Demographics of the Democratic Republic of the Congo explained

Place:	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Size Of Population:	(est.)
Nation:	Congolese
Official:	French
Age 0–14 Years:	46.38%
Age 65 Years:	2.47%
Birth:	40.08 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Growth:	3.24% (2022 est.)
Death:	7.94 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net Migration:	-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Sr Under 15:	1.01 male(s)/female
Sr At Birth:	1.03 male(s)/female
Sr 65 Years Over:	0.6 male(s)/female
Total Mf Ratio:	1 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant Mortality:	60.85 deaths/1,000 live births
Life:	61.83 years
Life Male:	60.03 years
Life Female:	63.69 years
Fertility:	6.16 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Demographic features of the population of the Democratic Republic of the Congo include ethnicity, education level, health, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

As many as 250 ethnic groups have been distinguished and named.^[1] The most numerous people are the Luba, Mongo, and Kongo.

Although 700 local languages and dialects are spoken, the linguistic variety is bridged both by the use of French, and the intermediary languages Kikongo ya leta, Tshiluba, Swahili, and Lingala.

Population

The CIA World Factbook estimated the population to be over 105 million as of 2022 (the exact number being 108,407,721), now exceeding that of Vietnam (with 98,721,275 inhabitants as of 2020) and ascending the country to the rank of 14th most populous in the world.^[2] The proportion of children below the age of 14 in 2020 was 46.38%, 51.15% of the population was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 2.47% was 65 years or older.^{[2] [3]}

	Total population	Population aged 0–14 (%)	Population aged 15–64 (%)	Population aged 65+ (%)
1950	12 184 000	43.7	52.5	3.8
1955	13 580 000	43.8	53.1	3.1
1960	15 368 000	43.8	53.3	2.9
1965	17 543 000	43.9	53.2	2.8
1970	20 267 000	44.4	52.8	2.8
1975	23 317 000	44.9	52.3	2.8
1980	27 019 000	45.4	51.8	2.8
1985	31 044 000	46.1	51.1	2.8
1990	36 406 000	47.0	50.2	2.8
1995	44 067 000	47.9	49.4	2.7
2000	49 626 000	48.0	49.4	2.7
2005	57 421 000	47.5	49.9	2.7
2010	65 966 000	46.3	51.1	2.7
2020	101 780 263	46.4	51.2	2.5

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020) (Post-censal estimates.) (Provisional.):^[4]

Age Group	Male	Female	Total	%
Total	50 286 000	51 472 000	101 758 000	100
0–4	9 956 000	9 780 000	19 736 000	19.40
5–9	8 046 000	7 978 000	16 024 000	15.75
10–14	6 638 000	6 588 000	13 226 000	13.00
15–19	5 280 000	5 250 000	10 530 000	10.35
20–24	4 224 000	4 272 000	8 496 000	8.35
25–29	3 621 000	3 603 000	7 224 000	7.10
30–34	3 017 000	3 037 000	6 054 000	5.95
35–39	2 565 000	2 728 000	5 293 000	5.20
40–44	2 011 000	2 059 000	4 070 000	4.00
45–49	1 307 000	1 493 000	2 800 000	2.75
50–54	1 056 000	1 287 000	2 343 000	2.30
55–59	704 000	926 000	1 630 000	1.60
60–64	704 000	926 000	1 630 000	1.60
65-69	553 000	721 000	1 274 000	1.25
70-74	302 000	412 000	714 000	0.70
75+	302 000	412 000	714 000	0.70
Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	24 640 000	24 346 000	48 986 000	48.14
15–64	24 489 000	25 581 000	50 070 000	49.20
65+	1 157 000	1 545 000	2 702 000	2.66

Census

The first and so far only census conducted in DR Congo dates from 1984.^[5] A census is supposed to be conducted decennially, but this has been obstructed by periods of instability such as the political reorganization in 1991 and the civil war in 1996.^[6]

In January 2015, the parliament passed a law requiring that a census be completed before the next election. Opponents said this was intended to keep Joseph Kabila in power by delaying the next election, leading to protests that caused several deaths. The parliament repealed the law and the census did not take place.^[7]

