The basis of the DR Congo's economy is the industrial sector, in particular mining. The country is rich in mineral resources such as copper and cobalt, which account for most of the export earnings. However, the low level of economic diversification makes the country extremely dependent on external factors, especially on the prices of DR Congo's main exports. In addition, the population is growing rapidly in the country, which, however, leads to an increase in the number of poor.
According to the World Bank, in 2022, almost 62% of Congolese lived on less than $2.15 per day. DR Congo has achieved only limited success in raising the incomes of the population, due to the high risk of escalation of armed conflicts and the lack of developed infrastructure. The most important transport route is the Congo River, while overland logistics is limited by the poor quality of roads and railways.
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, DR Congo managed to avoid a recession, but the growth rate of real GDP decreased to 1.7% in 2020 due to quarantine measures introduced by the government. By 2021, the country's economy showed high recovery rates due to the effect of a low base and the resumption of activity in the industrial sector, which allowed DR Congo to significantly increase exports.
High demand for minerals extracted in the country, especially from China, also contributed to further growth in 2022. The increase in real GDP in 2022 was 8.9%. According to forecasts by Oxford Economics and the IMF, DR Congo's economy will grow by 6.6–6.7% in 2023 due to the exhaustion of the deferred demand effect.
GDP by PPP per capita of DR Congo in 2022 amounted to 1.41 thousand US dollars, and by 2028, according to IMF forecasts, it will reach 1.83 thousand US dollars. As of 2022, DR Congo occupies one of the last places in the world in this indicator.
Against the background of a sharp increase in inflation due to the weakening of the national currency as a result of lower prices for copper and cobalt, the Central Bank of DR Congo raised the interest rate to 25%, which is the highest since 2011.
According to the IMF forecast, the inflation rate in 2023 will be 19.1%. Subject to stabilization of prices for DR Congo's main exports, the level of inflationary pressure will significantly decrease in 2024 to 11.9%, according to Oxford Economics, or to 10.6%, according to the IMF forecast, and will continue to decline in 2025.
