Natural resources
Natural resources of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Oil, gas, minerals, forests and water in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: what it produces, how it ranks in the world, who mines it and what it earns. Every figure is from an official source and is updated when the source is.
Resource rents, share of GDP (2021)
38.8 %
Resources, share of goods exports (2024)
83.5 %
Crude oil, barrels a day (2025)
16,000
Forest, share of land (2024)
61.5 %
Source: World Bank; UN Comtrade; U.S. Energy Information Administration. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Oil, gas and coal
The Democratic Republic of the Congo produced about 16,000 barrels of crude oil a day in 2025. Proved oil reserves were 180 million barrels in 2021. Proved gas reserves were 991.1 million cubic metres in 2021.
View the data as a table
| Period | Crude oil |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2012 | 20 |
| 2013 | 20 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | 20 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 25 |
| 2019 | 24 |
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2022 | 21 |
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 16 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Data. Last checked 24 October 2026.
| Cobalt | 230,000 | metric tons | 1 | 74.2 | 1 | 6,000,000 metric tons |
| Tantalum | 1,300 | metric tons | 1 | 52.0 | 1 | NA |
| Copper | 3,200 | thousand metric tons | 2 | 13.9 | 1 | 80,000 thousand metric tons |
| Copper (refinery production) | 2,800 | thousand metric tons | 2 | 9.7 | 1 | 80,000 thousand metric tons |
| Niobium | 970 | metric tons | 3 | 0.9 | 1 | NA |
| Tin | 27,000 | metric tons | 5 | 9.3 | 1 | 91,000 metric tons |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Mining and minerals
The U.S. Geological Survey records 31 mineral commodities with published production in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 2018 and 2022, from metals and gemstones to industrial minerals and fuels. The table includes processed products such as cement and steel, which USGS reports alongside raw minerals.
Showing 31 of 31
| Cobalt, mine, Co content, recoverable | Metals | Not published | 104,000 | 107,000 | 100,000 | 118,000 | 144,000 | 2020: r; 2021: r |
| Cobalt, refinery, metal | Metals | Not published | 60 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | 2019: --; 2020: --; 2021: --; 2022: -- |
| Concentrates, Cu content | Metals | Not published | 239,546 | 300,901 | 240,618 | 345,717 | 584,279 | 2018: r; 2019: r; 2020: r; 2021: r |
| Solvent extraction | Metals | Not published | 945,607 | 1,126,500 | 1,325,600 | 1,428,975 | 1,890,359 | Not published |
| Total mine, Cu content | Metals | Not published | 1,185,153 | 1,427,400 | 1,566,200 | 1,774,692 | 2,474,638 | 2018: r; 2019: r; 2020: r; 2021: r |
| Smelter, black, primary | Metals | Not published | 47,000 | 62,000 | 119,059 | 123,037 | 157,017 | 2018: e; 2019: e |
| Electrowon | Metals | Not published | 945,607 | 1,126,500 | 1,325,600 | 1,428,975 | 1,890,359 | Not published |
| Other | Metals | Not published | 7,631 | 14,838 | 21,663 | 26,691 | 11,422 | Not published |
| Total primary refinery | Metals | Not published | 953,238 | 1,141,800 | 1,347,300 | 1,455,666 | 1,901,781 | 2018: r; 2019: r; 2020: r; 2021: r |
| Germanium, mine, Ge content | Metals | kilograms | Not published | 3,000 | 14,000 | 17,000 | 16,000 | 2018: --; 2019: e; 2020: e; 2021: e; 2022: e |
| Gold, mine, Au content | Metals | kilograms | 44,000 | 42,000 | 42,000 | 42,000 | 43,000 | 2019: r; 2020: r; 2021: r |
| Lead, mine, Pb content | Metals | Not published | Not published | 625 | Not published | Not published | Not published | 2018: --; 2020: --; 2021: --; 2022: -- |
| Manganese, mine, ore | Metals | Not published | 14,884 | 11,347 | Not published | 21,190 | 14,943 | 2020: -- |
| Cassiterite, gross weight | Metals | Not published | 16,273 | 18,532 | 26,678 | 28,628 | 32,855 | Not published |
| Cassiterite, nb content | Metals | Not published | 160 | 180 | 260 | 280 | 320 | 2021: r |
| Cassiterite, ta content | Metals | Not published | 240 | 280 | 400 | 430 | 490 | Not published |
| Columbite-tantalite, gross weight | Metals | Not published | 1,839 | 1,313 | 1,712 | 1,441 | 2,221 | Not published |
