Share of women in parliament (V-Dem) in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Share of women in parliament (V-Dem) was 12.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
12.8%
Change on year
down 1.5%
World rank
153rd
of 174 countries
All-time high
13.0%
in 2024
All-time low
0.0%
in 1960
Years of data
55
1960–2025
Share of women in parliament in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1960–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of women in parliament in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 12.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.5% on the previous year and up 43.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women in parliament in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 13.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1960.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 153rd out of 174 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.
Share of women in parliament (V-Dem) in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1961 | 0.0% | — |
| 1962 | 0.0% | — |
| 1963 | 0.0% | — |
| 1964 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1966 | 0.0% | — |
| 1967 | 0.0% | — |
| 1968 | 0.0% | — |
| 1969 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 2.9% | — |
| 1971 | 2.8% | -2.0% |
| 1972 | 2.8% | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 2.8% | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 2.8% | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 11.1% | +295.2% |
| 1976 | 11.1% | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 1.8% | -83.4% |
| 1978 | 1.8% | -2.1% |
| 1979 | 1.8% | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1.8% | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 1.8% | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 3.5% | +97.1% |
| 1983 | 3.5% | -1.4% |
| 1984 | 3.5% | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 3.5% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 3.5% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 5.7% | +63.3% |
| 1988 | 5.4% | -5.5% |
| 1989 | 5.4% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 5.4% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 5.4% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 12.0% | +122.2% |
| 2004 | 12.0% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 12.0% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 8.4% | -30.0% |
| 2007 | 8.4% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 8.4% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 8.4% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 8.4% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 8.9% | +6.4% |
| 2012 | 8.9% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 8.9% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 8.9% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 8.9% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 8.9% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 8.9% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 10.3% | +15.3% |
| 2019 | 12.8% | +24.2% |
| 2020 | 12.8% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 12.8% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 12.8% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 12.8% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 13.0% | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 12.8% | -1.5% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 12.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 21.4%, 60% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 12.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.4%, 55% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.2% | 1.8% | 11.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.8% | 1.8% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.9% | 8.4% | 12.0% | 7 |
| 2010s | 9.4% | 8.4% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.8% | 12.8% | 13.0% | 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 share of women in parliament in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Share of women in parliament in Democratic Republic of Congo was 12.8% in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of women in parliament recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 13.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of women in parliament recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1960.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for share of women in parliament?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 153rd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of women in parliament rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of women in parliament. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Percentage of women in the lower or single chamber of the legislature.