• The World Bank allocates $75 million to fund the DR Congo’s second general population and housing census (RGPH2), part of a $100 million package.

• The census aims to fill the country’s data gap since 1984, supporting economic planning, public policy, and SDG monitoring.

• Authorities plan to launch mapping in July 2026, with the full project budget estimated at $192 million, including digital tools and technical support.

The DR Congo faces a critical data shortage, with the last census conducted in 1984, limiting authorities’ ability to track human capital indicators. The World Bank announced a $100 million financing package on March 23 in Kinshasa, allocating $75 million specifically for RGPH2, the country’s second general population and housing census.

La Banque Mondiale prévoit et finance les recensements à auteur de 75 millions de dollars sur un financement de 100 millions. pic.twitter.com/kfsvmxZkqy

— Aaron M. Makiki ???? (@aaronmmakiki) March 23, 2026

The funding announcement occurred during a donor roundtable organized by the Ministry of Planning. Officials said the census will provide reliable demographic data to guide public policy, optimize economic planning, and improve government effectiveness. “The general population and housing census is essential for any state that seeks to plan its development effectively,” said Guylain Nyembo Mbwizya, State Minister and Minister of Planning and Development Coordination.

Authorities intend to launch the first RGPH2 phase in July 2026, focusing on national mapping. The total project cost is estimated at $192 million, covering digital tools, technical partner support, and mapping infrastructure. The initiative will produce data to monitor over 40% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

DR Congo ranks 164th out of 174 countries on the World Bank’s 2020 Human Capital Index, with a score of 0.37. Since 1984, authorities have struggled to track indicators such as under-five survival, stunting, and education access. In 2024, approximately 73.5% of the population lived on less than $2.15 per day, and one in six people in the country faced extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.

RGPH2 aims to strengthen demographic and social knowledge, deliver updated data for planning, and support policy implementation in a context of significant human capital challenges.

This article was initially published in French by Ingrid Haffiny

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum