Poverty and living standards in Kongo Central, Democratic Republic of the Congo: official figures
6.7% of people in Kongo Central lived in households in the poorest fifth of the country by household assets and housing in 2017-18, and 23.8% in the richest fifth; the share in the poorest fifth was 2nd lowest of the 26 provinces (20% would be the national average).
How common is child labour in Kongo Central?
7.8% of children aged 5 to 17 in Kongo Central were in child labour in the week before the 2017-18 survey, 6th lowest of the 26 provinces (DR Congo: 14.7%).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (with UNICEF) · saved copyAre births registered in Kongo Central?
67.0% of children under five in Kongo Central had their birth registered with the civil authorities in 2017-18, 3rd highest of the 26 provinces (DR Congo: 40.1%).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (with UNICEF) · saved copyMore figures
- 21.5% of people in Kongo Central had no toilet and practised open defecation in 2017-18, and 46.6% drank from unimproved sources such as unprotected wells and springs or surface water (DR Congo: 11.6% and 46.1%). Source: Institut National de la Statistique (with UNICEF) · saved copy
- 30.3% of children under five in Kongo Central were underweight in 2023-24, 4th highest of the 26 provinces (DR Congo: 25.0%). Source: Institut National de la Statistique and École de Santé Publique de Kinshasa (with ICF) · saved copy
How Kongo Central compares with other provinces
People in the poorest national wealth fifth (2017-18)
Kongo Central ranks 25 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People in the poorest national wealth fifth |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Haut-Uele | 17.3% |
| 21 | Nord-Kivu | 14.0% |
| 22 | Lualaba | 14.0% |
| 23 | Haut-Katanga | 13.5% |
| 24 | Sud-Kivu | 11.3% |
| 25 | Kongo Central | 6.7% |
| 26 | Kinshasa | 0.0% |
Children 5-17 in child labour (2017-18)
Kongo Central ranks 21 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Children 5-17 in child labour |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Haut-Katanga | 13.9% |
| 19 | Mongala | 11.8% |
| 20 | Tanganyika | 9.3% |
| 21 | Kongo Central | 7.8% |
| 22 | Kwilu | 7.7% |
| 23 | Kinshasa | 7.4% |
| 24 | Tshuapa | 7.4% |
More on Kongo Central: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · 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 (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…)
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