Équateur: population, health, schools, water, jobs and provincial transfers
Équateur is a province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, number 24 of 26 by population. The Institut National de la Statistique projected the population of Équateur at 1,712,000 for 2019 (841,000 men and boys, 871,000 women and girls), 1.7% of the DR Congo's 98.37 million; 3rd smallest of the 26 provinces. The country has not held a census since 1984, so every provincial figure is a projection.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Équateur: 23.9% of people in Équateur used at least a basic drinking water service (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2017-18, 12th highest of the 26 provinces (DR Congo: 33.6%).
- Health in Équateur: 9.7% of children aged 12 to 23 months in Équateur had received all basic vaccines (BCG, three doses each of DTC-HepB-Hib and polio, and measles) in the 2023-24 Demographic and Health Survey, and 39.8% had received none; the full-vaccination rate is 7th lowest of the 26 provinces (DR Congo: 20.9% fully vaccinated, 22.7% none).
- Education in Équateur: 80.9% of primary-school-age children in Équateur were attending school in the 2017-18 MICS-Palu survey and 19.0% were out of school; attendance was 82.5% for boys and 79.3% for girls, joint 8th highest of the 26 provinces overall (DR Congo: 78.2%).
- Poverty and living standards in Équateur: 35.3% of people in Équateur lived in households in the poorest fifth of the country by household assets and housing in 2017-18, and 0.3% in the richest fifth; the share in the poorest fifth was 8th highest of the 26 provinces (20% would be the national average).
- Government budget and revenue in Équateur: The draft 2026 finance law allocates FC 163.9 billion to Équateur from the 40% of national revenue shared with the provinces, 2.05% of the FC 8.00 trillion total; 2nd smallest of the 26 provinces.
How fast is Équateur's population growing?
The INS projections add 185,000 people between 2015 and 2019, about 2.9% a year (DR Congo: 3.4% a year).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (Ministry of Planning) · saved copyHow big is Équateur?
Équateur covers 103,902 km² with its provincial capital at Mbandaka, giving about 16 people per km² in 2019; 5th least densely populated of the 26 provinces.
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (Ministry of Planning) · saved copyHow provinces are governed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Provinces (26, including the city-province of Kinshasa). Provincial assembly directly elected (last in December 2023), with some seats for co-opted customary chiefs; the assembly elects the governor. Provincial laws and services, sharing many powers with the national government.
Every tier of government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Other provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Kinshasa 13,916,000
- Nord-Kivu 7,574,000
- Sud-Kivu 6,565,000
- Kongo Central 6,365,000
- Kwilu 6,169,000
- Haut-Katanga 5,378,000
- Ituri 4,008,000
- Kasaï-Central 3,743,000
- Kasaï-Oriental 3,601,000
- Tanganyika 3,570,000
- Haut-Lomami 3,444,000
- Kasaï 3,165,000
- Lualaba 2,993,000
- Lomami 2,801,000
- Sud-Ubangi 2,755,000
- Maniema 2,654,000
- Tshopo 2,582,000
- Sankuru 2,417,000
- Kwango 2,416,000
- Mai-Ndombe 2,082,000
- Haut-Uele 2,046,000
- Mongala 1,950,000
- Tshuapa 1,789,000
- Nord-Ubangi 1,425,000
- Bas-Uele 1,250,000
Up a level: the Democratic Republic of the Congo · government and power in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Sources
- Institut National de la Statistique and École de Santé Publique de Kinshasa (with ICF): Enquête Démographique et de Santé 2023-24 (EDS-RDC III), Rapport des indicateurs clés: Tableaux 4, 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 18, 22 and 23 by province, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a9c8355303a4…)
- Institut National de la Statistique / Ministère de l'Enseignement Primaire, Secondaire et Technique: Annuaire statistique RDC 2020 (9th edition), Tableaux 104, 107 and 109: primary enrolment, teachers and completion by province, 2017-18 (Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0b8e8667e2d9…)
- Institut National de la Statistique (with UNICEF): Enquête par grappes à indicateurs multiples MICS-Palu 2017-2018, rapport de résultats: Tableaux SR.2.3, SR.9.2, WS.1.2, WS.3.2.1, LN.2.3.1, PR.1.1 and PR.3.3 by province, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8ff6141f9aeb…)
- Ministère du Budget: Projet de loi de finances pour l'exercice 2026 (Doc. n°1, September 2025): Annexe XI (40% share of national revenue to provinces), Annexe XII (equalisation fund) and Annexe XIX (local development programme by territory), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 02250658e4dd…)
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