd/183 · 2025 | 69.0%115th/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.8%106th/170 · 2024 | 8.8%53rd/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 15.4%117th/171 · 2024 | 5.8%149th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 1.3%158th/171 · 2024 | 19.7%75th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 76.5%1st/171 · 2024 | 2.0%106th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.2%159th/168 · 2023 | 1.6%139th/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -3.7%124th/191 · 2025 | 8.1%23rd/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.1%99th/196 · 2025 | 1.7%117th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 38.8%3rd/209 · 2021 | 13.3%38th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.65%51st/197 · 2021 | 4.06%28th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.37%42nd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 28.81%1st/209 · 2021 | 5.17%22nd/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 9.36%7th/209 · 2021 | 3.76%21st/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 7.3%120th/206 · 2024 | 20.7%53rd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 8,78952nd/183 · 2022 | 914132nd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 351,000136th/194 · 2016 | 897,0002015 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $60.5 m151st/175 · 2018 | $191.0 m128th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.4%163rd/168 · 2018 | 0.9%154th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 424,00081st/107 · 2016 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 62.1205th/217 · 2024 | 65.7189th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 89.7188th/196 · 2024 | 35.9146th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.21146th/174 · 2022 | 0.27136th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.82006 | 0.72015 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 65%178th/193 · 2024 | 95%59th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 54.0%108th/153 · 2023 | 58.4%101st/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 55.5%150th/173 · 2023 | 75.7%135th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 11.1%2012 | 20.2%2016 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.1%178th/217 · 2025 | 6.2%173rd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.7%163rd/193 · 2023 | 2.9%178th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 68.5%82nd/98 · 2023 | 76.5%71st/98 · 2021 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 6.4%2020 | 21.3%120th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.522171st/193 · 2023 | 0.628143rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 44.72020 | 43.52016 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 85.3%2020 | 39.0%2016 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 22.5%209th/215 · 2024 | 91.9%158th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 11.9%146th/150 · 2024 | 42.9%119th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 13.1%135th/144 · 2024 | 18.8%128th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 19.7%176th/186 · 2024 | 72.2%120th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 59196th/210 · 2024 | 114109th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.0201st/208 · 2024 | 0.7176th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.30117th/164 · 2022 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 3,64135th/82 · 2021 | 9532006 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 1.2 m94th/161 · 2023 | 440,680116th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.0611th/203 · 2024 | 0.7051st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 96.3%1st/212 · 2021 | 39.0%63rd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 35.8170th/200 · 2023 | 28.1148th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 61.5%29th/214 · 2024 | 30.9%111th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 402129th/149 · 2024 | 395130th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 18.1199th/205 · 2025 | 55.196th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 18.0196th/207 · 2025 | 45.897th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 31.2197th/207 · 2025 | 58.697th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 28.3203rd/207 · 2025 | 67.1111th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 32.9189th/205 · 2025 | 52.3112th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 35.6165th/205 · 2025 | 64.382nd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | — | 1.864th/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $1.23 bn80th/156 · 2025 | $506.7 m104th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.4%94th/156 · 2025 | 0.5%146th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 8.1%41st/154 · 2025 | 2.4%133rd/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 134,00046th/170 · 2020 | 16,000113th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.41%129th/168 · 2020 | 0.13%157th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 44.0 m67th/163 · 2025 | 5.0 m129th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 22.0 m1997 | 19.0 m2005 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.41%2015 | 0.38%2010 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 7275th/137 · 2020 | 6113th/137 · 2023 |
| Scientific articles articles | 243122nd/197 · 2023 | 3,27067th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, DR Congo or Ghana?
DR Congo has the larger population: 112.8 m (2025) compared with 35.1 m for Ghana (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, DR Congo or Ghana?
DR Congo is larger: 2,345,410 km² (2024) compared with 238,539 km² for Ghana (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, DR Congo or Ghana?
Ghana has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $301.91 bn intl. (2025) compared with $216.62 bn intl. for DR Congo (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, DR Congo or Ghana?
Ghana has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $8,610 intl. (2025) compared with $1,920 intl. for DR Congo (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in DR Congo or Ghana?
Ghana has the higher life expectancy at birth: 65.7 years (2024) compared with 62.1 years for DR Congo (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, DR Congo or Ghana?
DR Congo spends more on the military: $1.23 bn (2025) compared with $506.7 m for Ghana (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, DR Congo or Ghana?
Ghana: 39.6 points (130th in the world); DR Congo: 22.0 points (183rd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Cameroon
Côte d'Ivoire
Uganda
Angola
Ethiopia
Kenya
TanzaniaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). DR Congo vs Ghana — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/dr-congo-vs-ghana. Data as of 26 October 2026.