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Congo economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

The Congo ranked 141/197 by economy size with a GDP of $15.7B and 149/197 by GDP per capita at $2,482. The Congo has $15.4B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 98%.

In 2024, the Congo made up 0.01% of the world's economy, compared to 0.01% in 1960.

Congo GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $15,719,986,077 2.58%
2023 $15,321,055,823 1.91%
2022 $15,817,030,155 1.48%
2021 $14,825,690,211 1.02%
2020 $11,468,687,464 -6.27%
2019 $13,976,637,780 1.12%
2018 $14,773,900,289 -2.3%
2017 $11,834,473,039 -5.59%
2016 $10,931,328,151 -8.69%
2015 $12,434,793,867 0.42%
2014 $17,919,321,078 6.65%
2013 $17,958,720,699 -0.71%
2012 $17,692,911,296 9.95%
2011 $15,655,383,577 2.21%
2010 $13,148,396,212 9.93%
2009 $9,723,299,915 11.6%
2008 $11,649,857,673 6.31%
2007 $8,782,703,437 -6.61%
2006 $8,072,305,029 7.99%
2005 $6,650,001,680 7.76%
2004 $4,656,974,940 3.48%
2003 $3,503,723,088 0.81%
2002 $3,034,250,924 4.58%
2001 $2,796,704,604 3.8%
2000 $3,227,927,698 7.58%
1999 $2,354,772,960 -2.58%
1998 $1,949,481,379 3.74%
1997 $2,322,719,103 -0.62%
1996 $2,540,697,539 4.29%
1995 $2,116,003,868 3.99%
1994 $1,769,365,438 -5.49%
1993 $2,684,323,623 -0.98%
1992 $2,933,222,703 2.61%
1991 $2,724,853,506 2.4%
1990 $2,798,746,050 1%
1989 $2,389,593,026 2.6%
1988 $2,212,536,312 1.77%
1987 $2,297,753,652 0.19%
1986 $1,849,268,212 -6.86%
1985 $2,160,872,540 -1.19%
1984 $2,193,581,365 6.98%
1983 $2,097,274,290 5.85%
1982 $2,160,640,565 23.6%
1981 $1,993,512,323 17.6%
1980 $1,705,796,853 17.6%
1979 $1,198,749,667 9.81%
1978 $878,771,772 6.36%
1977 $765,224,029 -8.95%
1976 $754,549,601 0.92%
1975 $767,102,680 7.73%
1974 $585,364,634 7.89%
1973 $541,973,363 8.23%
1972 $410,669,264 8.62%
1971 $322,128,019 7.75%
1970 $274,960,700 6.36%
1969 $265,040,036 7.55%
1968 $251,247,458 7.63%
1967 $237,397,428 2.12%
1966 $220,613,582 1.36%
1965 $198,318,064 3.68%
1964 $185,693,725 3.82%
1963 $172,233,431 -4.03%
1962 $166,521,240 5.2%
1961 $151,675,739 8.35%
1960 $131,731,863 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/congo | CC BY

Congo GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,482 $7,026
2023 $2,478 $6,850
2022 $2,621 $6,647
2021 $2,516 $6,263
2020 $1,994 $4,771
2019 $2,488 $5,720
2018 $2,694 $5,593
2017 $2,212 $4,445
2016 $2,093 $4,016
2015 $2,439 $4,715
2014 $3,601 $5,733
2013 $3,697 $5,834
2012 $3,732 $6,058
2011 $3,396 $5,175
2010 $2,947 $5,125
2009 $2,271 $4,801
2008 $2,832 $4,448
2007 $2,206 $4,243
2006 $2,104 $4,588
2005 $1,799 $4,279
2004 $1,306 $3,992
2003 $1,017 $3,887
2002 $906 $3,888
2001 $855 $3,748
2000 $1,024 $3,667
1999 $776 $3,464
1998 $660 $3,602
1997 $804 $3,510
1996 $899 $3,547
1995 $770 $3,434
1994 $662 $3,327
1993 $1,034 $3,550
1992 $1,164 $3,608
1991 $1,113 $3,536
1990 $1,176 $3,437
1989 $1,033 -
1988 $984 -
1987 $1,052 -
1986 $872 -
1985 $1,049 -
1984 $1,097 -
1983 $1,075 -
1982 $1,131 -
1981 $1,066 -
1980 $933 -
1979 $670 -
1978 $503 -
1977 $448 -
1976 $453 -
1975 $471 -
1974 $370 -
1973 $353 -
1972 $276.3 -
1971 $223.5 -
1970 $196.7 -
1969 $195.4 -
1968 $190.8 -
1967 $185.7 -
1966 $177.6 -
1965 $164.2 -
1964 $158.1 -
1963 $150.7 -
1962 $149.6 -
1961 $139.9 -
1960 $124.7 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/congo | CC BY

The Congo has a GDP per capita of $2,482, ranking 149/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $7,026, ranking 148/197, and a median annual after tax income of $2,153, ranking 161/197.