| Columbite-tantalite, nb content | Metals | Not published | 320 | 230 | 300 | 250 | 390 | Not published |
| Columbite-tantalite, ta content | Metals | Not published | 410 | 290 | 380 | 320 | 490 | Not published |
| Tin, mine, concentrate, gross weight | Metals | Not published | 16,273 | 18,532 | 26,678 | 28,628 | 32,855 | Not published |
| Tin, mine, concentrate, sn content | Metals | Not published | 9,800 | 11,200 | 16,400 | 16,700 | 18,600 | 2018: e; 2020: e; 2021: e; 2022: e |
| Tungsten, mine, gross weight | Metals | Not published | 380 | 504 | 226 | 220 | 297 | Not published |
| Concentrate, W content | Metals | Not published | 180 | 240 | 110 | 100 | 140 | Not published |
| Zinc content of mine production | Metals | Not published | 1,129 | 1,607 | 15,305 | 16,079 | 13,578 | Not published |
| Cement, hydraulic | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 1,168,643 | 1,382,769 | 1,283,968 | 1,629,327 | 2,122,295 | 2020: r; 2021: r |
| Artisanal | Industrial Minerals | thousand carats | 11,929 | 9,464 | 8,515 | 9,206 | 7,354 | Not published |
| Large-scale | Industrial Minerals | thousand carats | 3,202 | 4,005 | 4,429 | 3,768 | 4,323 | Not published |
| Gemstones, tourmaline | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 11 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 2018: e; 2019: e; 2021: e; 2022: e |
| Stone, crushed, unspecified | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 396,800 | 324,000 | 323,200 | 411,000 | 410,000 | 2021: r, e; 2022: e |
| Coal, bituminous | Mineral Fuels And Related Materials | Not published | 8,000 | 8,300 | 8,600 | 9,000 | 3,900 | Not published |
| Petroleum, crude | Mineral Fuels And Related Materials | thousand 42-gallon barrels | 8,393 | 8,162 | 8,737 | 8,578 | 7,485 | Not published |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook, country tables. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Showing 103 of 103
| Cement | Lucky Cement Ltd., 50%, and Groupe Rawji, 50% | Plant at Songololo in Kongo Central Province | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | PPC Barnet DRC Manufacturing SA (PPC Ltd., 69%, and Barnet Group, 21%) | Plant near Kimpese | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | Cimenterie de Lukala (HeidelbergCement AG, 85%) | Lukala plant near Kinshasa | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | Interlacs (HeidelbergCement AG, 85%) | Kabimba plant near Lubumbashi | Not published | Not published |
| Cement | Ciment et Matériaux du Katanga [Générale des Carrières et des Mines SA, (Gécamines), 97%] | Lubudi plant in Lualaba Province | Not published | Not published |
| Coal | La Générale des Carrières et des Mines SA (Gécamines) (Government, 100%) | Luena Mine in Haut-Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | Katanga Mining Ltd. [Glencore International AG, 75%, and Générale des Carrières et des Mines (Gécamines), 25%] | KOV, KTO, and Mashamba East Mines near Kolwezi | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | Mutanda Mining SPRL (Glencore plc, 100%) | Mutanda Mine in Lualaba Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. | Kakula-Kamoa Copper Complex in Lualaba Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | Tenke Fungurume Mining SARL [China Molybdenum Co. Ltd., 80%, and Générale des Carrières et des Mines (Gécamines), 20%] | Tenke Fungurume Mine in Lualaba Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | Sicomines [China Railway Group Ltd. and Sinohydro Corp., 68%; La Générale des Carrières et des Mines SA (Gecamines), 20%; and Société Immobilière du Congo (SIMCO), 12%] | Mashamba West Mine in Lualaba Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | La Minière de Kalumbwe Myunga (MKM) (Chiina Railway Group Ltd., 80.2%) | Mine near Kolwezi | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), 100% | Roan Tailings Retreatment project near Kolwezi | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), 95% | Frontier Mine in Haut-Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | Boss Mining SPRL [Eurasian Resources Group plc, 51%, and Générale des Carrières et des Mines SA (Gécamines), 49%] | Mukondo Mountain Mine near Kakanda | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | Somidez Co. Ltd. [China Nonferrous Metals Corp. (CNMC), 51%, and La