The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), about the size of Western Europe, is the largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). DRC is endowed with exceptional natural resources, including minerals such as cobalt and copper, hydropower potential, significant arable land, immense biodiversity, and the world’s second-largest rainforest. Most people in DRC have not benefited from this wealth. A long history of conflict, political upheaval and instability, and authoritarian rule have led to a grave, ongoing humanitarian crisis. In addition, there has been forced displacement of populations. These features have not changed significantly since the end of the Congo Wars in 2003. Growth has remained strong and resilient, fueled by expanding mining activity. However, the escalation of the armed conflict in Eastern DRC is having major negative humanitarian effects and weighed on public finances; upcoming elections, scheduled at the end of 2023, are also adding to uncertainty.
Key Indicators |
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| Population in millions, 2022 | 96.8 | |
| GDP per Capita, U.S. dollars, 2022 | 680 | |
| GDP Growth, percent, 2022 | 8.9 | |
| Inflation, CPI average, change in percent, 2022 | 9.3 | |
| General Government Debt, percent of GDP, 2022 | 14.5 | |
| Source: WEO, October 2023 | ||
Infrastructure
A major ongoing infrastructure program is the Programme de Développement Local- 45 Territoires (PDL-145T). For a total cost of 1,660.1 million USD, the PDL-145T, which is backed by government and partners’ funding, aims to reduce infrastructure deficiencies and socio-economic differences across the DRC’s 145 territories.
- The first phase of the program, which is currently in progress, focuses on establishing critical social infrastructure, including schools, health centers, administrative buildings, agricultural service roads, micro photovoltaic power plants etc.
- The second pillar, focuses on creating the necessary conditions for revitalizing rural and local economies via the rehabilitation and/or maintenance of road infrastructure, public lighting infrastructure, the development of water sources, the modernization of agricultural production etc.
Natural Resources
- Mineral Resources: DRC’s rich mineral deposits constitute a major source of revenue for the economy. A non-exhaustive list of mineral deposits includes copper (DRC is the top copper producer in Africa), cobalt (DRC is the largest cobalt producer worldwide), zinc, coltan, cassiterite, gold, diamonds, lithium, tin, tantalum, tungsten etc.
- Forest resources: DRC has the second largest rainforest and peatlands worldwide. DRC’s forestry sector could generate important revenue (eg., linked to preservation projects) and help DRC realize its potential as a “solution country” in the global climate transition. However, advancing on reforms aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in both the mining and forestry sectors remains critical.
