180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Recommend CautionLGBT+ visiting: Recommend Caution
Odzala is the draw here: proper lowland-gorilla trekking in rainforest that hardly anyone visits, run by a handful of serious operators. Brazzaville makes a surprisingly easy-going start, watching Kinshasa's skyline across the river. Book it as an organised expedition — independent travel is hard going, and both crime and politics need a careful eye. The reward is rainforest as raw as it gets.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Republic of the Congo: 9.3
Ranked 36th in the world for the highest homicide rate.
An estimated 9.33 homicides per 100,000 people — an elevated rate by world standards. The 2021 estimate is the freshest figure that exists.
Higher than 78% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Republic of the Congo: 2.1
Ranked 61st least peaceful country in the world.
More peaceful than 37% of the 163 countries ranked, scoring 2.132.
Down 5 places since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Republic of the Congo: 5.3
Ranked 40th least free country in the world.
Less free than 80% of the 165 countries measured — 5.39 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 5.77; doing business and owning property, 4.85.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Republic of the Congo: 2.8
Ranked 71st least equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Ranks behind 63% of the 197 countries scored for LGBT+ equality — 28 out of 100.
The law runs ahead of public opinion here — legal protections score 39 out of 100, everyday attitudes 17.