Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Democratic Republic of Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo: Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) was 14.54 in 2027. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2027)
14.54
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
42nd
of 45 countries
All-time high
183.26
in 2001
All-time low
13.11
in 2018
Years of data
28
2000–2027

Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2000–2027

0501001502002000201320272000: 66.12001: 183.32002: 123.52003: 123.42004: 111.72005: 91.92006: 79.42007: 69.82008: 602009: 73.62010: 24.12011: 21.12012: 19.72013: 18.32014: 17.72015: 19.92016: 21.32017: 16.52018: 13.12019: 14.32020: 16.52021: 162022: 142023: 15.72024: 142025: 13.62026: 142027: 14.5

Source: International Monetary Fund.

Analysis

Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 14.54 for gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in 2027.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.7% on the previous year and down 11.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 183.26 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 13.11, in 2018.

Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 42nd of 45 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year

Annual values for Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6)) in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2000 to 2027.
Year Value Change
2000 66.09
2001 183.26 +177.3%
2002 123.53 -32.6%
2003 123.41 -0.1%
2004 111.72 -9.5%
2005 91.9 -17.7%
2006 79.39 -13.6%
2007 69.77 -12.1%
2008 59.96 -14.1%
2009 73.58 +22.7%
2010 24.05 -67.3%
2011 21.08 -12.4%
2012 19.66 -6.7%
2013 18.3 -6.9%
2014 17.67 -3.4%
2015 19.92 +12.8%
2016 21.31 +6.9%
2017 16.48 -22.7%
2018 13.11 -20.4%
2019 14.34 +9.4%
2020 16.45 +14.8%
2021 16.03 -2.6%
2022 13.95 -12.9%
2023 15.67 +12.3%
2024 13.96 -10.9%
2025 13.63 -2.4%
2026 14.03 +2.9%
2027 14.54 +3.7%

Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries

  • Democratic Republic of Congo's 14.54 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.53, 55% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
  • Democratic Republic of Congo's 14.54 is below the median for low income countries, which is 24.57, 59% of the median. (19 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Democratic Republic of Congo changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2001 +177.3% 66.09 183.26

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 98.26 59.96 183.26 10
2010s 18.59 13.11 24.05 10
2020s 14.78 13.63 16.45 8

Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo

  1. 39 Botswana 15.34 compare
  2. 40 Mauritius 15.12 compare
  3. 41 Mali 15.02 compare
  4. 43 Burundi 8.24 compare
  5. 44 Namibia 5.81 compare
  6. 45 Equatorial Guinea 3.86 compare

See the full ranking of 64 places →

More external debt data for Democratic Republic of Congo

All data for Democratic Republic of Congo →

Frequently asked questions

What is gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Democratic Republic of Congo?
Gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Democratic Republic of Congo was 14.54 in 2027, according to International Monetary Fund.
What is the highest gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
The highest recorded value was 183.26 in 2001.
What is the lowest gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
The lowest recorded value was 13.11 in 2018.
How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and)?
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 42nd out of 45 countries with data for 2027.
Is gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6)). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Democratic Republic of Congo. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://debt.statizoid.com/stat/gross-external-debt-percent-of-gdp-balance-of-payments-and-international-investment/congo-dem-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6))
Source
International Monetary Fund
Licence
IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
64 places, 1,765 data points, 2000–2027
Last refreshed

Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Economic Outlook (REO) provides information on recent economic developments and prospects for countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Data for the REO for sub-Saharan Africa are prepared in conjunction with the semi-annual World Economic Outlook (WEO) exercises, spring and fall.