The second general census of population and housing is underway as of 2024.^[8] President Félix Tshisekedi called for a census to improve demographic policies and to enable the creation of national identity cards.^{[9] [6]} The National Office for Population Identification (ONIP), founded in 2011, was tasked with leading the census, settling a dispute between bids by the Ministries of Interior, Planning, and Digital Technology.^[6] Preliminary mapping was conducted in 2018 under Minister of State Modeste Bahati Lukwebo.^[10] Data collection began on 2 March 2020 and was scheduled to end on 10 June, but implementation was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[11] Data collection was arranged by the Ministries of Planning, Budget, and Finance, and the electoral commission sent materials to the ONIP and the .^[9] In 2022, Prime Minister Sama Lukonde issued a decree about the operations of the census.^[6] The government allocated the census 250 million dollars of its 2022 budget.^[12] The census is planned to be completed in 2025 with an expected budget of US$153,700,453.^[8]

Vital statistics

Registration of vital events in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is incomplete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.^[13]

Period	Live births per year	Deaths per year	Natural change per year	CBR*	CDR*	NC*	TFR*	IMR*	Life expectancy
1950	566,000	326,000	239,000	46.0	26.6	19.5	5.97	179.9	38.31
1951	579,000	328,000	251,000	46.1	26.2	20.0	5.97	178.5	38.44
1952	592,000	327,000	264,000	46.2	25.6	20.6	5.97	175.8	38.85
1953	607,000	329,000	278,000	46.4	25.1	21.2	5.98	173.3	39.14
1954	619,000	330,000	289,000	46.3	24.7	21.6	5.98	171.0	39.47
1955	632,000	333,000	299,000	46.3	24.4	21.9	5.98	168.8	39.72
1956	646,000	336,000	311,000	46.4	24.1	22.3	5.99	166.7	39.98
1957	663,000	338,000	325,000	46.5	23.7	22.8	6.01	164.7	40.32
1958	681,000	343,000	338,000	46.7	23.5	23.2	6.04	162.9	40.50
1959	698,000	348,000	349,000	46.8	23.4	23.4	6.07	161.2	40.64
1960	716,000	354,000	362,000	46.9	23.2	23.7	6.08	159.8	40.86
1961	738,000	370,000	368,000	47.1	23.6	23.5	6.11	159.6	40.24
1962	761,000	378,000	383,000	47.4	23.5	23.8	6.13	158.1	40.34
1963	785,000	385,000	400,000	47.5	23.3	24.2	6.16	156.5	40.60
1964	808,000	403,000	406,000	47.7	23.8	24.0	6.18	155.7	40.05
1965	833,000	404,000	429,000	47.9	23.2	24.7	6.21	153.1	40.70
1966	859,000	397,000	462,000	47.9	22.1	25.8	6.24	149.5	42.05
1967	885,000	405,000	480,000	48.0	21.9	26.0	6.27	147.3	42.31
1968	910,000	411,000	500,000	47.9	21.6	26.3	6.30	145.1	42.71
1969	935,000	418,000	517,000	47.8	21.4	26.4	6.32	142.7	42.98
1970	959,000	425,000	534,000	47.6	21.1	26.5	6.34	140.5	43.28
1971	985,000	431,000	554,000	47.5	20.8	26.8	6.38	138.3	43.66
1972	1,006,000	437,000	569,000	47.3	20.5	26.8	6.40	136.4	43.93
1973	1,026,000	445,000	582,000	47.0	20.4	26.6	6.41	134.7	44.10
1974	1,047,000	451,000	597,000	46.7	20.1	26.6	6.42	133.3	44.41
1975	1,070,000	460,000	610,000	46.4	20.0	26.4	6.42	132.1	44.47
1976	1,091,000	468,000	623,000	46.1	19.8	26.3	6.43	130.9	44.66
1977	1,111,000	476,000	634,000	45.8	19.6	26.1	6.43	129.8	44.76
