Value of imported goods as a share of GDP (International Monetary) in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP (International Monetary) was 28.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1963–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Democratic Republic of Congo is 28.1%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 12.5% on the previous year and up 40.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 36.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 1982.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 110th of 201 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP (International Monetary) in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 2.6% | — |
| 1964 | 5.5% | +110.0% |
| 1965 | 4.7% | -15.7% |
| 1966 | 4.4% | -5.9% |
| 1967 | 4.5% | +1.6% |
| 1968 | 4.9% | +10.7% |
| 1969 | 5.9% | +20.1% |
| 1970 | 7.0% | +18.0% |
| 1972 | 7.7% | +10.5% |
| 1973 | 6.3% | -18.9% |
| 1974 | 6.4% | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 6.5% | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 6.3% | -2.5% |
| 1977 | 4.6% | -27.5% |
| 1978 | 2.4% | -46.8% |
| 1979 | 2.5% | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 3.2% | +29.4% |
| 1981 | 3.2% | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 2.0% | -39.1% |
| 1983 | 2.4% | +22.6% |
| 1984 | 4.9% | +101.4% |
| 1985 | 6.3% | +28.2% |
| 1986 | 6.1% | -2.4% |
| 1987 | 5.7% | -7.3% |
| 1988 | 4.9% | -13.6% |
| 1989 | 8.6% | +75.0% |
| 1990 | 11.1% | +29.2% |
| 1991 | 8.5% | -23.2% |
| 1992 | 7.6% | -10.4% |
| 1993 | 6.0% | -20.7% |
| 1994 | 14.0% | +132.1% |
| 1995 | 20.2% | +44.0% |
| 1996 | 19.5% | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 16.1% | -17.1% |
| 1998 | 13.9% | -13.8% |
| 1999 | 13.4% | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 8.9% | -33.9% |
| 2001 | 15.0% | +69.6% |
| 2002 | 14.1% | -6.3% |
| 2003 | 14.9% | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 15.3% | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 23.7% | +54.7% |
| 2006 | 23.4% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 28.4% | +21.3% |
| 2008 | 35.5% | +25.0% |
| 2009 | 26.7% | -24.8% |
| 2010 | 26.5% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 32.3% | +21.9% |
| 2012 | 35.0% | +8.6% |
| 2013 | 29.2% | -16.8% |
| 2014 | 24.2% | -17.2% |
| 2015 | 20.1% | -16.9% |
| 2016 | 26.8% | +33.6% |
| 2017 | 18.6% | -30.5% |
| 2018 | 27.2% | +46.0% |
| 2019 | 23.8% | -12.6% |
| 2020 | 23.0% | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 12.2% | -47.0% |
| 2022 | 16.2% | +33.0% |
| 2023 | 36.5% | +124.8% |
| 2024 | 32.1% | -11.9% |
| 2025 | 28.1% | -12.5% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 28.1% is above the median for low income countries, which is 24.9%, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 28.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.0%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.6% | 2.6% | 5.9% | 7 |
| 1970s | 5.5% | 2.4% | 7.7% | 9 |
| 1980s | 4.7% | 2.0% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.0% | 6.0% | 20.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.6% | 8.9% | 35.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.4% | 18.6% | 35.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.7% | 12.2% | 36.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More economy & growth data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -8.36 % change on previous year (2023)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -13.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0076 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 6.17 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -17.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0056 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 4.5 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.016 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per capita 12.94 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Democratic Republic of Congo was 28.1% in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 36.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 1982.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for value of imported goods as a share of gdp?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 110th out of 201 countries with data for 2025.
- Is value of imported goods as a share of gdp rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Value of imported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Value of a country’s total goods imports, including freight and insurance costs, as a percentage of a country’s gross domestic product (GDP).