Congo GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 136 139 136
2023 138 145 142
2022 131 141 139
2021 130 141 137
2020 141 147 149
2019 133 142 140
2018 131 137 136
2017 138 142 147
2016 138 141 150
2015 130 139 139
2014 122 125 132
2013 119 122 131
2012 116 121 131
2011 119 123 133
2010 122 126 133
2009 130 128 134
2008 124 124 135
2007 129 127 135
2006 124 123 130
2005 125 119 131
2004 135 124 130
2003 138 131 127
2002 137 129 122
2001 137 129 122
2000 134 122 121
1999 141 132 121
1998 144 138 113
1997 136 133 111
1996 135 127 109
1995 138 130 107
1994 135 129 106
1993 125 110 104
1992 120 102 102
1991 127 103 102
1990 123 103 102
1989 113 94 -
1988 115 96 -
1987 108 91 -
1986 106 94 -
1985 101 85 -
1984 98 88 -
1983 100 90 -
1982 98 86 -
1981 101 90 -
1980 103 92 -
1979 102 100 -
1978 108 110 -
1977 105 108 -
1976 105 100 -
1975 101 96 -
1974 104 103 -
1973 101 99 -
1972 102 98 -
1971 107 102 -
1970 107 108 -
1969 101 87 -
1968 101 86 -
1967 102 81 -
1966 100 82 -
1965 100 84 -
1964 99 80 -
1963 97 80 -
1962 98 77 -
1961 98 80 -
1960 96 82 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/congo | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 the Congo is ranked 136th out of 182 by GDP (down from 134th), 139th by GDP per capita (down from 122nd), and 136th by GDP per capita PPP (down from 121st).

Economic indicators

Congo Rank
Gross domestic product
$15.7B
2024
141/197
GDP growth
2.58%
2023-2024
119/194
GDP per capita
$2,482
2024
149/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,026
2024
148/197
Government debt
$15.4B
2024
110/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
98%
2024
25/185
Government debt per person
$2,433
2024
112/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,153
2026
161/197
Income share by richest 10%
37.9%
2011
11/169
Income share by poorest 10%
1.6%
2011
154/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
21.7%
2024
142/195
Consumer prices inflation
3.1%
2023-2024
101/195
Unemployment rate
10%
2012
40/196
Population
6681829
112/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 21.7% 98% 3.62%
2023 20.7% 102.9% 5.81%
2022 22.8% 93.5% 8.94%
2021 20.9% 97.8% 1.63%
2020 21.1% 102.5% -1.1%
2019 20.2% 77.6% 4.3%
2018 17.8% 71.2% 5.22%
2017 26.6% 88.5% -5.57%
2016 38.8% 84.6% -14.5%
2015 41.3% 74.2% -17.8%
2014 48.6% 42.3% -10.7%
2013 42.4% 33.9% -2.85%
2012 30.7% 30.2% 7.24%
2011 27.9% 34.4% 16.1%
2010 23% 43.5% 15.5%
2009 24.4% 83.8% 4.76%
2008 24.2% 69.6% 23.9%
2007 28.6% 93.8% 8.99%
2006 26.6% 94.7% 16%
2005 22.1% 99.8% 13.4%
2004 24.4% 122.6% 3.33%
2003 27% 185.3% 0.37%
2002 32.1% 163.5% -7.34%
2001 29.1% 180.1% -0.71%
2000 22.6% 145% 1.05%
1999 28.8% 0% -4.75%
1998 25.1% 0% -5.16%
1997 22.2% 0% 3.67%
1996 15.7% 0% 9.2%
1995 27.6% 0% -6.38%
1994 30.7% 0% -10.6%
1993 32.8% 0% -11.3%
1992 32.8% 0% -12.7%
1991 34.1% 0% -11.2%
1990 30.4% 0% -4.1%
1989 20.3% 151.7% 0.78%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/congo | CC BY

This chart shows the Congo's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 36 years, the Congo recorded a fiscal deficit in 16 of them, with an average annual surplus equal to 0.75% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $3.4B (21.7% of GDP), with a surplus of 3.62%.

The national debt reached $15.4B, ranking 110th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 98%, ranking 25th.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 3.1%
2023 4.3%
2022 3%
2021 2%
2020 1.4%
2019 0.4%
2018 1.2%
2017 0.4%
2016 3.2%
2015 3.2%
2014 0.9%
2013 4.6%
2012 5%
2011 1.8%
2010 0.4%
2009 4.3%
2008 6%
2007 2.6%
2006 4.7%
2005 2.5%
2004 3.7%
2003 1.7%
2002 3%
2001 0.8%
2000 0.5%
1999 3%
1998 2.2%
1997 12.7%
1996 7.4%
1995 6.3%
1994 7.5%
1993 -4.1%
1992 -3.2%
1991 9.4%
1990 0.3%
1989 -9.6%
1988 -13%
1987 3.5%
1986 3.5%
1985 3.5%
1984 3.5%
1983 3.5%
1982 3.5%
1981 0.8%
1980 7.3%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1980–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/congo | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, the Congo has had an average annual inflation rate of 2.75%. In 2024, inflation was 3.1%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Congo Rank
Current account balance
$1.72B
2021
48/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
+11.6%
2021
16/190
Goods imports
$2.78B
2021
146/189
Goods exports
$7.51B
2021
109/189
Service imports
$1.71B
2021
128/189
Service exports
$240M
2021
159/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
40.4%
2024
97/181
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
52.8%
2024
52/193

