Forty-two years after the last official census in 1984, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached a decisive milestone. This Monday, March 23, in Kinshasa, a roundtable bringing together authorities and donors officially launched the second general population and housing census (RGPH2) .

A financial success beyond expectations

The fundraising goal has been achieved. While the cost of the operation is estimated at $192 million , pledges of funding have poured in, reaching nearly $210 million .

Note: Although this amount exceeds the strict census budget, a portion will be allocated to strengthening the National Institute of Statistics (INS) and supporting the electoral process.

Why is this a national emergency?

The country has been flying blind for far too long. The numbers speak for themselves:

1. 1984: 30 million inhabitants (according to the data from the first census).
2. 2026: An estimated population of over 113 million inhabitants .

For President Félix Tshisekedi, this project is an absolute priority. He firmly reiterated that "continuing to plan without reliable data would be tantamount to governing without visibility." The Minister of Planning, Judith Suminwa Tuluka, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that this lack of data significantly hinders the government's response to the population's actual needs.

Next steps: The calendar

The process is underway, and the technical deployment is imminent:

1. July 2026: Launch of the mapping (crucial step to delimit the enumeration areas).
2. Data collection: A titanic operation given the size of the country and the galloping demographic evolution.

This census will not just be a simple list of names; it will become the basis for future public policies to adapt infrastructure (schools, hospitals, roads) to the reality on the ground in Congo.