1978	1,134,000	491,000	643,000	45.6	19.7	25.8	6.44	129.1	44.54
1979	1,184,000	496,000	688,000	45.9	19.2	26.7	6.46	126.9	45.21
1980	1,227,000	507,000	720,000	46.0	19.0	27.0	6.47	125.1	45.47
1981	1,260,000	517,000	744,000	45.9	18.8	27.1	6.49	123.5	45.72
1982	1,293,000	526,000	766,000	45.8	18.6	27.2	6.50	121.9	45.92
1983	1,333,000	535,000	798,000	45.9	18.5	27.5	6.55	120.3	46.18
1984	1,377,000	545,000	832,000	46.2	18.3	27.9	6.60	118.7	46.45
1985	1,433,000	559,000	873,000	46.5	18.2	28.4	6.65	117.4	46.62
1986	1,480,000	571,000	910,000	46.7	18.0	28.7	6.69	116.1	46.91
1987	1,529,000	579,000	950,000	46.8	17.7	29.1	6.74	114.9	47.34
1988	1,568,000	588,000	980,000	46.5	17.4	29.1	6.73	113.7	47.77
1989	1,610,000	596,000	1,014,000	46.3	17.1	29.1	6.74	112.6	48.17
1990	1,652,000	604,000	1,047,000	46.0	16.8	29.2	6.70	111.3	48.60
1991	1,713,000	617,000	1,097,000	46.1	16.6	29.5	6.69	110.1	48.95
1992	1,761,000	629,000	1,132,000	45.9	16.4	29.5	6.67	108.9	49.24
1993	1,804,000	638,000	1,165,000	45.7	16.2	29.5	6.64	108.1	49.55
1994	1,878,000	653,000	1,225,000	45.9	16.0	29.9	6.67	107.0	49.88
1995	2,046,000	682,000	1,364,000	47.1	15.7	31.4	6.71	105.7	50.41
1996	2,083,000	730,000	1,353,000	46.8	16.4	30.4	6.72	106.4	49.31
1997	2,067,000	707,000	1,360,000	45.8	15.7	30.2	6.73	103.7	50.40
1998	2,071,000	729,000	1,342,000	45.1	15.9	29.2	6.73	101.5	49.70
1999	2,128,000	739,000	1,389,000	45.0	15.6	29.4	6.72	99.5	49.95
2000	2,189,000	712,000	1,477,000	45.0	14.6	30.4	6.72	97.3	51.78
2001	2,245,000	721,000	1,525,000	44.8	14.4	30.4	6.70	95.0	52.12
2002	2,310,000	733,000	1,577,000	44.7	14.2	30.5	6.67	92.6	52.33
2003	2,372,000	738,000	1,634,000	44.5	13.9	30.7	6.64	89.9	52.83
2004	2,426,000	738,000	1,688,000	44.3	13.5	30.8	6.62	87.2	53.43
2005	2,499,000	743,000	1,757,000	44.2	13.1	31.1	6.60	84.6	53.93
2006	2,592,000	746,000	1,846,000	44.4	12.8	31.6	6.59	82.0	54.53
2007	2,675,000	756,000	1,920,000	44.4	12.5	31.8	6.58	79.4	54.92
2008	2,767,000	764,000	2,003,000	44.4	12.3	32.2	6.58	77.0	55.34
2009	2,867,000	771,000	2,096,000	44.6	12.0	32.6	6.59	74.5	55.84
2010	2,957,000	774,000	2,183,000	44.5	11.7	32.9	6.59	72.2	56.42
2011	3,069,000	776,000	2,293,000	44.7	11.3	33.4	6.58	70.0	57.07
2012	3,171,000	793,000	2,378,000	44.6	11.2	33.5	6.56	68.0	57.25
2013	3,247,000	797,000	2,450,000	44.2	10.9	33.4	6.53	65.9	57.76
2014	3,345,000	802,000	2,543,000	44.0	10.6	33.4	6.48	64.0	58.30
2015	3,433,000	818,000	2,615,000	43.6	10.4	33.2	6.44	62.2	58.49
2016	3,532,000	820,000	2,712,000	43.4	10.1	33.3	6.39	60.4	59.07
2017	3,647,000	832,000	2,815,000	43.3	9.9	33.4	6.35	58.6	59.41
2018	3,748,000	835,000	2,913,000	43.0	9.6	33.4	6.30	56.9	59.94
2019	3,839,000	844,000	2,995,000	42.7	9.4	33.3	6.25	55.5	60.28
2020	3,930,000	886,000	3,044,000	42.3	9.5	32.8	6.21	53.9	59.74
2021	4,035,000	931,000	3,104,000	42.0	9.7	32.3	6.16	52.3	59.19
CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000 people); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000 people); NC = natural change (per 1000 people), also equals CBR minus CDR; IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)

