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Aid, poverty & equality · Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income
Democratic Republic of the Congo: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 85.3% (2020), 1st of 151 in the world and 1st of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $4.20/day is 92.5% (2020), 1st of 151 in the world and 1st of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $8.30/day is 98.0% (2020), 1st of 151 in the world and 1st of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Undernourishment
Democratic Republic of the C…Sub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
Women in parliament
Democratic Republic of the C…Sub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
14 indicators
Aid, poverty & equality: Democratic Republic of the Congo in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 85.3%2020 | 1/151 | 1/44 | · | 78.9%2012 | 85.3% | −9.6 ppsince 2004 | 45.0% | 52.5% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 92.5%2020 | 1/151 | 1/44 | · | 88.6%2012 | 92.5% | −5.3 ppsince 2004 | 63.2% | 70.3% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 98.0%2020 | 1/151 | 1/44 | · | 97.9%2012 | 98.0% | −1.7 ppsince 2004 | 88.6% | 92.4% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 56.2%2020 | 8/145 | 7/45 | · | · | 56.2% | — | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 44.72020 | 17/151 | 10/44 | · | 42.12012 | 44.7 | +7.5%since 2004 | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 35.7%2020 | 12/151 | 9/44 | · | 32.0%2012 | 35.7% | +3.4 ppsince 2004 | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 5.5%2020 | 122/151 | 32/44 | · | 5.6%2012 | 5.5% | −0.6 ppsince 2004 | — | — | — | |
| UndernourishmentPrevalence of undernourishment, % of population | 39.5%2024 | 6/167 | 4/44 | 26.8%2001 | 29.6% | 34.0% | +7.9 ppsince 2014 | 22.3% | 27.3% | 8.1% | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 81.7%2024 | 5/155 | 4/38 | · | · | 72.3% | — | — | 65.4% | 28.0% | |
| Account ownershipAccount ownership (bank or mobile money), % of adults | 39.2%2024 | 125/145 | 28/36 | · | 3.7%2011 | 27.4%2022 | +21.7 ppsince 2014 | 55.1% | 46.4% | 78.7% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 12.8%2025 | 159/190 | 40/46 | · | 8.4% | 12.8% | +3.9 ppsince 2015 | 27.0% | 24.8% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $4.3bn2023 | 5/145 | 2/48 | $178m | $3.2bn | $3.4bn | +68%since 2013 | $64.8bn | $44.6bn | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 6.4%2023 | 37/139 | 19/47 | 1.0% | 13.7% | 7.4% | −1.6 ppsince 2013 | 3.1% | 8.2% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $41.12023 | 95/145 | 38/48 | $3.5 | $46.4 | $35.3 | +21%since 2013 | $51.5 | $61.4 | $32.2 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Extreme poverty−9.6 pp85.3% in 2020
- Poverty, $4.20/day−5.3 pp92.5% in 2020
- Poverty, $8.30/day−1.7 pp98.0% in 2020
- Account ownership+21.7 pp39.2% in 2024
Worse than ten years ago
- Gini index+7.5%44.7 in 2020
- Top 10% income share+3.4 pp35.7% in 2020
- Bottom 20% income share−0.6 pp5.5% in 2020
- Undernourishment+7.9 pp39.5% in 2024
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Democratic Republic of the Congo and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Democratic Republic of the Congo. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Tanzania | Uganda | Angola | Cameroon | Zambia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 85.3%2020 | 51.3%2018 | 54.4%2023 | 39.3%2018 | 26.7%2021 | 71.7%2022 |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 92.5%2020 | 70.0%2018 | 72.3%2023 | 53.7%2018 | 41.3%2021 | 81.4%2022 |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 98.0%2020 | 91.5%2018 | 93.6%2023 | 80.0%2018 | 74.0%2021 | 94.0%2022 |
| National poverty rate | 56.2%2020 | 26.4%2018 | 16.1%2023 | 32.3%2018 | 37.7%2021 | 60.0%2022 |
| Gini index | 44.72020 | 40.52018 | 38.22023 | 51.32018 | 42.22021 | 51.52022 |
| Top 10% income share | 35.7%2020 | 33.1%2018 | 29.3%2023 | 39.6%2018 | 31.1%2021 | 39.1%2022 |
| Bottom 20% income share | 5.5%2020 | 6.9%2018 | 6.6%2023 | 3.8%2018 | 5.4%2021 | 3.9%2022 |
| Undernourishment | 39.5%2024 | 19.1%2024 | 20.9%2024 | 17.4%2024 | 4.9%2024 | 41.0%2024 |
| Food insecurity | 81.7%2024 | 57.0%2024 | 51.6%2024 | 75.4%2024 | 60.9%2024 | 45.8%2024 |