The DRC is the 2nd largest country in Africa by area. Its population numbers 81.3 million of which 42,5% is urban population. The Economy of the DRC- a country endowed with vast natural resource wealth, is slowly recovering after decades of decline. By 2015 its growth rate was 2.45%. The country marked its fourteenth consecutive year of positive economic expansion in 2016. Progress has been slow to reach the interior of the country although clear changes are evident in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. In the past 4 years, upturn in these cities can be clearly seen: their road system has been significantly improved, 5-star hotels, office buildings and shopping malls have been built. The country has attracted a number of Asian investors recently.

The GDP for 2016 is estimated at 66.01 billion USD. Much economic activity still occurs in the informal sector and is not reflected in GDP data. And what does the GDP per capita data show – it was 800 USD for 2016.
The official currency in the DRC is Congolese Franc (1 USD=1,426 CDF/ 1 EUR=1,595 CDF).

*source: CIA World Factbook (www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/)