Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Congo
Congo: Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required was 63.7% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Congo, 2003–2022
Source: Harvard Medical School Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of people at risk.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Congo is 63.7%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 30.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Congo peaked at 86.2% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 47.4%, in 2015.
Congo ranks 17th of 134 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Congo, year by year
| Year | % of people at risk | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 86.2% | — |
| 2004 | 80.7% | -6.4% |
| 2005 | 77.1% | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 70.4% | -8.7% |
| 2007 | 69.7% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 57.2% | -17.9% |
| 2009 | 69.2% | +21.0% |
| 2010 | 63.2% | -8.7% |
| 2011 | 61.8% | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 48.9% | -20.9% |
| 2013 | 51.9% | +6.1% |
| 2014 | 49.8% | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 47.4% | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 59.7% | +25.9% |
| 2017 | 72.6% | +21.6% |
| 2018 | 74.8% | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 63.8% | -14.7% |
| 2022 | 63.7% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 72.9% | 57.2% | 86.2% | 7 |
| 2010s | 59.4% | 47.4% | 74.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.7% | 63.7% | 63.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Congo
- 14 Mauritania 69.1% compare
- 15 Uganda 68.4% compare
- 16 Tajikistan 68.2% compare
- 18 Sudan 63.3% compare
- 19 Madagascar 59.0% compare
- 20 Nepal 58.2% compare
More population data for Congo
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6949 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6949 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5095 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 10,379 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.17 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0471 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.7% (2100)
- Population density 58.64 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.51 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Congo?
- Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Congo was 63.7% in 2022, according to Harvard Medical School Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 86.2% in 2003.
- What is the lowest share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.4% in 2015.
- How does Congo rank for share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required?
- Congo ranks 17th out of 134 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Harvard Medical School Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Catastrophic expenditure is defined as direct out-of-pocket payments for surgical and anaesthesia care exceeding 10% of total income.