Générale des Carrières Carrières et des Mines SA (Gécamines), 49%] | Deziwa Mine in Lualaba Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | CNMC Huachin Mining Mabende (China Nonferrous Mining Corp. Ltd., 67.5%) | Mine at Mabende | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | CNMC-Mabende Metal Leach SPRL (China Nonferrous Mining Corp. Ltd., 65%) | Plant at Lwisha | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | CNMC Congo | Plant in Haut-Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | La Compagnie Minière de Musonoie Global SAS (Zijin Mining Group Company Ltd., 72%) | Kolwezi Mine in Lualaba Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | MMG Ltd., 100% | Kinsevere Mine near Kinke | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | Ruashi Mining SPRL (Jinchuan Group International Resources Co. Ltd., 75%) | Ruashi Mine near Lubumbashi | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | Jinchuan Group International Resources Co. Ltd., 77% | Kinsenda Mine in Haut-Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | Congo Dongfang International Mining SPRL (Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co. Ltd., 98%) | Plants in former Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | Chemaf SPRL (Shalina Resources Ltd., 99.68%) | Etoile Mine near Lubumbashi | Not published | Not published |
| (Metric tons unless otherwise specified) | Major operating companies | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Commodity | and major equity owners | Location of main facilities | Not published | Not published |
| Mine—Continued | La Miniere de Kalukundi (Wanbao Kingco Ltd. 75%, and Managem S.A., 20%). | Pumpi Mine in Lualaba Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine—Continued | Shituru Mining Corp. SPRL (Pengxin Group, 72.5%) | Mines in Haut-Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine—Continued | La Générale des Carrières et des Mines SA (Gécamines) (Government, 100%) | Kamfundwa and Kilamusembu Mines in Haut-Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine—Continued | Société Minière du Katanga SPRL (Somika) (Kalyan Ltd., 50%, and Shukrana Ltd., 50%) | Mine near Lubumbashi | Not published | Not published |
| Mine—Continued | La Société pour le Traitement du Terril de Lubumbashi (STL) [La Générale des Carrières et des Mines SA (Gécamines), 100%] | Big Hill tailings treatment plant at Lubumbashi | Not published | Not published |
| Mine—Continued | Metal Mines (Nanjing Hanhui Cobalt Ltd., 100%) | Mines in Haut-Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine—Continued | Comika Mining SAS (Wanbao Kingco Ltd., 70%) | Mines in Haut-Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine—Continued | Macrolink Jiayuan Mining SARL (Jiayuan Cobalt Holding Ltd., 99%) | Mines in Haut-Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine—Continued | Minière de Kasombo (Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co. Ltd., 72%) | Mines in Haut-Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine—Continued | MPC | Mines in former Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Mine—Continued | Feza Mining SPRL | Mines in former Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Smelted | China Nonferrous Metals Corp. | Plant in Lualaba Province | Not published | Not published |
| Smelted | La Compagnie Minière de Musonoie Global SAS (Zijin Mining Group Company Ltd., 72%) | Plant in former Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Smelted | Rubamin SPRL (Rubamin FZC, 80%) | Plant in Likasi | Not published | Not published |
| Refined | Katanga Mining Ltd. [Glencore International AG, 75%, and Générale des Carrières et des Mines (Gécamines), 25%] | Luilu plant near Kolwezi | Not published | Not published |
| Refined | Mutanda Mining SPRL (Glencore plc, 100%) | Plant near Mutanda Mine | Not published | Not published |
| Refined | Tenke Fungurume Mining SARL [China Molybdenum Co. Ltd., 80%, and Générale des Carrières et des Mines (Gécamines), 20%] | Plant near Tenke Fungurume Mine | Not published | Not published |
| Refined | Sicomines [China Railway Group Ltd. and Sinohydro Corp., 68%; La Générale des Carrières et des Mines SA (Gécamines), 20%; and Société Immobilière du Congo (SIMCO), 12%] | Plant near Mashamba West Mine | Not published | Not published |
