Congo, Democratic Republic of Government Spending
Government expenditure as % of GDP GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS
Congo, Democratic Republic of's government spending was 12.18% in 2025, ranked 106th globally. This represents a 2.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Congo, Democratic Republic of's government spending stood at 12.18% in 2025, a decline of +0.27% from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 12.18% by 2025. Congo, Democratic Republic of ranked 106th globally.
Government spending in the Democratic Republic of Congo has fallen sharply from an early‑1990s high of 17.06 percent of GDP in 1993 to a historic low of 2.05 percent in 2000, marking the deepest trough in the 33‑year series. After the trough, the share of public expenditure has risen gradually, reaching 12.18 percent in 2025, which places the country 106th globally and puts it just above peers such as India (12.92 percent) and Cambodia (12.95 percent). The early‑1990s peak coincided with a period of political instability and high fiscal outlays, while the post‑2000 recovery reflects modest improvements in revenue collection and external assistance. Despite the upward trajectory, the current level remains well below the 1990 figure of 14.93 percent, indicating limited fiscal capacity. Continued macro‑economic reforms and stronger institutional frameworks could accelerate the rise in government spending, potentially narrowing the gap with regional comparators.
Data & projection
| Year | Government Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 12.18% | - | - |
| 2025 | 12.18% | −0.27% | #106 |
| 2022 | 12.45% | +3.80% | #7 |
| 2021 | 8.65% | −0.83% | #4 |
| 2020 | 9.47% | +0.65% | #4 |
| 2019 | 8.82% | −1.25% | #4 |
| 2018 | 10.08% | +2.24% | #6 |
| 2017 | 7.84% | −4.04% | #4 |
| 2016 | 11.88% | +0.04% | #10 |
| 2015 | 11.84% | +0.36% | #11 |
| 2014 | 11.49% | −0.78% | #11 |
| 2013 | 12.26% | −1.61% | #11 |
| 2012 | 13.88% | +6.41% | #22 |
| 2010 | 7.47% | −3.86% | #2 |
| 2009 | 11.33% | +0.57% | #10 |
| 2008 | 10.76% | −0.85% | #7 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Congo, Democratic Republic of matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2018. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw government spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Congo, Democratic Republic of's government spending was 12.18% in 2025. Ranked 106th globally. This represents a 2.2% decrease from the previous year.
Congo, Democratic Republic of's government spending peaked at 17.06% in 1993.
The lowest government spending in Congo, Democratic Republic of was 2.05% in 2000.
Congo, Democratic Republic of ranks 106th globally in government spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Congo, Democratic Republic of's government spending is projected to reach 12.18% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The government spending of Congo, Democratic Republic of in 2025 was 12.18%. This ranks 106th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_congo-democratic-republic-of_government-spending,
title = {Congo, Democratic Republic of Government Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/congo-democratic-republic-of/government-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}