Key features of women's political empowerment in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Key features of women's political empowerment was 0.55 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.55
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
141st
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.563
in 2023
All-time low
0.028
in 1900
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Key features of women's political empowerment in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for key features of women's political empowerment in Democratic Republic of Congo is 0.55, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key features of women's political empowerment in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 0.563 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.028, in 1900.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 141st of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Key features of women's political empowerment in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0.028 | — |
| 1901 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.03 | +7.1% |
| 1910 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.08 | +166.7% |
| 1921 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.11 | +37.5% |
| 1940 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.119 | +8.2% |
| 1960 | 0.273 | +129.4% |
| 1961 | 0.281 | +2.9% |
| 1962 | 0.281 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.281 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.281 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.281 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.255 | -9.3% |
| 1967 | 0.239 | -6.3% |
| 1968 | 0.239 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.239 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.258 | +7.9% |
| 1971 | 0.257 | -0.4% |
| 1972 | 0.257 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.257 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.257 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.308 | +19.8% |
| 1976 | 0.308 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.251 | -18.5% |
| 1978 | 0.251 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.254 | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 0.282 | +11.0% |
| 1981 | 0.282 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.293 | +3.9% |
| 1983 | 0.292 | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 0.292 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.292 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.292 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.304 | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 0.302 | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 0.297 | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 0.339 | +14.1% |
| 1991 | 0.351 | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 0.366 | +4.3% |
| 1993 | 0.39 | +6.6% |
| 1994 | 0.39 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.39 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.395 | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 0.385 | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 0.391 | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 0.396 | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 0.401 | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 0.401 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.401 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.401 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.469 | +17.0% |
| 2005 | 0.471 | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 0.455 | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 0.455 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.455 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.455 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.476 | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 0.479 | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 0.479 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.485 | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 0.485 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.485 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.495 | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 0.496 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 0.518 | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 0.535 | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 0.546 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 0.552 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 0.561 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 0.563 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 0.558 | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 0.55 | -1.4% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 0.55 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.625, 88% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 0.55 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.7075, 78% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0.0282 | 0.028 | 0.03 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.08 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.083 | 0.08 | 0.11 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.1109 | 0.11 | 0.119 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.265 | 0.239 | 0.281 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.2658 | 0.251 | 0.308 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.2928 | 0.282 | 0.304 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3793 | 0.339 | 0.396 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4364 | 0.401 | 0.471 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4933 | 0.476 | 0.535 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.555 | 0.546 | 0.563 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More gender data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 59,241 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 2.48 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 72,291 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 72,291 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.47 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 2.15 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 2.18 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 2.08 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 2.11 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 2.02 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key features of women's political empowerment in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Key features of women's political empowerment in Democratic Republic of Congo was 0.55 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key features of women's political empowerment recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 0.563 in 2023.
- What is the lowest key features of women's political empowerment recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.028 in 1900.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for key features of women's political empowerment?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 141st out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key features of women's political empowerment rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Key features of women's political empowerment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which women enjoy civil liberties, can participate in civil society, and are represented in politics.