| Refined | La Minière de Kalumbwe Myunga (MKM) (China Railway Group Ltd., 80.2%) | Plant near Kolwezi | Not published | Not published |
| Refined | Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), 100% | Roan Tailings Retreatment plant | Not published | Not published |
| Refined | Boss Mining SPRL [Eurasian Resources Group plc, 51%, and Générale des Carrières et des Mines SA (Gécamines), 49%] | Luita plant near Kakanda | Not published | Not published |
| Refined | Somidez Co. Ltd. [China Nonferrous Metals Corp. (CNMC), 51%, and La Générale des Carrières Carrières et des Mines SA (Gécamines), 49%] | Deziwa Mine in Lualaba Province | Not published | Not published |
| Refined | CNMC Huachin Mining Mabende (China Do. Nonferrous Mining Corp. Ltd., 67.5%) | Plant at Mabende | Not published | Not published |
| Refined | CNMC-Mabende Metal Leach SPRL (China Nonferrous Mining Corp. Ltd., 65%) | Plant at Lwisha | Not published | Not published |
| Refined | CNMC Congo | Plant in Haut-Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Refined | MMG Ltd., 100% | Kinsevere plant near Kinke | Not published | Not published |
| Refined | Chemaf SPRL (Shalina Resources Ltd., 99.68%) | Usoke plant in Lubumbashi | Not published | Not published |
| Refined | Shituru Mining Corp. SPRL (Pengxin Group, 72.5%) | Plant in Haut-Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Refined | Ruashi Mining SPRL (Jinchuan Group International Resources Co. Ltd., 75%) | Ruashi plant near Lubumbashi | Not published | Not published |
| Refined | Kai Peng Mining Ltd., 100% | Plant at Likasi | Not published | Not published |
| (Metric tons unless otherwise specified) | Major operating companies | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Commodity | and major equity owners | Location of main facilities | Not published | Not published |
| Refined—Continued | Compagnie Minière de Luisha (COMILU) | Plant near Kolwezi | Not published | Not published |
| Refined—Continued | Congo International Mining Corp. (China Railway Group Ltd., 51%,) | Plant in former Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Refined—Continued | La Générale des Carrières et des Mines SA (Gécamines) (Government, 100%) | Shituru plant near Likasi | Not published | Not published |
| Refined—Continued | La Générale des Carrières et des Mines SA (Gécamines) (Government, 100%) | Fonderie Electrique de Panda cobalt plant | Not published | Not published |
| Refined—Continued | Société Minière du Katanga SPRL (Somika) (Kalyan Ltd., 50%, and Shukrana Ltd., 50%) | Plant near Lubumbashi | Not published | Not published |
| Diamond | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in Kasai-Oriental Province | Not published | carats |
| Diamond | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in Kasai Province | Not published | carats |
| Diamond | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in Kasai-Central Province | Not published | carats |
| Diamond | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in Sankuru Province | Not published | carats |
| Diamond | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in Kwango Province | Not published | carats |
| Diamond | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in Tshopo Province | Not published | carats |
| Diamond | Societe Anhui-Congo d'Investissment Minier SPRL (SACIM) [Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Group, 50%, and Société Congolaise d’Investissment Minier, 50%] | Tshibwe Mine in Kasai-Oriental Province | Not published | carats |
| Diamond | Société Minière de Bakwanga (MIBA) [Government, 80%, and Sibeka Group, 20% (which was owned by Mwana Africa plc)] | Mines at Mbuji Mayi in Kasai- Oriental Province | Not published | carats |
| Diamond | Société Minière de Lupatapata (SMDL) | Mines in Kasai-Oriental Province | Not published | carats |
| Gemstones | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines at Rwangara and Shakubangwa in Nord-Kivu Province | Not published | Not published |
| Germanium | La Société pour le Traitement du Terril de Lubumbashi (STL) [La Générale des Carrières et des Mines SA (Gécamines), 100%] | Big Hill tailings treatment plant at Lubumbashi | Not published | kilograms |