Congo top 10 trading partners

The Congo's biggest trading partner accounting for 45.1% of all exports and imports is China, with a trade balance between the two of +$3.85B: the Congo exports $5.15B worth of goods and services to China and imports $1.3B.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of the Congo.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 China $6.45B 45.1% $5.15B $1.3B Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
2 Netherlands $1.18B 8.23% $1B $176M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
3 India $620M 4.34% $525M $95M Raw materials & minerals Raw agricultural goods
4 United States $561M 3.92% $337M $224M Machinery & equipment Animal & marine products
5 France $460M 3.22% $45.4M $415M Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
6 Gabon $416M 2.91% $105M $311M Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
7 Togo $312M 2.18% $153M $158M Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
8 Malaysia $299M 2.09% $252M $46.9M Raw materials & minerals Processed food, beverages & tobacco
9 Belgium $297M 2.08% $31.8M $265M Wood & paper products Machinery & equipment
10 Brazil $255M 1.79% $146M $110M Raw materials & minerals Animal & marine products

Top 10 exports

Congo Rank
Raw materials & minerals $8.17B 62/193
Machinery & equipment $896M 83/193
Wood & paper products $238M 74/192
Business & finance services $142M 121/188
Metals $121M 117/192
Transport & tourism services $79.8M 163/188
Textiles & consumer goods $19.4M 141/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $9.43M 163/192
Government & miscellaneous services $8.42M 143/180
Animal & marine products $5.04M 160/192

Top 10 imports

Congo Rank
Machinery & equipment $2.01B 124/193
Business & finance services $649M 103/188
Chemicals & pharma $598M 126/193
Animal & marine products $579M 82/193
Metals $465M 127/193
Raw materials & minerals $353M 155/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $279M 145/193
Transport & tourism services $264M 157/188
Textiles & consumer goods $186M 150/193
Raw agricultural goods $176M 149/193

Economic freedom indices

Congo Rank
Economic freedom 48.6 169/197
Property rights 28.7 143/182
Government integrity 13.9 168/182
Judicial effectiveness 15.4 156/182
Tax burden 73.7 126/182
Government spending 85.8 44/180
Fiscal health 80.8 75/181
Business freedom 35.8 164/182
Labor freedom 52.4 123/182
Monetary freedom 78.4 31/180
Trade freedom 52.8 166/181
Investment freedom 35 139/181
Financial freedom 30 136/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 48.6 15.4 73.7 85.8 80.8
2025 48.6 14.9 75.5 86.2 80.4
2024 47.8 13.8 75.5 86 82.9
2023 48.1 13 75.5 84.7 80
2022 48.5 14.9 82.4 86 80
2021 50.7 25.7 80.4 84 81.8
2020 41.8 30 63.3 56.2 0.6
2019 39.7 29.6 59.5 40.6 0
2018 38.9 28.2 60.8 33.4 6.2
2017 40 22.6 66.8 36.2 11.6
2016 42.8 - 66.9 55.8 -
2015 42.7 - 67.4 60.7 -
2014 43.7 - 67.5 79.6 -
2013 43.5 - 61.4 80.3 -
2012 43.8 - 61.3 78 -
2011 43.6 - 61.8 79.7 -
2010 43.2 - 60.3 69.3 -
2009 45.4 - 60.2 77.6 -
2008 45.3 - 60.1 83.1 -
2007 44.4 - 59.8 75.5 -
2006 43.8 - 51 73.5 -
2005 46.2 - 60.2 62.2 -
2004 45.9 - 59.4 70 -
2003 47.7 - 58.8 80.5 -
2002 45.3 - 54.5 67.3 -
2001 44.3 - 54.3 89.2 -
2000 40.6 - 54.6 56.7 -
1999 41.6 - 54.5 67.3 -
1998 33.8 - 54.5 67.5 -
1997 42.2 - 54.1 59.8 -
1996 40.3 - 49.6 54.8 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/congo | CC BY

The Congo is ranked 151/174 for economic freedom with a score of 48.6, compared to 152/162 and a score of 43.8 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Congo Rank
Services, % of GDP
45%
2024
158/191
Industry, % of GDP
40.1%
2024
15/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
9.44%
2024
75/193
GNI, Atlas method
$14.4B
2024
144/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$6,340
2024
146/191
Total reserves including gold
$715M
2023
148/177
Net foreign direct investment
$330M
2021
31/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$604M
2024
111/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$25.4M
2024
111/193
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
7.67%
2024
26/121
Poverty at national poverty lines
40.9%
2011
37/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
26.8%
2024
49/178

Compare Congo vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/congo | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2020–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.