Net migration in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Net migration was -27,309 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded -27,309 for net migration in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 54.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 1.23 million in 1994 and was at its lowest, -777,833, in 1996.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 181st out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 27,673 | — |
| 1961 | 35,654 | +28.8% |
| 1962 | 39,431 | +10.6% |
| 1963 | 41,960 | +6.4% |
| 1964 | 48,207 | +14.9% |
| 1965 | 61,397 | +27.4% |
| 1966 | 54,443 | -11.3% |
| 1967 | 64,307 | +18.1% |
| 1968 | 57,274 | -10.9% |
| 1969 | 46,778 | -18.3% |
| 1970 | 39,116 | -16.4% |
| 1971 | -5,497 | -114.1% |
| 1972 | 2,840 | -151.7% |
| 1973 | 7,414 | +161.1% |
| 1974 | 3,216 | -56.6% |
| 1975 | -972 | -130.2% |
| 1976 | -25,965 | +2571.3% |
| 1977 | -26,355 | +1.5% |
| 1978 | 268,974 | -1120.6% |
| 1979 | 181,028 | -32.7% |
| 1980 | 51,685 | -71.4% |
| 1981 | 54,656 | +5.7% |
| 1982 | 97,495 | +78.4% |
| 1983 | 146,095 | +49.8% |
| 1984 | 190,045 | +30.1% |
| 1985 | 118,791 | -37.5% |
| 1986 | 70,988 | -40.2% |
| 1987 | 111,220 | +56.7% |
| 1988 | 101,314 | -8.9% |
| 1989 | 84,415 | -16.7% |
| 1990 | 219,270 | +159.8% |
| 1991 | 86,721 | -60.5% |
| 1992 | 252,666 | +191.4% |
| 1993 | 240,176 | -4.9% |
| 1994 | 1.23 million | +413.0% |
| 1995 | -273,434 | -122.2% |
| 1996 | -777,833 | +184.5% |
| 1997 | -527,356 | -32.2% |
| 1998 | 295,560 | -156.0% |
| 1999 | 109,761 | -62.9% |
| 2000 | 79,340 | -27.7% |
| 2001 | 26,523 | -66.6% |
| 2002 | -17,358 | -165.4% |
| 2003 | -106,731 | +514.9% |
| 2004 | 4,260 | -104.0% |
| 2005 | 20,384 | +378.5% |
| 2006 | -29,715 | -245.8% |
| 2007 | -99,742 | +235.7% |
| 2008 | -82,339 | -17.4% |
| 2009 | -46,009 | -44.1% |
| 2010 | 8,823 | -119.2% |
| 2011 | 40,891 | +363.5% |
| 2012 | 53,668 | +31.2% |
| 2013 | 121,097 | +125.6% |
| 2014 | 36,966 | -69.5% |
| 2015 | -17,711 | -147.9% |
| 2016 | 440,748 | -2588.6% |
| 2017 | 176,290 | -60.0% |
| 2018 | -124,246 | -170.5% |
| 2019 | -144,920 | +16.6% |
| 2020 | -1,633 | -98.9% |
| 2021 | -64,639 | +3858.3% |
| 2022 | -14,991 | -76.8% |
| 2023 | -14,992 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | -26,968 | +79.9% |
| 2025 | -27,309 | +1.3% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's -27,309 is below the median for low income countries, which is -7,704, 3.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's -27,309 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -5,646, 4.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Democratic Republic of Congo changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | -3858.3% | -1,633 | -64,639 |
| 2016 | +2588.6% | -17,711 | 440,748 |
| 1976 | -2571.3% | -972 | -25,965 |
| 1978 | +1120.6% | -26,355 | 268,974 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 47,712 | 27,673 | 64,307 | 10 |
| 1970s | 44,380 | -26,355 | 268,974 | 10 |
| 1980s | 102,670 | 51,685 | 190,045 | 10 |
| 1990s | 85,763 | -777,833 | 1.23 million | 10 |
| 2000s | -25,139 | -106,731 | 79,340 | 10 |
| 2010s | 59,161 | -144,920 | 440,748 | 10 |
| 2020s | -25,089 | -64,639 | -1,633 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More financial sector data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (1982)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (1982)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (1982)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (1982)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Net migration in Democratic Republic of Congo was -27,309 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 1.23 million in 1994.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was -777,833 in 1996.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for net migration?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 181st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.