AfDB pledges $80 million to support long-delayed national census in the DRC

Kinshasa March 25, 2026 - The African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed $80 million to support the Democratic Republic of Congo’s second General Population and Housing Census (RGPH-2), a major statistical exercise aimed at updating national demographic data nearly four decades after the last census.

The announcement was made during a donor roundtable focused on mobilizing financing for the nationwide operation, which the government estimates will cost around $192 million in total.

According to AfDB officials, the pledged funding will be split into two components: $50 million dedicated to field operations and $30 million to strengthen national statistical institutions, including the National Institute of Statistics (INS) and other agencies involved in planning, budgeting, and monitoring.

The AfDB described the initiative as a “historic” step for the country, noting its experience in supporting large-scale statistical operations across Africa. The institution also indicated that additional funding could be considered pending internal approval.

The Congolese government is seeking to establish a “basket fund” mechanism to pool contributions from multiple development partners in order to ensure coordinated and transparent financing of the census process.

Authorities say the census is critical for improving development planning, reducing inequalities, and supporting progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are approaching the 2030 deadline.

The last full population census in the DRC dates back to 1984, leaving major gaps in demographic and socio-economic data used for national policy design.

Officials argue that the absence of reliable population data has hindered effective governance and resource allocation, making the upcoming census a key national priority and a long-standing political commitment.