Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo holds some of the world's most valuable mineral reserves, producing approximately 70% of global cobalt (essential for EV batteries), along with significant copper, coltan (used in smartphones), gold, diamonds, and tin. The mining sector, centered in the Katanga (Haut-Katanga) and Kivu provinces, attracts major investments from Glencore, CMOC, Ivanhoe Mines, and Barrick Gold.
Despite extraordinary natural resource wealth, DRC remains one of the world's poorest countries by GDP per capita. The economy is highly dependent on mining exports. Agriculture employs the majority of the population but contributes relatively less to GDP. The country has massive hydropower potential, with the Grand Inga Dam project (if realized) capable of generating 40,000 MW.
Key challenges include security instability in eastern provinces, infrastructure deficits, governance weakness, and limited financial inclusion. The country's strategic importance for the global energy transition (cobalt, copper, lithium) is driving increased international interest.
Snapshot
World Bank Indicators Compare with another country
Climate Readiness Full ranking
How this is computed
Adaptive capacity to absorb climate finance and adapt, following the readiness dimension of the ND-GAIN framework. Built only from measured values already held on each country profile. It is not a measure of emissions or physical climate vulnerability, which the platform does not yet hold.
- Energy access (30%) — World Bank, access to electricity (% of population). The single most climate and energy specific signal held: SDG 7 and the clean-energy transition.
- Governance readiness (20%) — Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index (0-100). ND-GAIN governance readiness: the capacity to govern and deploy climate finance. Higher is cleaner.
- Human readiness (20%) — UNDP, Human Development Index (0-1). ND-GAIN social readiness: the adaptive capacity of the population.
- Economic readiness (15%) — World Bank, GDP per capita (current US$), latest measured year. ND-GAIN economic readiness: the capacity to finance adaptation. Scored relative to the covered set.
- Digital readiness (15%) — World Bank, individuals using the Internet (% of population). Information systems for early warning and adaptation.
A country is scored only when at least 4 of the five indicators are held. Sub-scores are weighted and renormalised over the indicators that are present; nothing is estimated for one that is absent.
Country Facts
Focus Sectors
Regulations & Taxes
Business Directory (12)
View AllPesamoni
StartupMobile payments DRC
Kivu Hub
AcceleratorTech hub DRC
Nuru
StartupSolar energy DRC
Jambo
StartupSuper app DRC
Equity BCDC
CorporateBanking DRC
Ivanhoe Mines
CorporateMining in DRC and South Africa
Orange DRC
CorporateMobile and internet in DRC
Airtel DRC
CorporateMobile services in DRC
Vodacom DRC
CorporateLeading operator in DRC
Trust Merchant Bank
CorporateBanking in DRC
Rawbank
CorporateDRC largest private bank
Maxitech
StartupDigital solutions for DRC
Recent Deals (4)
View All DealsContract Awards
View AllTravaux de : Construction de l’École Primaire (EP) KAMPENGELE dans la Sous-division MUTENA, Province éducationnelle Kasaï 1
Government of Congo, Democratic Republic of (World Bank-financed, project P181063)
Travaux de Construction de l’École Primaire (EP) KAMBULU dans la Sous-division KANZALA, Province éducationnelle Kasaï 1
Government of Congo, Democratic Republic of (World Bank-financed, project P181063)
Travaux de construction de l’école primaire (EP) ANGA dans la Sous-division DEKESE, Province éducationnelle KASAÏ 2
Government of Congo, Democratic Republic of (World Bank-financed, project P181063)
Travaux de : Construction de l’École Primaire (EP) 2 MUKUNGIJI dans la Sous-division LUNYEKA, Province éducationnelle Kasaï 1
Government of Congo, Democratic Republic of (World Bank-financed, project P181063)