Labor force, total in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Labor force, total was 39.22 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 39.22 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and up 37.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 39.22 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 14.73 million, in 1990.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 17th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 14.73 million | — |
| 1991 | 15.22 million | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 15.73 million | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 16.30 million | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 17.18 million | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 17.93 million | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 18.10 million | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 18.21 million | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 18.65 million | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 19.29 million | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 19.90 million | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 20.53 million | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 21.16 million | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 21.76 million | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 22.39 million | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 23.09 million | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 23.51 million | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 23.90 million | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 24.28 million | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 24.68 million | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 25.14 million | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 25.64 million | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 26.14 million | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 26.94 million | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 27.76 million | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 28.58 million | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 29.53 million | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 30.55 million | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 31.45 million | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 32.28 million | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 32.85 million | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 34.00 million | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 35.52 million | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 36.73 million | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 37.99 million | +3.4% |
| 2025 | 39.22 million | +3.2% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 39.22 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 8.16 million, 4.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 39.22 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.13 million, 6.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.13 million | 14.73 million | 19.29 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.52 million | 19.90 million | 24.68 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.40 million | 25.14 million | 32.28 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.05 million | 32.85 million | 39.22 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More education data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 621,578 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1.99 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,532 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 427,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.93 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 21.15 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 7.35 % change on previous year (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1999 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Labor force, total in Democratic Republic of Congo was 39.22 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 39.22 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.73 million in 1990.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for labor force, total?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 17th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.