2025 country profile

How democratic is
Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Democratic Republic of the Congo scores 37.6 out of 100 and ranks 125 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is rights and checks on power. Explore the evidence and history below.

Democracys.org beta estimate, derived from V-Dem v16. A measure of political institutions and conditions—not a percentage of democracy or a judgment of people.

Printable country brief Compare this country

DEMOCRACYS SCORE

37.6out of 100Far from the standard

2025 rank125 of 179

10-year change+2.2

25-year change+14.6

Source-bound range29.1–45.2

Weakest areaRights & checks

The source-bound range is an uncertainty guide, not a confidence interval for this combined score. How to read the range →

SCORE HISTORY

Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1975–2025

The shaded area is a plain-language uncertainty guide. Treat small score differences cautiously.

About uncertainty

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

What changed on the ground?

A documented development to help interpret the institutions behind the score.

2024 context · Freedom House assessment

Armed control disrupted civilian governance in the east

Freedom House reports that M23’s control of mining areas intensified forced and child labor and disrupted civilian life. This highlights how armed actors can undermine rights and effective public authority even when formal national institutions remain in place. Conditions also vary considerably across the country.

Read the country report · Freedom in the World 2025

AI-assisted source summary · not independently expert-reviewed

What this context does—and does not—explain

This is a selected development, not a complete political history. Its date may differ from the selected comparison period. It is not evidence that one event caused a particular number of points, and it may describe progress even when this index declines.

The scores use V-Dem. The narrative summarizes a separate assessment by Freedom House, whose definitions and coverage differ. Neither organization endorses this website. The summary is AI-assisted, source-linked, and has not received independent country-expert review. Source checked October 5, 2026.

Why democracy measures can disagree →

UNDERSTAND THE CHANGE

What drove the score?

2015–2025 · the measured story

The score for Democratic Republic of the Congo rose 2.2 points, from 35.4 to 37.6 between 2015 and 2025. 1 of the five areas improved while 4 worsened, so the headline combines competing movements. Public reasoning contributed the largest upward push in the score calculation. The latest year moved in the opposite direction (−1.1), so the longer trend is not the whole story.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Public reasoning

The evidence rates public justification, consultation, and engagement with opposing arguments more favorably.

Area score: 30.5 → 53.6
Approx. contribution to overall change: +4.3 points

Moving in the other direction

Political equality

The evidence rates the distribution of political influence, rights, and access across social groups less favorably.

Area score: 43.4 → 35.7
Approx. contribution to overall change: −1.5 points

These contributions explain the calculation—not the causes. The five area scores combine several indicators; they do not identify which individual law, election, or event changed.

When did the biggest shifts appear?

The largest year-to-year movements within this period. These are changes in annual estimates, not precise dates of political events.

2018–2019+8.9 points
The overall score rose from 34.3 to 43.2. Public reasoning supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2020–2021−3.7 points
The overall score fell from 45.2 to 41.5. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2022–2023−2.7 points
The overall score fell from 40.6 to 37.9. Rights and checks supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 45.2 in 2020. Small differences may fall within the source’s uncertainty.

See all five areas and how contributions are calculated

Changes in inputs versus contributions to the overall score
Area	2015	2025	Input change	Approx. contribution
Public reasoning	30.5	53.6	+23.1	+4.3
Political equality	43.4	35.7	−7.7	−1.5
Rights and checks	24.8	23.2	−1.6	−0.4
Elections	31.6	30.6	−1.0	−0.2
Participation	49.6	49.3	−0.3	−0.1

We change the five inputs from their starting to ending values in every possible order, then average each area’s effect on the formula. This distributes the formula’s interactions (a Shapley allocation). It is a mathematical attribution, not a causal estimate.

Inputs and published scores are rounded, so contributions are approximate and may not add exactly to the displayed total. No significance test is implied. Read the full scoring method →

BENEATH THE SCORE

Five dimensions of democracy

The headline score cannot show where a political system is strong or constrained. These five tests can. Each has equal weight in the beta standard.

Free and fair elections

Can people choose their leaders through broad voting rights, honest elections, free political groups, and open public debate?

30.6

Rights and checks on power

Are basic freedoms protected, laws applied fairly, courts independent, and leaders prevented from abusing power?

23.2

Public participation

Can people shape public life through civic groups, direct voting, and meaningful local and regional government?

49.3

Public reasoning

Do leaders explain decisions, consult the public, answer opposing arguments, and consider the common good?

53.6

Political equality

Do different social groups have equal rights, access, resources, and a real chance to influence political power?

35.7

HOW TO READ THIS PROFILE

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.

The score breakdown identifies which parts of the measure changed most. The country report adds documented political context. Together they help explain the institutions at stake—but they do not prove that a specific event produced a specific number of points.

Why this score differs from other democracy indices →

What a declining score can—and cannot—tell us about democratic backsliding

A recent improvement can coexist with a long-term decline. Always compare the dates, check the linked source, and consider developments the selected narrative does not cover.

