Labor force, female in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Labor force, female was 19.17 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1990–2025
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, female in Democratic Republic of Congo is 19.17 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 39.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 19.17 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7.49 million, in 1990.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 16th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, female in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 7.49 million | — |
| 1991 | 7.73 million | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 7.98 million | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 8.26 million | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 8.73 million | +5.6% |
| 1995 | 9.12 million | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 9.15 million | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 9.15 million | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 9.36 million | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 9.69 million | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 10.00 million | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 10.31 million | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 10.62 million | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 10.91 million | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 11.22 million | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 11.56 million | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 11.72 million | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 11.85 million | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 11.97 million | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 12.10 million | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 12.25 million | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 12.42 million | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 12.57 million | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 12.96 million | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 13.36 million | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 13.75 million | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 14.22 million | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 14.73 million | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 15.17 million | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 15.56 million | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 15.85 million | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 16.42 million | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 17.22 million | +4.9% |
| 2023 | 17.89 million | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 18.55 million | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 19.17 million | +3.4% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 19.17 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.70 million, 7.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 19.17 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.51 million, 7.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.67 million | 7.49 million | 9.69 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.23 million | 10.00 million | 12.10 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.70 million | 12.25 million | 15.56 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.51 million | 15.85 million | 19.17 million | 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 labor force, female in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Labor force, female in Democratic Republic of Congo was 19.17 million in 2025, according to World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 19.17 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.49 million in 1990.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for labor force, female?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 16th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division, published as part of Labor force, female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female labor force comprises women ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.