Population estimates by INS

The Institute of National Statistics of the DRC has provided population estimates from 1984 and 2000-2019:^{[14] [15]}

• 1984: 30,631,000
• 2000: 52,099,000
• 2001: 53,870,000
• 2002: 55,702,000
• 2003: 57,596,000
• 2004: 59,554,000
• 2005: 61,579,000
• 2006: 63,673,000
• 2007: 65,837,000
• 2008: 68,076,000
• 2009: 70,391,000
• 2010: 72,784,000
• 2011: 75,259,000
• 2012: 77,817,000
• 2013: 80,462,000
• 2014: 83,197,000
• 2015: 86,024,000
• 2016: 88,957,000
• 2017: 91,994,000
• 2018: 94,921,000
• 2019: 98,370,000

Fertility and Births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR) for urban and rural areas:^[16]

The Wanted Fertility Rate is an estimate of what the fertility rate would be if all unwanted births were avoided.^[17]

Year	CBR (Total)	TFR (Total)	CBR (Urban)	TFR (Urban)	CBR (Rural)	TFR (Rural)
2007	44.1	6.3 (5.6)	40.4	5.4 (4.8)	46.8	7.0 (6.2)
2013-14	44.1	6.6 (5.7)	40.5	5.4 (4.6)	45.9	7.3 (6.5)
2023-24	35.7	5.5	30.4	4.2	38.6	6.4

Fertility data per province, as of 2014:^[18]

Province	Total fertility rate	Percentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnant	Mean number of children ever born to women age 40-49
Kinshasa	4.2	5.7	4.8
Bas-Congo	6.0	12.6	6.5
Bandundu	6.3	12.1	6.1
Équateur	7.0	14.3	6.5
Orientale	5.9	11.6	5.3
Nord-Kivu	6.5	9.7	6.7
Sud-Kivu	7.7	12.5	7.4
Maniema	6.9	14.8	7.0
Katanga	7.8	12.8	7.3
Kasaï Oriental	7.3	12.4	7.5
Kasaï Occidental	8.2	14.2	7.5

Life expectancy

Period	Life expectancy in Years^[19]
1950–1955	39.06
1955–1960	40.55
1960–1965	41.63
1965–1970	42.99
1970–1975	44.77
1975–1980	45.63
1980–1985	47.13
1985–1990	48.25
1990–1995	49.59
1995–2000	48.89
2000–2005	51.84
2005–2010	55.48
2010–2015	58.10

Ethnic groups

Over 250 ethnic groups and 450 tribes (ethnic subgroups) populate the Democratic Republic of Congo. These ethnic groups are from the Bantu, Sudanic, Nilotic, Ubangian and Pygmy linguistic groups. There is no dominant ethnic group in Congo; the following ethnic groups account for 51.5% of the population:^[20]

• Luba-Kasaï
• Kongo
• Mongo
• Lubakat
• Lulua
• Tetela
• Nande
• Ngbandi
• Ngombe
• Yaka
• Ngbaka

Ethnic groups include:

• Bantu peoples: Ambala, Ambuun, Angba, Babindi, Baboma, Baholo, Bangala, Bango, Bapindi, Batsamba, Bazombe, Bemba, Bembe, Bira, Bowa, Dikidiki, Dzing, Fuliru, Havu, Hema, Hima, Hunde, Iboko, Kanioka, Kaonde, Kongo, Kuba, Kumu, Kwango, Lengola, Lokele, Luba, Lunda, Lupu, Lwalwa, Mbala, Mbole, Mbuza (Budja), Mongo, Nande, Ngoli, Bangoli, Ngombe, Nkumu, Nyanga, Pende, Popoi, Poto, Sango, Shi, Nyindu, Songo, Sukus, Tabwa, Chokwe, Téké, Tembo, Tetela, Topoke, Ungana, Vira, Wakuti, Yaka, Yakoma, Yanzi, Yéké, Yela, etc.
• Central Sudanic: Manvu, Mbunja, Moru-Mangbetu, Lugbara
• Nilotic peoples: Alur, Bari, Kakwa, Logo
  • Ubangian: Azande, Banda, Ngbandi, Ngbaka Fulani: Mbororo^[21]
• Pygmy peoples: Mbuti, Twa, Baka, Babinga

Languages

See main article: Languages of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The four major languages in the DRC are French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca, or trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Swahili), Kikongo ya leta, and Tshiluba. In total, there are over 200 ethnic languages.