ANNUAL DATA

Democratic Republic of the Congo score table

Download Democratic Republic of the Congo CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	37.6	29.1–45.2	30.6	23.2	49.3	53.6	35.7
2024	38.7	31.0–47.0	30.8	25.4	49.2	55.5	36.6
2023	37.9	29.2–45.2	33.3	23.2	48.3	55.7	33.2
2022	40.6	32.6–48.9	33.6	31.1	44.8	59.8	36.6
2021	41.5	33.7–49.6	34.2	27.0	46.3	64.4	40.0
2020	45.2	38.0–52.8	34.7	30.4	50.0	71.1	45.1
2019	43.2	35.7–50.4	34.4	27.8	48.9	64.9	44.7
2018	34.3	25.9–40.4	30.6	23.9	51.2	26.2	43.6
2017	33.8	25.7–40.3	30.4	21.7	51.4	27.1	42.3
2016	34.2	26.4–40.8	30.5	24.5	51.6	25.4	43.0
2015	35.4	27.7–42.2	31.6	24.8	49.6	30.5	43.4
2014	37.2	29.9–44.5	31.8	25.3	49.8	38.2	43.7
2013	37.7	29.7–44.5	31.9	24.8	50.1	40.8	43.7
2012	39.7	32.5–47.5	32.1	29.7	52.0	44.8	41.9
2011	40.7	32.9–48.0	34.7	29.7	52.3	45.2	43.6
2010	40.6	33.0–48.2	35.2	29.7	52.5	45.2	42.6
2009	40.6	32.9–48.1	36.0	29.1	50.9	46.8	42.0
2008	40.0	32.8–47.9	35.7	28.5	49.8	46.8	41.3
2007	39.8	32.5–47.6	35.5	28.5	49.8	46.0	41.3
2006	38.0	30.6–44.6	25.1	28.4	50.0	48.7	41.2
2005	31.4	23.9–37.6	19.7	27.4	37.3	33.8	41.2
2004	30.4	23.0–36.6	18.7	27.4	33.3	33.8	41.2
2003	29.5	22.0–35.5	18.0	24.2	33.3	33.8	40.9
2002	25.9	18.8–31.7	16.3	15.1	33.6	28.5	40.9
2001	24.4	17.5–30.2	15.6	15.1	29.9	25.0	40.9
2000	23.0	16.1–28.2	15.0	14.8	30.1	18.8	40.9
1999	21.6	15.0–26.8	14.9	11.2	30.4	17.2	40.2
1998	19.5	12.9–24.4	14.9	9.5	30.6	17.2	29.9
1997	17.0	11.3–21.5	12.6	6.0	36.3	13.4	24.0
1996	22.4	15.4–27.6	17.0	7.3	38.1	31.8	25.7
1995	22.7	15.7–28.0	17.0	7.3	38.3	31.8	27.1
1994	22.9	16.2–28.5	17.0	7.1	38.6	33.5	27.1
1993	23.1	16.4–28.7	16.8	7.1	38.9	34.5	27.1
1992	25.1	17.7–30.9	20.0	11.9	39.1	34.5	25.0
1991	22.4	15.6–27.8	19.8	12.3	36.4	22.2	24.8
1990	20.7	13.7–25.5	17.7	12.3	35.9	16.3	24.8
1989	17.6	12.0–21.7	15.2	7.4	41.2	10.8	21.0
1988	17.8	11.9–21.7	15.2	7.6	41.4	11.2	21.0
1987	17.5	11.8–21.6	15.0	7.3	41.4	10.9	21.0
1986	16.7	11.0–20.7	14.9	7.3	35.4	10.9	21.0
1985	16.7	11.1–20.7	14.9	7.3	35.8	10.9	21.0
1984	16.6	11.0–20.7	15.0	7.3	36.2	10.2	21.0
1983	16.6	11.0–20.7	15.1	7.3	36.1	10.2	21.0
1982	16.7	11.1–20.8	15.0	7.3	36.8	10.2	21.0
1981	17.0	11.3–21.1	14.9	8.0	37.4	10.2	21.0
1980	17.3	11.5–21.4	14.9	8.0	37.8	11.0	21.0
1979	17.0	10.9–20.7	14.8	7.6	38.2	10.3	21.0
1978	17.1	11.0–20.8	14.8	7.6	38.6	10.3	21.0
1977	16.8	10.9–20.5	14.7	6.6	39.0	10.3	21.0
1976	16.7	11.0–20.6	14.7	6.9	38.9	9.4	21.2
1975	16.9	11.3–21.0	14.8	6.9	39.6	9.4	21.7
1974	16.9	11.4–21.1	14.8	6.9	40.2	9.4	21.7
1973	17.1	11.2–21.0	14.8	7.0	40.6	9.4	22.0
1972	17.1	11.2–21.1	14.8	7.0	41.0	9.4	22.0
1971	17.2	11.3–21.1	14.8	7.0	41.4	9.4	22.0
1970	16.1	10.5–20.0	10.1	7.8	41.4	10.1	19.5
1969	16.8	10.7–20.7	10.4	11.8	38.0	9.3	20.9
1968	16.8	10.7–20.7	10.4	11.8	38.0	9.3	20.9
1967	16.7	10.8–20.9	10.5	11.9	38.0	8.3	21.3
1966	16.7	10.6–21.2	9.3	16.3	31.1	8.5	23.6
1965	26.3	18.4–32.4	20.0	26.1	33.5	28.5	24.5
1964	31.7	23.8–38.4	28.0	29.2	39.1	40.2	23.6
1963	31.9	23.9–38.8	28.0	32.1	35.8	41.3	23.6
1962	32.8	25.0–40.0	28.0	36.4	35.9	41.3	23.8
1961	31.4	23.6–38.5	28.0	36.1	35.9	34.3	23.8
1960	28.6	21.2–35.2	21.7	26.1	35.7	42.2	20.4
1959	9.2	4.0–12.5	3.3	13.3	13.1	10.1	8.7
1958	8.8	4.0–12.1	2.9	13.3	12.0	9.7	8.7
1957	8.3	3.7–11.5	2.0	13.3	12.0	9.1	8.7
1956	6.7	3.0–9.4	1.8	13.3	9.3	4.0	8.7
1955	6.8	3.0–9.4	1.9	13.3	9.3	4.0	8.7
1954	6.2	2.8–8.8	0.9	13.3	9.3	4.0	8.7
