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DR Congo · Employment & wages

Unemployment, participation, employment, youth, wages and hours.

19 indicators · 12 with data

Unemployment

Unemployment

% of labour force

76th of 185 · 21st in Sub-Saharan Africa
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UnemploymentDR Congo's unemployment rose from 3.2 % in 1996 to 4.4 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020253%4%5%4.4 %

DR Congo's unemployment rose from 3.2 % in 1996 to 4.4 % in 2025.

Youth unemployment

% of labour force ages 15–24

48th of 183 · 22nd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Youth unemploymentDR Congo's youth unemployment rose from 5.2 % in 1996 to 7.8 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020254%6%8%10%7.8 %

DR Congo's youth unemployment rose from 5.2 % in 1996 to 7.8 % in 2025.

Participation

Participation

% of population ages 15+

72nd of 182 · 23rd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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ParticipationDR Congo's participation fell from 72.3 % in 1996 to 64.3 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202562%64%66%68%70%72%74%64.3 %

DR Congo's participation fell from 72.3 % in 1996 to 64.3 % in 2025.

Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)

% of female population ages 15+

39th of 182 · 18th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)DR Congo's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) fell from 71.7 % in 1996 to 61.8 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202555%60%65%70%75%61.8 %

DR Congo's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) fell from 71.7 % in 1996 to 61.8 % in 2025.

Employment

Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)

% of population ages 15+

62nd of 182 · 20th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)DR Congo's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) fell from 70.0 % in 1996 to 61.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202560%65%70%61.5 %

DR Congo's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) fell from 70.0 % in 1996 to 61.5 % in 2025.

Labour force, total

people

17th of 182 · 3rd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Labour force, totalDR Congo's labour force, total rose from 18.1M in 1996 to 39.2M in 2025.20002005201020152020202520M30M40M39.2M

DR Congo's labour force, total rose from 18.1M in 1996 to 39.2M in 2025.

Self-employed (% of total employment)

% of employment

9th of 182 · 9th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Self-employed (% of total employment)DR Congo's self-employed (% of total employment) rose from 83.1 % in 1996 to 85.1 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202582%83%84%85%86%87%85.1 %

DR Congo's self-employed (% of total employment) rose from 83.1 % in 1996 to 85.1 % in 2025.

Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)

% of employment

173rd of 182 · 37th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)DR Congo's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) rose from 81.1 % in 1996 to 81.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202580%81%82%83%81.5 %

DR Congo's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) rose from 81.1 % in 1996 to 81.5 % in 2025.

Structure

Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)

% of employment

14th of 182 · 13th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)DR Congo's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 63.9 % in 1996 to 58.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202560%65%70%58.5 %

DR Congo's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 63.9 % in 1996 to 58.5 % in 2025.

Employment in industry (% of total employment)

% of employment

170th of 182 · 39th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in industry (% of total employment)DR Congo's employment in industry (% of total employment) fell from 8.9 % in 1996 to 8.0 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020258%9%9%8.0 %

DR Congo's employment in industry (% of total employment) fell from 8.9 % in 1996 to 8.0 % in 2025.

Employment in services (% of total employment)

% of employment

164th of 182 · 31st in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in services (% of total employment)DR Congo's employment in services (% of total employment) rose from 27.1 % in 1996 to 33.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202525%30%35%33.5 %

DR Congo's employment in services (% of total employment) rose from 27.1 % in 1996 to 33.5 % in 2025.

Productivity

GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)

constant 2021 PPP $

160th of 168 · 37th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)DR Congo's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $3,417 in 1996 to intl $4,939 in 2025.200020052010201520202025intl $2kintl $3kintl $4kintl $5kintl $4,939

DR Congo's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $3,417 in 1996 to intl $4,939 in 2025.

›No data available (7)

These indicators exist in the registry but no source reports a value for DR Congo.

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