French is generally the language of instruction in schools. English is taught as a compulsory foreign language in Secondary and High Schools around the country. It is a required subject in the Faculty of Economics at major universities around the country and there are numerous language schools in the country that teach it. Former President Kabila himself is fluent in both English and French, as was his father.

Religions

A survey conducted by the Demographic and Health Surveys program in 2013–2014 indicated that Christians constituted 93.7% of the population (Catholics 29.7%, Protestants 26.8%, and other Christians 37.2%). An indigenous religion, Kimbanguism, was practiced by 2.8% of the population, while Muslims make up 1.2%.^[22]

Another estimate (by the Pew Research Center in 2010) found Christianity was followed by 95.8% of the population.^[23]

The CIA The World Factbook gives the following percentages: Roman Catholic 29.9%, Protestant 26.7%, Kimbanguist 2.8%, Other Christian 36.5%, Islam 1.3%, Other (includes Syncretic Sects and Indigenous beliefs) 2.7%.^[24]

The Joshua Project, a Christian missionary organisation, gives the following percentages: Roman Catholic 43.9%, Protestant 24.8%, Other Christian 23.7%, Muslim 1.6%, Non-religious 0.6%, Hindu 0.1% other syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs 5.3%.^[25]

Other demographic statistics

These are some other demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2022.

• One birth every 9 seconds
• One death every 38 seconds
• One net migrant every 111 minutes
• Net gain of one person every 11 seconds

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook.

Population

108,407,721 (2022 est.)

85,281,024 (July 2018 est.)

Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and gender than would otherwise be expected (July 2017 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 29.9%, Protestant 26.7%, other Christian 36.5%, Kimbanguist 2.8%, Muslim 1.3%, other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 1.2%, none 1.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2014 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 46.38% (male 23,757,297/female 23,449,057)

15-24 years: 19.42% (male 9,908,686/female 9,856,841)

25-54 years: 28.38% (male 14,459,453/female 14,422,912)

55-64 years: 3.36% (male 1,647,267/female 1,769,429)

65 years and over: 2.47% (male 1,085,539/female 1,423,782) (2020 est.)

0-14 years: 41.25% (male 17,735,697 /female 17,446,866)

15-24 years: 21.46% (male 9,184,871 /female 9,117,462)

25-54 years: 30.96% (male 13,176,714 /female 13,225,429)

55-64 years: 3.63% (male 1,472,758 /female 1,625,637)

65 years and over: 2.69% (male 974,293 /female 1,321,297) (2018 est.)

Median age

total: 16.7 years. Country comparison to the world: 222nd

male: 16.5 years

female: 16.8 years (2020 est.)

total: 18.8 years. Country comparison to the world: 206th

male: 18.6 years

female: 19 years (2018 est.)

Birth rate

40.08 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 7th

40.1 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Death rate

7.94 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 95th

9.1 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.56 children born/woman (2023 est.) Country comparison to the world: 3rd

5.63 children born/woman (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 3rd

5.7 children born/woman (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

3.14% (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 9th

2.33% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 31st

2.42% (2016)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.9 years (2013/14 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Contraceptive prevalence rate

28.1% (2017/18)

20.4% (2013/14)

Net migration rate

-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 131st

-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 105th

-0.54 migrant(s)/1,000 populationnote: fighting between the Congolese Government and Uganda- and Rwanda-backed Congolese rebels spawned a regional war in DRC in August 1998, which left 2.33 million Congolese internally displaced and caused 412,000 Congolese refugees to flee to surrounding countries (2011 est.)

Given the situation in the country and the condition of state structures, it is extremely difficult to obtain reliable data however evidence suggests that DRC continues to be a destination country for immigrants in spite of recent declines. Immigration is seen to be very diverse in nature, with refugees and asylum-seekers - products of the numerous and violent conflicts in the Great Lakes Region - constituting an important subset of the population in the country.