1953	6.2	2.7–8.6	0.9	13.2	9.3	4.0	8.3
1952	6.2	2.7–8.6	0.9	13.2	9.3	4.0	8.3
1951	6.2	2.7–8.6	0.9	13.2	9.3	4.0	8.3
1950	6.3	2.8–8.7	0.9	13.2	9.3	4.0	9.0
1949	5.4	2.4–7.8	0.9	13.3	7.6	4.0	5.6
1948	5.4	2.4–7.8	0.9	13.3	7.6	4.0	5.6
1947	5.4	2.4–7.8	0.9	13.3	7.6	4.0	5.6
1946	5.4	2.4–7.8	0.9	13.3	7.6	4.0	5.6
1945	5.4	2.3–7.7	0.9	13.2	7.6	4.0	5.6
1944	5.3	2.3–7.6	0.9	13.2	7.6	3.5	5.6
1943	5.3	2.3–7.6	0.9	13.2	7.6	3.5	5.6
1942	5.3	2.3–7.6	0.9	13.2	7.6	3.5	5.6
1941	5.3	2.3–7.6	0.9	13.2	7.6	3.5	5.6
1940	5.4	2.4–7.6	0.9	13.2	7.6	3.5	6.2
1939	5.1	2.1–7.3	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.6
1938	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1937	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1936	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1935	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1934	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1933	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1932	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1931	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1930	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1929	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1928	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1927	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1926	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1925	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1924	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1923	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1922	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1921	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1920	5.0	2.1–7.2	0.9	13.3	7.6	3.2	4.2
1919	3.4	1.3–4.9	0.6	16.5	1.3	0.9	4.1
1918	3.4	1.3–4.9	0.6	16.5	1.3	0.9	4.1
1917	3.4	1.3–4.9	0.6	16.5	1.3	0.9	4.1
1916	3.4	1.3–4.9	0.6	16.5	1.3	0.9	4.1
1915	3.4	1.3–4.9	0.6	16.5	1.3	0.9	4.1
1914	3.4	1.3–4.9	0.6	16.5	1.3	0.9	4.1
1913	3.4	1.3–4.9	0.6	16.5	1.3	0.9	4.1
1912	3.4	1.3–4.9	0.6	16.5	1.3	0.9	4.1
1911	3.4	1.3–4.9	0.6	16.5	1.3	0.9	4.1
1910	3.4	1.3–4.9	0.6	16.5	1.3	0.9	4.1
1909	3.4	1.3–4.9	0.6	16.5	1.3	0.9	4.1
1908	3.4	0.8–4.9	0.6	11.7	1.3	0.9	8.1
1907	2.5	0.4–3.8	0.6	4.8	1.3	0.9	8.1
1906	2.5	0.4–3.8	0.6	4.8	1.3	0.9	8.1
1905	2.5	0.4–3.8	0.6	4.8	1.3	0.9	8.1
1904	2.5	0.4–3.8	0.6	4.8	1.3	0.9	8.1
1903	2.5	0.4–3.8	0.6	4.8	1.3	0.9	8.1
1902	2.5	0.4–3.8	0.6	4.8	1.3	0.9	8.1
1901	2.5	0.4–3.8	0.6	4.8	1.3	0.9	8.1
1900	2.5	0.4–3.8	0.6	4.8	1.3	0.9	8.1

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Democratic Republic of the Congo Democracy Score, 1900–2025,” Democracys Standard v1.0 beta; derived from Coppedge et al. (2026), V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v16.

Open source DOI

NEARBY IN THE 2025 RANKING

#123Comoros38.1 #124Mauritania38.1 #126Pakistan37.4 #127Kazakhstan36.9

All rankings

How democratic isDemocratic Republic of the Congo?

Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1975–2025

Armed control disrupted civilian governance in the east

Public reasoning

Political equality

When did the biggest shifts appear?

Five dimensions of democracy

Free and fair elections

Rights and checks on power

Public participation

Public reasoning

Political equality

Two kinds of evidence.One clearer picture.

Democratic Republic of the Congo score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.