DR Congo’s FDI inflows rose from near-zero in the 1990s to $3.11B in 2024, with its highest growth phase occurring between 2007 and 2012

Key Takeaways

  • The 1990s saw multiple years of flat or negative FDI, including -$0.02B in 1995 and -$0.04B in 1997.
  • FDI surged to $1.81B in 2007 and $2.94B in 2010, marking a turning point.
  • The all-time high was $3.31B in 2012, with 2024 following closely at $3.11B.
  • From 2015 to 2024, annual FDI remained steadily above $1B, signalling sustained investor confidence.

Over the last three decades, DR Congo's FDI landscape has evolved significantly. The 1990s were marked by stagnation, with FDI inflows hovering near zero and occasionally turning negative, an indicator of political and economic instability. However, starting in the early 2000s, inflows began a consistent upward climb, hitting $1.81B by 2007 and peaking at $3.31B in 2012.

Since then, DR Congo has maintained relatively stable FDI, with inflows averaging above $1.2B yearly from 2015 onward. The latest figure in 2024, $3.11B, signals a renewed investor appetite and positions DR Congo among the key African economies drawing sustained foreign capital.

Source:

UNCTAD

Period:

1990 - 2024
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