The skyline in DR Congo

DR Congo Economy

DR Congo's Macroeconomic Analysis:

Nominal GDP of USD 58.1 billion in 2022.

Nominal GDP of USD 66.4 billion in 2023.

GDP per capita of USD 664 compared to the global average of USD 10,589.

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.

Average real GDP growth of 6.1% over the last decade.

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

Sector Analysis

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

Main Economic Indicators

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.

Economic situation in DR Congo

GDP growth should have eased so far in 2024 relative to 2023. The country’s statistical office sees annual growth slowing from 8.6% to 5.3% this year as a whole—slightly above our Consensus of 4.9%. Tighter financial conditions throughout the year and higher inflation through July has likely hampered domestic activity. That said, the key mining sector posted a strong start to the year: Copper and cobalt output growth rose markedly in January–May compared to last year. In addition, business confidence strengthened through September amid improving sentiment in the construction and manufacturing sectors. In other news, in October, state-owned mining company Gecamines made an offer to acquire Chemaf’s mining operation in the DRC, after the government blocked the latter’s sale to Chinese miner Norin in August. This move is set to increase the government’s grip on the critical mining sector.

DR Congo Economic Forecasts

Projections out to 2034.

42 indicators covered including both annual and quarterly frequencies.

Consensus Forecasts based on a panel of 7 expert analysts.

Want to get insight on the economic outlook for DR Congo in the coming years? FocusEconomics collects projections out to 2034 on 42 economic indicators for DR Congo from a panel of 7 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

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Population (million) 87.9 90.8 93.8 96.8 99.9
GDP (USD bn) 51.8 48.7 55.3 65.8 66.4
GDP per capita (USD) 589 537 590 680 664
GDP (CDF bn) 85,314 90,181 110,115 132,064 162,254
Economic Growth (Nominal GDP, ann. var. %) 10.5 5.7 22.1 19.9 22.9
Economic Growth (Real GDP, ann. var. %) 4.4 1.7 6.2 8.9 8.6
Private Consumption (ann. var. %) 5.5 -1.3 4.5 3.1 3.5
Government Consumption (ann. var. %) 6.6 4.1 21.7 22.2 -12.9
Fiscal Balance (% of GDP) -2.5 -3.1 -1.6 -0.5 -
Public Debt (% of GDP) 14.8 16.2 15.9 14.3 -
Inflation (CPI, ann. var. %, eop) 4.6 15.8 5.3 13.1 23.8
Inflation (CPI, ann. var. %, aop) 4.7 11.4 9.0 9.3 19.9
Policy Rate (%, eop) 9.00 18.50 8.50 8.25 25.00
Exchange Rate (CDF per USD, eop) 1,668 1,971 2,000 2,001 2,676
Exchange Rate (CDF per USD, aop) 1,640 1,850 1,989 2,002 2,301
Current Account Balance (USD bn) -1.6 -1.1 -0.5 -3.2 -4.2
Current Account Balance (% of GDP) -3.1 -2.2 -0.9 -4.9 -6.4
Merchandise Trade Balance (USD bn) 0.2 1.9 3.9 1.9 1.6
Merchandise Exports (USD bn) 13.2 13.8 22.2 28.6 29.6
Merchandise Imports (USD bn) 12.9 11.9 18.2 26.7 28.0
Merchandise Exports (ann. var. %) -17.4 4.6 60.9 28.7 3.6
Merchandise Imports (ann. var. %) -13.6 -8.3 53.8 46.3 4.9
Foreign Direct Investment (USD bn) 1.5 1.6 1.9 1.8 1.6
International Reserves (USD bn) 1.2 0.7 3.5 4.4 5.1
International Reserves (months of imports) 1.1 0.8 2.3 2.0 2.2
External Debt (USD bn) 6.5 7.1 9.2 9.4 -
External Debt (% of GDP) 12.5 14.5 16.6 14.3 -

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