| Gold do. | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in various locations, including: Maniema Province 7 eme Seau, Musigha, Omate, and other mines in Nord-Kivu Province Bigobe, Carrière D 18 Nord, Carriere G7 Nord, Msisi, Ngoma, Paris Soir/Bagdad, and other mines in Sud-Kivu Province Tanganyika Province Amani Mbi, Maginda, Nokono, Paradiso, Senzere and other mines in Ituri Province | Not published | Not published |
| Gold do. | AngloGold Ashanti, 45%, and Barrick Gold Corp. 0.45 | Kibali Mine in Ituri Province | Not published | Not published |
| Gold do. | Banro Corp. 100% | Namoya Mine in Maniema Province | Not published | Not published |
| Gold do. | Banro Corp. 100% | Twangiza Mine in Sud-Kivu Province | Not published | Not published |
| Niobium (columbium) | Artisanal and small-scale miners | D4 Gakombe, Luwowo/Gasasa | Not published | Not published |
| (Metric tons unless otherwise specified) | Major operating companies | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Commodity | and major equity owners | Location of main facilities | Not published | Not published |
| Niobium (columbium) | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in Haut-Lomani Province | Not published | Not published |
| Petroleum, thousand | Perenco REP (subsidiary of Perenco plc), 100% | Kifuku, Kinkasi, Liawenda | Not published | Not published |
| crude | Muanda International Oil Co. (subsidiary of Perenco plc), 50%; Inpex Corp., 32.3%; and ODS Ltd., 17.7% | Mibale, Motoba, and Tshiala offshore wells | Not published | 42-gallon barrels |
| Stone, crushed | Chemaf SPRL (Shalina Resources Ltd., 99.68%) | Kilimasimba quarry near Lubumbashi | Not published | Not published |
| Sulfuric acid | Tenke Fungurume Mining SARL [China Molybdenum Co. Ltd., 80%, and Générale des Carrières et des Mines (Gécamines), 20%] | Plants at Tenke Fungurume Mine | Not published | Not published |
| Sulfuric acid | Ruashi Mining SPRL (Jinchuan Group International Resources Co. Ltd., 75%) | Plant at Ruashi Mine | Not published | Not published |
| Sulfuric acid | Chemaf SPRL (Shalina Resources Ltd., 99.68%) | Plant in Lubumbashi | Not published | Not published |
| Sulfuric acid | Mutanda Mining SPRL (Glencore plc, 100%) | Plant at Mutanda Mine in Lualaba Province | Not published | Not published |
| Sulfuric acid | La Générale des Carrières et des Mines SA (Gécamines) (Government, 100%) | Plant at Likasi | Not published | Not published |
| Tin, mine | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Congo, Djibende, G24, Makonde, Mile Beches, and other mines in Tanganyika Province | Not published | Not published |
| Tin, mine | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Malenge, Musafiri, and other mines in Haut-Lomani Province | Not published | Not published |
| Tin, mine | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Camp Tembo, Mukuku, and other mines in Maniema Province Maniema Province | Not published | Not published |
| Tin, mine | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Lula, Mitwaba, and other mines in Haut-Katanga Province | Not published | Not published |
| Tin, mine | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Kalimbi/T20, Kasenge, Kibuye Nzombe, and other mines in Sud-Kivu Province | Not published | Not published |
| Tin, mine | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in Nord-Kivu Province | Not published | Not published |
| Tin, mine | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Busanga and other mines in Lualaba Province | Not published | Not published |
| Tin, mine | Alphamin Resources Corp., 84.14% | Mpama North Mine in Nord-Kivu Province | Not published | Not published |
| Tungsten | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in Sud-Kivu Province | Not published | Not published |
| Tungsten | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in Maniema Province | Not published | Not published |
| Tungsten | Artisanal and small-scale miners | Mines in Nord-Kivu Province | Not published | Not published |
| Zinc | La Société pour le Traitement du Terril de Lubumbashi (STL) [La Générale des Carrières et des Mines SA (Gécamines), 100%] | Big Hill tailings treatment plant at Lubumbashi | Not published | Not published |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook 2022, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Last checked 24 October 2026.
