The DRC is preparing to launch its second population census, an initiative that comes more than 40 years after the first one, conducted in 1984.
On Monday, March 23, authorities organized a round table in Kinshasa with donors to support this ambitious general population and housing census project. The main objective is to ensure solid commitment from all stakeholders to mobilize the necessary resources for this essential operation, which has become a national priority for the presidency.
For this census, approximately $210 million has been pledged out of the $192 million required. The round table therefore achieved its objectives, even though some of the announced funding will also be allocated to related projects, such as the electoral process or support for the National Institute of Statistics.
The first phase of this census could begin as early as July 2026 with mapping. The task ahead is considerable, as the latest data dates back to 1984, when the country had only 30 million inhabitants. Today, this figure is estimated at over 110 million.
Speakers at the round table emphasized the absolute necessity of completing this census in order to adapt public policies to the needs of the population. Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi stated: “Continuing to plan without reliable data would amount to governing blindly.” For her part, the Minister of Planning, Judith Suminwa Tuluka, added that “the lack of a census limits our capacity to meet the demands of the population.”