Additionally, the country's large mine operations attract migrant workers from Africa and beyond and there is considerable migration for commercial activities from other African countries and the rest of the world, but these movements are not well studied. Transit migration towards South Africa and Europe also plays a role. Immigration in the DRC has decreased steadily over the past two decades, most likely as a result of the armed violence that the country has experienced.

According to the International Organization for Migration, the number of immigrants in the DRC has declined from just over 1 million in 1960, to 754,000 in 1990, to 480,000 in 2005, to an estimated 445,000 in 2010. Valid figures are not available on migrant workers in particular, partly due to the predominance of the informal economy in the DRC. Data are also lacking on irregular immigrants, however given neighbouring country ethnic links to nationals of the DRC, irregular migration is assumed to be a significant phenomenon in the country.^[26]

Figures on the number of Congolese nationals abroad vary greatly depending on the source, from 3 to 6 million. This discrepancy is due to a lack of official, reliable data. Emigrants from the DRC are above all long-term emigrants, the majority of which live within Africa and to a lesser extent in Europe; 79.7% and 15.3% respectively, according to estimates on 2000 data. Most Congolese emigrants however, remain in Africa, with new destination countries including South Africa and various points en route to Europe.^[26]

In addition to being a host country, the DRC has also produced a considerable number of refugees and asylum-seekers located in the region and beyond. These numbers peaked in 2004 when, according to UNHCR, there were more than 460,000 refugees from the DRC; in 2008, Congolese refugees numbered 367,995 in total, 68% of which were living in other African countries.^[26]

Religions

Roman Catholic (55.8%), Other Christian (39.1%), Folk religion (2.5%), Islam (2.1%), None (0.5%)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 97.5 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 91.5 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 6 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

16.8 (2015 est.)

Gender ratio

At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15–64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 61.83 years. Country comparison to the world: 216th

male: 60.03 years

female: 63.69 years (2022 est.)

total population: 58.1 years (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 213rd

male: 56.5 years (2018 est.)

female: 59.7 years (2018 est.)

total population: 56.93 years

male: 55.39 years

female: 58.51 years (2015 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 46.8% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 4.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population: 44.5% of total population (2018)

rate of urbanization: 4.53% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

HIV/AIDS

See main article: HIV/AIDS in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Adult prevalence rate: 0.7% (2017 est.)

People living with HIV/AIDS: 390,000 (2017 est.)

Deaths: 17,000 (2017 est.)

Major infectious diseases

Degree of risk: very high

Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever and ebola.

Vectorborne diseases: malaria, plague, and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations

Water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2005)

Nationality

Noun: Congolese (singular and plural)

Adjective: Congolese or Congo

Literacy

Definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba

Total population: 77%

Male: 88.5%

Female: 66.5% (2016 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years (2013)

male: 11 years (2013)

female: 9 years (2013)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 8.7% (2012 est.) Country comparison to the world: 134th

male: 11.3% (2012 est.)

female: 6.8% (2012 est.)

Congolese diaspora

The table below shows DRC born people who have emigrated abroad in selected Western countries (although it excludes their descendants).^[27]

Rank	Country	Region	Year	DRC born population
1		Europe	2010	59,641
2		Europe	2015	44,715
3		North America	2021	39,475^[28]
4		North America	2011-13	20,410
5		Europe	2011	19,193
6		Europe	2011 (foreign citizens)	9,299
7		Europe	2011	6,724
8		Europe	2015	6,010
9		Europe	2015	4,973
10		Europe	2015	3,092
11		Oceania	2011	2,576
12		Europe	2015	2,210
13		South America	2020	2,064
14		Europe	2013	1,494
15		Europe	2015	1,523
16		Europe	2015	1,264
17		Europe	2015	1,258

These are only estimates and do not account for Congolese migrants residing illegally in these and other countries.

