Population by labor force status in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Population by labor force status was 51.85 million people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
51.85 million people
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
8th
of 186 countries
All-time high
51.85 million people
in 2025
All-time low
16.85 million people
in 1991
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Population by labor force status in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1991–2025
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population by labor force status in Democratic Republic of Congo is 51.85 million people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 39.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by labor force status in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 51.85 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 16.85 million people, in 1991.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 8th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Population by labor force status in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 16.85 million people | — |
| 1992 | 17.45 million people | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 18.08 million people | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 18.81 million people | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 19.56 million people | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 20.25 million people | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 20.90 million people | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 21.59 million people | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 22.32 million people | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 23.07 million people | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 23.83 million people | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 24.59 million people | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 25.36 million people | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 26.14 million people | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 26.96 million people | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 27.82 million people | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 28.72 million people | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 29.64 million people | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 30.61 million people | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 31.58 million people | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 32.58 million people | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 33.66 million people | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 34.83 million people | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 36.04 million people | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 37.27 million people | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 38.55 million people | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 39.90 million people | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 41.30 million people | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 42.74 million people | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 44.21 million people | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 45.70 million people | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 47.22 million people | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 48.76 million people | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 50.30 million people | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 51.85 million people | +3.1% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 51.85 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 9.15 million people, 5.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 51.85 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.33 million people, 8.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.53 million people | 16.85 million people | 22.32 million people | 9 |
| 2000s | 26.67 million people | 23.07 million people | 30.61 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.85 million people | 31.58 million people | 42.74 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.01 million people | 44.21 million people | 51.85 million people | 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 population by labor force status in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Population by labor force status in Democratic Republic of Congo was 51.85 million people in 2025, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by labor force status recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 51.85 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest population by labor force status recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.85 million people in 1991.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for population by labor force status?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 8th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by labor force status rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by labor force status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population below working age (under 15 years old).