Democratic Republic of Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The DRC is endowed with exceptional natural resources, including minerals such as cobalt and copper, hydroelectric potential, significant arable land, immense biodiversity, and the world's second-largest rainforest.

Most people, however, have not benefited from this wealth. A long history of conflict, political upheaval, and instability has led to a serious and ongoing humanitarian crisis, exacerbated since November 2021 by the resurgence of M23 rebel activity in eastern DRC. This situation has led to millions of displaced people and widespread gender-based violence. Following the Washington Agreement (June 2025) and the Doha Declaration of Principles (July 2025), a significant milestone was reached in November 2025 with the signature of a new economic agreement aimed at stabilizing cross-border trade and resource management.

On the ground, the security situation remains deeply polarized. While the M23 recently withdrew from several localities, most notably the strategic city of Uvira—allowing for the reopening of the border with Burundi—this progress is offset by a persistent status quo regarding broader security arrangements. Key territories remain under rebel influence, and the expected integration or disarmament processes have yet to materialize. Furthermore, negotiations in Doha are progressing at a slow pace, as parties struggle to move beyond preliminary statements toward a binding peace treaty.

Despite these diplomatic efforts, substantial challenges persist. Tensions remain high with continued clashes involving the Congolese army and various armed groups. The situation in Ituri province also remains volatile, marked by inter-community violence and competition for mineral resources. The government continues to reinforce state authority and pursue structural reforms to restore stability, attract investment, and generate employment.

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Real GDP growth remained resilient, estimated at 5.5% in 2025, driven by the extractive sector, though momentum moderated due to policy measures and security challenges. Mining output moderated slightly to 10.1% (from 11.9% in 2024), supported by strong copper production and exports despite the temporary cobalt export ban (February–October 2025). Non-mining sectors grew by 3.1%, driven mainly by construction and services. Stronger export revenues and external financing helped rebuild foreign reserves, strengthen the Congolese franc, and reduce inflation to 7.5% in 2025 (from 17.7% in 2024), due to tight monetary policy, stable exchange rate, and lower global food and fuel prices. However, the intensification of conflict in the East increased security spending and tightened fiscal space.

Looking ahead, GDP growth is projected to average 5.1% in 2026-2028, reflecting a gradual slowdown in mining output growth, as major projects reach maturity. Services and construction are projected to play a key role in sustaining the non-mining sector of the economy. A stable external position combined with the absence of Banque Centrale du Congo (BCC) budget financing is expected to support exchange rate stability and keep inflation near the 7% medium‑term target. Risks remain tilted to the downside, as the ongoing conflict in the East, the protracted conflict in the Middle East, heightened global uncertainty and volatile commodity prices could strain public finances and weigh on medium-term growth.

Despite positive trends, poverty remains high at 81.1% (at $3/day PPP) in 2025, with limited job creation in the mining sector and structural weaknesses constraining inclusive growth. Sustained reforms and investment in non-mining sectors are essential for broader development outcomes.

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Despite its immense potential, the DRC remains among the five poorest nations in the world. According to the 2024 household survey by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), an estimated 69% of the population lives below the national poverty line. The country's inequality index stands at 38.1, aligning with the Sub-Saharan African average.

DRC ranks 164 out of 174 countries on the 2020 Human Capital Index, reflecting decades of conflict and fragility. DRC's Human Capital Index is 0.37, below the SSA average of 0.4, meaning that a Congolese child born today can expect to achieve only 37% of their potential compared to what would have been possible with full, quality schooling and optimal health conditions. The main contributors to this low score are high child mortality rates under age five, widespread stunting, and poor education quality.

DRC has one of the highest stunting rates in SSA (42% of children under age five), and malnutrition underlies almost half of all deaths of children under five. Unlike in most other African countries, the prevalence of stunting in the DRC has not decreased over the past 20 years. Due to the country's very high fertility rate, the absolute number of stunted children has in fact increased by 1.5 million.

The education sector faces persistent challenges in access, equity, and quality—particularly for girls and children from poor and marginalized households. While gender inequalities in pre-primary and primary education have declined over time, girls remain less likely than boys to attend and complete secondary education. The rapid expansion of the sector has taken place in an environment characterized by internal inefficiencies and low learning outcomes, generating a learning crisis at foundational levels that extends into secondary education. This situation, coupled with a young but under-skilled workforce, poses significant risks to the future productivity of the Congolese economy.

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The DRC Country Partnership Framework (CPF) 2022-2026 supports stabilization and development in DRC, with a focus on governance reforms, human development, and access to basic services such as education, health, and social protection. The CPF prioritizes addressing drivers of fragility, conflict, and violence, particularly in eastern DRC, while building resilience to shocks and climate change. Investments target two densely populated, conflict-affected corridors, covering infrastructure (roads, energy, connectivity), agriculture, forestry, and private sector engagement.

Protecting DRC's rainforest, the second largest in the world, covering 67% of the country and storing 85 billion tons of CO2 equivalent is central to the CPF. Deforestation driven by population growth, resource exploitation, and agriculture threatens rainfall patterns, water quality, and food security across DRC and the wider Congo Basin.

Preparation for the next CPF is underway, building on the Completion and Learning Review and updated Systematic Country Diagnostic. The CPF Concept Review was completed in July 2026, with Board discussion by March 2027. The new strategy will focus on job creation, human capital, governance, and inclusive growth, organized around three development corridors: Inga, Lobito, and the Peace Corridor (PACT).

As of September 25, 2026, the World Bank portfolio in DRC is $8.2 billion across 25 national projects and one regional project. The largest sectoral shares are in education (21%), urban and disaster management (13%), and transport (11%).

Partners

The World Bank is an active member of the Donor Coordination Group, which works to harmonize development partner activities on the ground. In this capacity, it coordinates closely with the United Nations (UN), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the German Agency for International Development (GIZ/KfW), and the Belgian Development Cooperation. The World Bank also collaborates with the African Development Bank in select areas of shared priority.

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The SME Development and Growth Project: 6,012 new businesses were created, 14,926 full-time jobs were generated, and revenues of supported enterprises increased by 53%. 10,152 women entrepreneurs were trained, with financing extended to 5,692 women-led SMEs. Three SME Hubs launched, attracting $17 million in private investment.

Education: Public primary enrollment reached 10 million students across 10 provinces, with 4.4 million additional students enrolled nationally. 183,000 teachers signed revised Codes of Conduct; 80% of public primary schools received equitable grants; 70 schools constructed or rehabilitated across five provinces.

Nutrition and Health: 21.2 million people reached with health and nutrition services; 15.7 million children received essential nutrition services; 2.7 million skilled births supported; over 3 million women using modern contraception. Biofortified crop kits reached 96,000 households—triple the original target. Primary health services were provided to 27% of the population across 3,051 health facilities in 12 provinces, with an 80% increase in antenatal care visits, benefiting 7.5 million people annually. 70,000 health workers were trained under REDISSE IV.

The Kin Elenda: The Binza Ozone Water Treatment Complex reached full capacity of 330,000 m³/day, capable of serving an additional 5–6 million residents in Kinshasa, with over 50,000 new household connections installed in areas where prior coverage was only 3%.

Mai-Ndombe Emission Reductions Program: The program delivered the first jurisdictional REDD+ carbon payment in the Congo Basin—$19.47 million for 3.89 million tons of CO₂ reduced—with a total potential of $55 million covering 11 million tons. Over 120,000 people are benefiting through clean water, road rehabilitation, and sustainable livelihoods.

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