See also

Congolese ethnic groups:

• Alur
• Azande
• Chokwe
• Hema
• Kakwa
• Lendu
• Luba
• Mangbetu
• Twa
• Yaka
• Lunda

Other articles

• Health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

References

1. Web site: Congo (Kinshasa) (01/08) . 2022-12-16 . U.S. Department of State.
2. Web site: Congo, Democratic Republic of the. 18 April 2022.
3. http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/index.htm Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision
4. Web site: UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics.
5. Web site: Recensement scientifique de la population 1984. Résultats provisoires.
6. News: Mbardounka . Chérif Ousman . 14 May 2024 . Le pays africain dont les citoyens n'ont pas de carte d'identité depuis 40 ans . live . 16 May 2024 . . fr.
7. News: Ross . Aaron . 25 January 2015 . Congo parliament passes election law stripped of census requirement . live . 15 May 2024 . Reuters.
8. Web site: 9 April 2024 . Recensement général de la population et de l'Habitat . Ministère du Plan . fr.
9. News: Muamba . Clément . 23 March 2024 . RDC : Félix Tshisekedi rappelle au gouvernement la nécessité d'organiser le deuxième recensement général pour " intervenir plus efficacement " en faveur des populations . live . 16 May 2024 . . fr.
10. Web site: 15 May 2018 . 2nd General Census of Population and Housing in DRC: Evaluation of pilot cartography . 15 May 2024 . United Nations Population Fund.
11. Web site: 2020 . Responses to the 1st UNSD survey on the impact of COVID-19 . 15 May 2024 . United Nations Statistics Division.
12. News: 1 October 2022 . RDC's government confirms general census is going ahead . live . 15 May 2024 . Africanews.
13. Web site: World Population Prospects 2022 – Demographic Indicators – Compact (most used: estimates and medium projections) (XLSX, 24.07 MB) . xlsx. 2022-07-13 . United Nations Population Division. tab "Estimates". (found under: World Population Prospects 2022 – Download Files)
14. Web site: République Démocratique du Congo Anuaire Statistique 2014. undp.org.
15. Web site: République Démocratique du Congo Anuaire Statistique 2020. undp.org.
16. Web site: Congo, Dem. Rep. - Enquête Démographique et de Santé 2007. microdata.worldbank.org.
17. Web site: Fertility and wanted fertility. 2021-06-21. Our World in Data.
18. Web site: Democratic Republic of Congo. https://web.archive.org/web/20150317092838/http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR300/FR300.pdf . 2015-03-17 . live.
19. Web site: World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations. esa.un.org. 2018-08-26.
20. Web site: Democratic Republic of Congo in Crisis | Human Rights Watch . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210513223749/https://www.hrw.org/blog-feed/democratic-republic-congo-crisis . 13 May 2021 . 18 May 2021.
21. Web site: Transhumance Pastoralism and Mbororo Pastoralists in Climate-Water-Migration-Conflict Context of the Congo River Basin . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221003134844/https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/transhumance-pastoralism-and-mbororo-pastoralists-climate-water-migration-conflict-context-congo-river-basin . 3 October 2022.
22. Web site: Enquête Démographique et de Santé (EDS-RDC) 2013-2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150317092838/http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR300/FR300.pdf . 2015-03-17 . live. Ministère du Plan et Suivi de la Mise en œuvre de la Révolution de la Modernité, Ministère de la Santé Publique. fr. 36. 20 April 2018.
23. Web site: Global Religious Landscape. 18 December 2012. Pew Forum.
24. Web site: Africa :: CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE. 18 April 2022. CIA The World Factbook.
25. Web site: Joshua Project - Congo, Democratic Republic of - Religions.
26. Web site: Migration en République Démocratique du Congo: Profil national 2009. International Organization for Migration. 2009. 2010-08-17. 2011-05-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20110511092512/http://publications.iom.int/bookstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41_42&products_id=592. dead.
27. Web site: Schoumaker. Marie-Laurence. Flahaux. Bruno. 2016-04-19. Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Migration History Marked by Crises and Restrictions. 2023-02-06. Migration Policy Institute. en.
28. Web site: Immigrant status and period of immigration by place of birth and citizenship: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts. Statistics Canada. 7 May 2021. Statistics Canada Statistique Canada. 3 January 2023.

External links

• Web site: Mortality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: An Ongoing Crisis . https://web.archive.org/web/20080217125142/http://www.theirc.org/resources/2007/2006-7_congomortalitysurvey.pdf . 2008-02-17 . live .  , International Rescue Committee, January 2008 (estimates 5.4 million excess deaths above sub-Saharan average from 1998 to 2007)