Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population) … 15+ in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population) … 15+ was 64.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Democratic Republic of Congo is 64.3%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 72.6% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 63.4%, in 2020.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 73rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population) … 15+ in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 72.2% | — |
| 1991 | 72.2% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 72.2% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 72.2% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 72.1% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 72.1% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 72.3% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 72.5% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 72.5% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 72.5% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 72.5% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 72.5% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 72.5% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 72.6% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 72.6% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 72.6% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 71.7% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 70.8% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 69.9% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 68.9% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 68.0% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 67.0% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 66.0% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 65.8% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 65.5% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 65.3% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 65.0% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 64.8% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 64.5% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 64.3% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 63.4% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 63.6% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 64.4% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 64.4% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 64.4% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 64.3% | -0.2% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 64.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 67.0%, 96% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 64.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.3%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 72.3% | 72.1% | 72.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.7% | 68.9% | 72.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.6% | 64.3% | 68.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.1% | 63.4% | 64.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More work & labour data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 23,407 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 64.13 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 41,856 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.48 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 2 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 4,595 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 1,696 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 61.26 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.69 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 3.33 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Democratic Republic of Congo was 64.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 72.6% in 2005.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.4% in 2020.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 73rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.