The skyline in DR Congo

DR Congo Economy

DR Congo's economy in numbers:

Nominal GDP of USD 58.1 billion in 2022.

GDP per capita of USD 600 compared to the global average of USD 10,589.

Average real GDP growth of 5.9% over the last decade.

Share of the region's population
Share of the region's GDP

Economic structure:

In 2021, services accounted for 35% of overall GDP, manufacturing 17%, other industrial activity 29%, and agriculture 19%. Looking at GDP by expenditure, private consumption accounted for 66% of GDP in 2021, government consumption 8%, fixed investment 25%, and net exports 1%.

GDP by economic sector
GDP by type of expenditure

International trade:

In 2020, manufactured products made up 24% of total merchandise exports, mineral fuels 0%, food 1%, ores and metals 74% and agricultural raw materials 1%, with other categories accounting for 0% of the total. In the same period, manufactured products made up 78% of total merchandise imports, mineral fuels 5%, food 9%, ores and metals 6% and agricultural raw materials 1%, with other goods accounting for 1% of the total. Total exports were worth USD 22 billion in 2021, while total imports were USD 18 billion.

Key exports
Key imports
Key export partners
Key import partners

Economic growth:

The economy recorded average annual growth of 5.9% in the decade to 2022. To read more about GDP growth in DR Congo, go to our dedicated page.

Fiscal policy:

DR Congo's fiscal deficit averaged 0.5% of GDP in the decade to 2022. Find out more on our dedicated page.

Unemployment:

The unemployment rate averaged 4.6% in the decade to 2022. For more information on DR Congo's unemployment click here.

Inflation:

Inflation averaged 9.6% in the decade to 2022. Go to our DR Congo inflation page for extra insight.

Monetary Policy:

DR Congo's monetary policy rate ended 2022 at 8.25%, up from 4.00% a decade earlier. See our DR Congo monetary policy page for additional details.

Exchange Rate:

From end-2012 to end-2022 the Congolese franc weakened by 73.4% vs the U.S. dollar. For more info on the Congolese franc, click here.
GDP expanded 6.6% year on year in H1, and our panelists see the economy having matched this pace in H2. Compared to 2022, momentum will have likely eased, with mining output growing more mildly through October. Additionally, a weaker currency fueling inflation and the Central Bank’s aggressive hiking cycle should have constrained spending and investment. In politics, on 21 December, President Félix Tshisekedi was reelected president with a 73% vote share on a 43% turnout. The balloting was extended by a day amid logistical and security issues; opposition forces have claimed that the process was fraudulent and have demanded a new election. That said, in January, the constitutional court confirmed the result, meaning Tshisekedi is set to extend his rule to late 2028. This should translate into policy continuity, including support for mining firms and reforms in line with IMF guidelines.
Projections out to 2033.

39 indicators covered including both annual and quarterly frequencies.

Consensus Forecasts based on a panel of 8 expert analysts.

Want to get insight on the economic outlook for DR Congo in the coming years? FocusEconomics collects projections out to 2033 on 39 economic indicators for DR Congo from a panel of 8 analysts at the leading national, regional and global forecast institutions. These projections are then validated by our in-house team of economists and data analysts, and averaged to provide one Consensus Forecast you can rely on for each indicator. This means you avoid the risk of relying on out of date, biased or outlier forecasts. Our Consensus Forecasts can be visualized in whichever way best suits your needs, including via interactive online dashboards , direct data delivery and executive-style reports which combine analysts' projections with timely written analysis from our in-house team of economists on the latest developments in the DR Congo economy. To download a sample report on the DR Congo's economy, click here . To get in touch with our team for more information, fill in the form at the bottom of this page .

DR Congo Economic Data

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Population (million) 85.1 87.9 90.8 93.8 96.8
GDP (USD bn) 47.6 51.8 48.7 55.3 64.7
GDP per capita (USD) 559 589 537 590 669
GDP (CDF bn) 77,181 85,314 90,181 110,115 130,072
Economic Growth (Nominal GDP, ann. var. %) 38.6 10.5 5.7 22.1 18.1
Economic Growth (GDP, ann. var. %) 5.8 4.4 1.7 6.2 8.9
Private Consumption (ann. var. %) 1.9 5.5 -1.1 4.3 3.1
Government Consumption (ann. var. %) 10.2 6.6 4.1 21.7 22.2
Fiscal Balance (% of GDP) -1.1 -2.4 -3.3 -2.0 -0.8
Public Debt (% of GDP) 14.8 14.8 16.7 16.3 14.6
Inflation (CPI, ann. var. %, eop) 7.2 4.6 15.8 5.3 13.1
Inflation (CPI, ann. var. %, aop) 29.3 4.7 11.4 9.0 9.3
Policy Rate (%, eop) 14.00 9.00 18.50 8.50 8.25
Exchange Rate (CDF per USD, eop) 1,571 1,668 1,971 2,000 2,001
Exchange Rate (CDF per USD, aop) 1,571 1,640 1,850 1,989 2,002
Current Account Balance (USD bn) -1.7 -1.6 -1.1 -0.5 -3.2
Current Account Balance (% of GDP) -3.6 -3.1 -2.2 -0.9 -5.0
Merchandise Trade Balance (USD bn) 1.0 0.2 1.9 3.9 1.9
Merchandise Exports (USD bn) 16.0 13.2 13.8 22.2 28.6
Merchandise Imports (USD bn) 15.0 12.9 11.9 18.2 26.7
Merchandise Exports (ann. var. %) 38.3 -17.4 4.6 60.9 28.7
Merchandise Imports (ann. var. %) 32.0 -13.6 -8.3 53.8 46.3
Foreign Direct Investment (USD bn) 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.9 1.8
International Reserves (USD bn) 0.7 1.2 0.7 3.5 -
International Reserves (months of imports) 0.5 1.1 0.8 2.3 -
External Debt (USD bn) 5.8 6.5 7.1 9.2 9.4
External Debt (% of GDP) 12.2 12.5 14.5 16.6 14.6

Free Sample Report

Interested in DR Congo economic reports, analysis and data? FocusEconomics provides data, forecasts and analysis for hundreds of countries and commodities. Request your free sample report now.

Close Left Media Arrows Left Media Circles Right Media Arrows Right Media Circles Arrow Quote Wave Address Email Telephone Man in front of screen with line chart Document with bar chart and magnifying glass Application window with bar chart Target with arrow Line Chart Stopwatch Globe with arrows Document with bar chart in front of screen Bar chart with magnifying glass and dollar sign Lightbulb Document with bookmark Laptop with download icon Calendar Icon Nav Menu Arrow Arrow Right Long Icon Arrow Right Icon Chevron Right Icon Chevron Left Icon Briefcase Icon Linkedin In Icon Full Linkedin Icon Filter Facebook Linkedin Twitter Pinterest