Annual growth of GDP per capita in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Annual growth of GDP per capita was 2.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual growth of GDP per capita in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1961–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual growth of gdp per capita in Democratic Republic of Congo is 2.4%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 10.7% on the previous year and down 16.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth of gdp per capita in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 18.1% in 1962 and was at its lowest, -16.5%, in 1993.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 105th out of 212 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual growth of GDP per capita in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -13.1% | — |
| 1962 | 18.1% | -237.9% |
| 1963 | 2.5% | -86.4% |
| 1964 | -5.0% | -303.8% |
| 1965 | -1.7% | -65.3% |
| 1966 | 3.8% | -316.8% |
| 1967 | -3.8% | -201.6% |
| 1968 | 1.3% | -134.4% |
| 1969 | 6.2% | +371.3% |
| 1970 | -3.1% | -149.2% |
| 1971 | 3.1% | -203.0% |
| 1972 | -2.5% | -178.4% |
| 1973 | 5.3% | -314.1% |
| 1974 | 0.4% | -92.2% |
| 1975 | -7.5% | -1917.3% |
| 1976 | -7.7% | +3.5% |
| 1977 | -1.8% | -77.3% |
| 1978 | -8.2% | +369.3% |
| 1979 | -3.0% | -63.1% |
| 1980 | -1.0% | -68.4% |
| 1981 | -0.6% | -38.7% |
| 1982 | -3.4% | +478.7% |
| 1983 | -1.8% | -48.4% |
| 1984 | 2.1% | -218.2% |
| 1985 | -2.8% | -235.6% |
| 1986 | 1.5% | -152.3% |
| 1987 | -0.5% | -134.8% |
| 1988 | -2.7% | +427.0% |
| 1989 | -4.3% | +60.9% |
| 1990 | -9.6% | +121.7% |
| 1991 | -11.4% | +18.7% |
| 1992 | -13.5% | +18.0% |
| 1993 | -16.5% | +22.5% |
| 1994 | -8.3% | -49.5% |
| 1995 | -3.4% | -59.3% |
| 1996 | -2.9% | -14.4% |
| 1997 | -7.1% | +144.9% |
| 1998 | -4.3% | -40.2% |
| 1999 | -7.4% | +74.4% |
| 2000 | -9.8% | +32.5% |
| 2001 | -5.2% | -47.7% |
| 2002 | -0.2% | -97.1% |
| 2003 | 2.5% | -1781.7% |
| 2004 | 3.6% | +43.5% |
| 2005 | 2.9% | -19.7% |
| 2006 | 1.9% | -34.4% |
| 2007 | 5.3% | +178.8% |
| 2008 | 4.2% | -20.7% |
| 2009 | -2.5% | -159.4% |
| 2010 | 5.2% | -306.9% |
| 2011 | -3.6% | -169.4% |
| 2012 | 5.1% | -241.0% |
| 2013 | 13.6% | +166.4% |
| 2014 | 3.7% | -72.6% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | -22.0% |
| 2016 | -3.1% | -206.7% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | -116.1% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | +417.9% |
| 2019 | -2.6% | -200.1% |
| 2020 | -2.4% | -6.3% |
| 2021 | 3.0% | -225.6% |
| 2022 | 5.8% | +92.3% |
| 2023 | 5.1% | -13.5% |
| 2024 | 2.7% | -46.2% |
| 2025 | 2.4% | -10.7% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 2.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.2%, 1.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 2.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.5%, 98% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual growth of GDP per capita in Democratic Republic of Congo changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | -1917.3% | 0.4% | -7.5% |
| 2003 | +1781.7% | -0.2% | 2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.9% | -13.1% | 18.1% | 9 |
| 1970s | -2.5% | -8.2% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.4% | -4.3% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | -8.4% | -16.5% | -2.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | -9.8% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | -3.6% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | -2.4% | 5.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More economy & growth data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 197.81 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0026 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1.81 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.87 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -35.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0205 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 16.56 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.58 % change on previous year (2023)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0731 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 48.25 includes gold, current US$ per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual growth of gdp per capita in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Annual growth of gdp per capita in Democratic Republic of Congo was 2.4% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth of gdp per capita recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 18.1% in 1962.
- What is the lowest annual growth of gdp per capita recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was -16.5% in 1993.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for annual growth of gdp per capita?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 105th out of 212 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual growth of gdp per capita rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth of GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This data is adjusted for inflation.