Kasaï-Oriental: population, health, schools, water, jobs and provincial transfers

Kasaï-Oriental is a province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, number 9 of 26 by population. The Institut National de la Statistique projected the population of Kasaï-Oriental at 3,601,000 for 2019 (1,783,000 men and boys, 1,818,000 women and girls), 3.7% of the DR Congo's 98.37 million; 9th largest of the 26 provinces. The country has not held a census since 1984, so every provincial figure is a projection.

Population (INS projection)

3,601,000

2019

Children 12-23 months with all basic vaccines

26.1%

2023-24

Children under 5 stunted

46.1%

2023-24

Children 6-59 months testing positive for malaria

43.1%

2023-24

Primary-age children attending school (net, adjusted)

77.7%

2017-18

Primary completion rate (gross)

58%

2017-18

Population using at least basic drinking water

23.5%

2017-18

Unemployment rate (ILO definition)

2.0%

2016

In depth

Economy, jobs and prices in Kasaï-Oriental: 23.5% of people in Kasaï-Oriental used at least a basic drinking water service (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2017-18, 13th highest of the 26 provinces (DR Congo: 33.6%).
Health in Kasaï-Oriental: 26.1% of children aged 12 to 23 months in Kasaï-Oriental 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 10.7% had received none; the full-vaccination rate is 4th highest of the 26 provinces (DR Congo: 20.9% fully vaccinated, 22.7% none).
Education in Kasaï-Oriental: 77.7% of primary-school-age children in Kasaï-Oriental were attending school in the 2017-18 MICS-Palu survey and 22.3% were out of school; attendance was 82.0% for boys and 73.4% for girls, 13th lowest of the 26 provinces overall (DR Congo: 78.2%).
Poverty and living standards in Kasaï-Oriental: 28.6% of people in Kasaï-Oriental lived in households in the poorest fifth of the country by household assets and housing in 2017-18, and 4.1% in the richest fifth; the share in the poorest fifth was 12th highest of the 26 provinces (20% would be the national average).
Government budget and revenue in Kasaï-Oriental: The draft 2026 finance law allocates FC 181.5 billion to Kasaï-Oriental from the 40% of national revenue shared with the provinces, 2.27% of the FC 8.00 trillion total; 10th smallest of the 26 provinces.

How fast is Kasaï-Oriental's population growing?

The INS projections add 456,000 people between 2015 and 2019, about 3.4% a year (DR Congo: 3.4% a year).

Source: Institut National de la Statistique (Ministry of Planning) · saved copy

How big is Kasaï-Oriental?

Kasaï-Oriental covers 9,545 km² with its provincial capital at Mbuji-Mayi, giving about 377 people per km² in 2019; 2nd most densely populated of the 26 provinces.

Source: Institut National de la Statistique (Ministry of Planning) · saved copy

How 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
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
Équateur 1,712,000
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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