What natural resources earn
Natural resource rents were 38.8% of GDP in 2021, with minerals the largest part. That ranks the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2nd of 54 African countries. See all 54.
View the data as a table
| Period | Oil | Natural gas | Minerals | Forests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.8 % | 0.0 % | 6.4 % | 17.7 % |
| 2011 | 2.4 % | 0.0 % | 9.4 % | 17.0 % |
| 2012 | 2.1 % | Not published | 7.6 % | 17.4 % |
| 2013 | 1.6 % | Not published | 7.8 % | 16.4 % |
| 2014 | 1.1 % | 0.0 % | 7.0 % | 16.5 % |
| 2015 | 0.3 % | 0.0 % | 3.3 % | 16.5 % |
| 2016 | 0.3 % | 0.0 % | 2.5 % | 17.8 % |
| 2017 | 0.7 % | 0.0 % | 7.0 % | 17.1 % |
| 2018 | 0.8 % | 0.0 % | 8.1 % | 9.5 % |
| 2019 | 0.6 % | 0.0 % | 3.6 % | 8.5 % |
| 2020 | 0.4 % | 0.0 % | 5.6 % | 9.9 % |
| 2021 | 0.6 % | 0.0 % | 28.8 % | 9.4 % |
| 2022 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2023 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2024 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2025 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2026 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Forest, share of land (2024)
61.5 %
Arable land, share of land (2024)
7.3 %
Renewable fresh water per person (2022)
8,789 m³
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Method and sources
Oil, gas and coal output and coal reserves are from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Oil and gas proved reserves are the EIA figures republished by Our World in Data; oil is converted from cubic metres to barrels at the standard factor. World production, reserves and ranks are from the U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries, ranked among the countries USGS names. The full list of commodities and the companies that mine them are from the USGS Minerals Yearbook country tables, which run a few years behind. Rents, land and water are from the World Bank, and export shares from UN Comtrade. Nothing is estimated by us. Figures last checked on 24 October 2026.
USGS country page for Democratic Republic of the Congo. EIA international energy data. World Bank resource rents.
More on the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Frequently asked questions
What natural resources does the Democratic Republic of the Congo have?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo's main natural resources are crude oil, cobalt, tantalum, copper, niobium and tin. It mined 74.2% of the world's cobalt in 2025, more than any other country. Copper made up 67.2% of its goods exports in 2024, and all resources together 83.5%. The World Bank puts natural resource rents at 38.8% of GDP in 2021, mostly from minerals. The U.S. Geological Survey also records production of concentrates, solvent extraction, electrowon, germanium, gold and manganese, among 15 mineral commodities.
Does the Democratic Republic of the Congo produce oil?
Yes. The Democratic Republic of the Congo produced about 16,000 barrels of crude oil a day in 2025, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Proved oil reserves were 180 million barrels in 2021.
What is the Democratic Republic of the Congo's most valuable natural resource?
By export earnings, copper: 67.2% of goods exports in 2024, according to UN Comtrade.
How much do natural resources contribute to the Democratic Republic of the Congo's economy?
Natural resource rents, the value of resources extracted minus the cost of extracting them, were 38.8% of GDP in 2021. That ranks the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2nd of 54 African countries.
Which companies mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
The U.S. Geological Survey's 2022 list of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's mineral industry names 49 operating companies, including Lucky Cement Ltd., 50%, and Groupe Rawji, 50%, PPC Barnet DRC Manufacturing SA, Cimenterie de Lukala, Interlacs and Ciment et Matériaux du Katanga [Générale des Carrières et des Mines SA,. The full list is on this page.
Where does the Democratic Republic of the Congo rank in world mineral production?
In 2025, the Democratic Republic of the Congo ranked 1st for cobalt, 1st for tantalum, 2nd for copper and 2nd for copper (refinery production) among the producers the U.S. Geological Survey lists.