The Democratic Republic of the Congo's debt
How much the Democratic Republic of the Congo owes, to whom, and how that compares with the rest of Africa. From IMF and World Bank figures.
Government debt, % of GDP (2025)
20.4 %
Owed abroad by the government, US$ billion (2024)
7.9
Largest creditor: China, % of foreign public debt
44.4 %
Owed to China, % of foreign public debt
44.4 %
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Middle African country |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 31.8 | 32.1 |
| 2011 | 7.8 | 28.4 |
| 2012 | 7.6 | 26.4 |
| 2013 | 8.3 | 31.1 |
| 2014 | 8.7 | 36.4 |
| 2015 | 10.2 | 44.1 |
| 2016 | 10.6 | 45.9 |
| 2017 | 8.4 | 48.0 |
| 2018 | 9.2 | 49.2 |
| 2019 | 9.7 | 53.9 |
| 2020 | 12.8 | 56.7 |
| 2021 | 15.6 | 57.2 |
| 2022 | 16.6 | 59.5 |
| 2023 | 17.2 | 60.9 |
| 2024 | 17.3 | 56.8 |
| 2025 | 20.4 | 53.2 |
| 2026 | 23.7 (partial) | 52.5 (partial) |
| 2027 | 26.9 (partial) | 54.2 (partial) |
| 2028 | 28.4 (partial) | 53.0 (partial) |
| 2029 | 30.0 (partial) | 53.1 (partial) |
| 2030 | 31.5 (partial) | 51.7 (partial) |
| 2031 | 32.6 (partial) | 50.7 (partial) |
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Part | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Development banks and funds | 51.6 % | 52% |
| Other governments | 48.4 % | 48% |
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | China | World Bank-IDA | African Development Bank | Islamic Development Bank | India |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 710 | 849 | 1,477 | Not published | 31 |
| 2011 | 859 | 887 | 1,224 | Not published | 144 |
| 2012 | 977 | 962 | 1,117 | Not published | 151 |
| 2013 | 1,681 | 966 | 979 | Not published | 158 |
| 2014 | 1,742 | 888 | 801 | Not published | 188 |
| 2015 | 1,864 | 841 | 726 | Not published | 223 |
| 2016 | 1,867 | 827 | 613 | Not published | 231 |
| 2017 | 1,907 | 942 | 572 | 220 | 216 |
| 2018 | 3,168 | 1,098 | 490 | 213 | 200 |
| 2019 | 3,174 | 1,288 | 409 | 213 | 184 |
| 2020 | 3,923 | 1,521 | 372 | 205 | 175 |
| 2021 | 3,974 | 1,772 | 323 | 205 | 164 |
| 2022 | 3,457 | 2,125 | 245 | 205 | 145 |
| 2023 | 3,530 | 2,997 | 234 | 205 | 139 |
| 2024 | 3,521 | 3,453 | 326 | 205 | 123 |
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Where the Democratic Republic of the Congo ranks in Africa
- Government debt to GDP: 53rd highest of 53.
- Total external debt in dollars: 22nd largest of 49.
- Compare the Democratic Republic of the Congo's debt with its neighbours on the data wall
More on the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Method and sources
Debt to GDP is the IMF's general government gross debt, which covers domestic and foreign debt of every level of government. Debt owed abroad by the government and debt it guarantees. Excludes IMF credit and private debt that is not guaranteed. WLD is the total. Creditor names are the World Bank's. Figures checked 24 October 2026.
IMF government debt data · World Bank International Debt Statistics
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Democratic Republic of the Congo owe?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo government and the debt it guarantees owed $7.9 billion to foreign lenders in 2024, according to the World Bank's International Debt Statistics. Counting domestic debt too, government debt was 20.4% of GDP in 2025, according to the IMF.
Who is the Democratic Republic of the Congo's largest creditor?
China, owed $3.5 billion in 2024, 44.4% of the government's foreign debt. Next: World Bank-IDA (43.6%), African Development Bank (4.1%) and Islamic Development Bank (2.6%).
How much does the Democratic Republic of the Congo owe China?
$3.5 billion in 2024, 44.4% of public debt owed abroad, which makes China its 1st largest creditor.
What is the Democratic Republic of the Congo's debt to GDP ratio?
20.4% in 2025: general government gross debt as a share of GDP, from the IMF World Economic Outlook. That is the 53rd highest of 53 African countries with a figure.