Unemployment rate — all countries

Unemployment rate — Democratic Republic of the Congo

Unemployment rate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2025 — 4.43%. Ranked 73 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 1.16 pp.

2025 4.43% +0.01 pp vs 2024
World rank 73of 182
Period maximum 5.36%2020
Period minimum 2.95%2005

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of labor force

Unemployment rate — Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1991–20252345619911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 3.27%1992: 3.37%1993: 3.45%1994: 3.4%1995: 3.29%1996: 3.16%1997: 3.17%1998: 3.2%1999: 3.23%2000: 3.25%2001: 3.25%2002: 3.18%2003: 3.06%2004: 2.98%2005: 2.95%2006: 3.17%2007: 3.4%2008: 3.63%2009: 3.88%2010: 4.1%2011: 4.32%2012: 4.49%2013: 4.47%2014: 4.44%2015: 4.44%2016: 4.53%2017: 4.61%2018: 4.63%2019: 4.61%2020: 5.36%2021: 5.29%2022: 4.54%2023: 4.47%2024: 4.42%2025: 4.43%
Change over the period: +1.16 pp Annual average: 0.03 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo 4.43%
World 4.79%
Middle Africa computed 6.76%
Low-income countries computed 5.05%
Unemployment rate — Democratic Republic of the Congo, by year Democratic Republic of the Congo All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 4.43 +0.01 pp
2024 4.42 −0.05 pp
2023 4.47 −0.07 pp
2022 4.54 −0.75 pp
2021 5.29 −0.07 pp
2020 5.36 +0.75 pp
2019 4.61 −0.03 pp
2018 4.63 +0.02 pp
2017 4.61 +0.09 pp
2016 4.53 +0.09 pp
2015 4.44 +0 pp
2014 4.44 −0.03 pp
2013 4.47 −0.02 pp
2012 4.49 +0.17 pp
2011 4.32 +0.22 pp
2010 4.1 +0.22 pp
2009 3.88 +0.26 pp
2008 3.63 +0.22 pp
2007 3.4 +0.23 pp
2006 3.17 +0.23 pp
2005 2.95 −0.03 pp
2004 2.98 −0.08 pp
2003 3.06 −0.12 pp
2002 3.18 −0.07 pp
2001 3.25 +0.01 pp
2000 3.25 +0.02 pp
1999 3.23 +0.04 pp
1998 3.2 +0.02 pp
1997 3.17 +0.01 pp
1996 3.16 −0.13 pp
1995 3.29 −0.12 pp
1994 3.4 −0.05 pp
1993 3.45 +0.08 pp
1992 3.37 +0.1 pp
1991 3.27

About the indicator

The share of the labor force that is unemployed, on the ILO definition: a person counts as unemployed if they held no job in the reference period, actively looked for one and were available to start work. People who are not looking for work are not part of the labor force, so in countries with mass withdrawal from the labor force low unemployment does not mean high employment; the employment ratio and labor force participation fill in the rest of the picture.

Important: The data are ILO modeled estimates harmonized to a common definition; they can differ from the national figures of employment services.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.