Partner risk indices

Country Risk Index

64

Political Risk Index

65.8

Short-Term Economic Risk Index

51.3

Long-Term Economic Risk Index

58.6

Operational Risk Index

71.4

Source: Partner Research Partner, as of 8 Nov 2026. 0-100, higher means higher risk.

Key indicators

Market overview

• Democratic Republic of the Congo is in Central Africa and is classified by the World Bank as Low income. (World Bank)
• Population: 112.8 million (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• GDP: US$92.9bn in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)

Economic conditions

• Real GDP growth: 5.7% in 2025 (estimate); the IMF projects 5.2% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• Average consumer price inflation: 7.4% in 2025 (estimate); projected 4.3% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• General government gross debt: 20.4% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Current account balance: -3.7% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Government net lending/borrowing: -2.4% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Official exchange rate averaged 2,693.24 local currency units per US dollar in 2025, against 2,006.71 in 2022: 34.2% more units per dollar (the currency weakened against the dollar). (World Bank WDI)

Key risks

• Partner risk indices (0-100, higher = higher risk), as of 8 Nov 2026: Country Risk Index 64 (rank 45 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Political Risk Index 65.8 (rank 53 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Short-Term Economic Risk Index 51.3 (rank 16 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Long-Term Economic Risk Index 58.6 (rank 34 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Operational Risk Index 71.4 (rank 46 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk). (Partner Research Partner)
• Highest-scoring Partner risk component: crime and security risk (85.7, operational). (Partner Research Partner)
• World Bank governance scores (2025, 0-100, higher is better): control of corruption 18; government effectiveness 18; political stability and absence of violence 28; rule of law 31; regulatory quality 33. (World Bank WGI)
• External debt stocks: 17.5% of GNI (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Unemployment (modelled ILO estimate): 4.4% of labour force (2025). (World Bank WDI)

Investment considerations

• Foreign direct investment, net inflows: 2.1% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Domestic credit to the private sector: 11.3% of GDP (2023). (World Bank WDI)
• Bank lending interest rate: 24.1% (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Trade (exports plus imports): 87.3% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• The Meridian holds 433 published records tagged to Democratic Republic of the Congo. (The Meridian)

Sector snapshot

• Energy and power: access to electricity 22.5% of population (2024); renewable share of final energy consumption 96.3% (2021). (World Bank WDI)
• Mining and minerals: mineral rents 28.8% of GDP (2021); ores and metals exports 76.5% of merchandise exports (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Financial services: foreign direct investment, net inflows 2.1% of GDP (2025); bank lending interest rate 24.1% (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Technology, media and telecoms: internet users 19.7% of population (2024); mobile subscriptions 58.5 per 100 people (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Agriculture: agriculture, forestry and fishing, value added 8.9% of GDP (2025); employment in agriculture 58.5% of employment (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Manufacturing and industry: manufacturing, value added 7.9% of GDP (2025); industry (including construction), value added 39.7% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Infrastructure and real estate: urban population 45.1% of population (2025); access to electricity 22.5% of population (2024). (World Bank WDI)

Data limitations and sources

• Older data, shown with its period and not described as current: Domestic credit to the private sector (Latest published value is for 2023); Renewable share of final energy consumption (Latest published value is for 2021); Oil rents (Latest published value is for 2021); Mineral rents (Latest published value is for 2021).
• IMF figures for the most recent year are IMF estimates and later years are projections. World Bank series typically lag by one to two years. Headlines come from automated news monitoring and are not verified by The Meridian.
• Sources last checked 15 Nov 2026.

Meridian transactions

• AFC and DR Congo sign US$877m MetroKin urban rail joint development agreement
• Airtel Money’s IPO at GBP 529 million
• Moussa Diao and Hervé Bouvet acquire Oryx Energies in a management buyout
• Kasomeno-Mwenda Toll Road financing (Zambia / DRC) – ALN Zambia and ALN Mauritius mandates
• Africa Finance Corporation US$2bn syndicated term loan (26 lenders): Nigerian counsel to the lenders
• All On US$5m investment in PowerGen Renewable Energy Nigeria (convertible note)