Deaths in armed conflicts in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Deaths in armed conflicts was 29,291 deaths in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Deaths in armed conflicts in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1989–2025
Source: Uppsala Conflict Data Program (2026); geoBoundaries (2023) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for deaths in armed conflicts in Democratic Republic of Congo is 29,291 deaths, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 287.4% on the previous year and up 4,108.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deaths in armed conflicts in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 48,792 deaths in 1996 and was at its lowest, 28 deaths, in 1989.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 3rd out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Deaths in armed conflicts in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 28 deaths | — |
| 1990 | 147 deaths | +425.0% |
| 1991 | 162 deaths | +10.2% |
| 1992 | 94 deaths | -42.0% |
| 1993 | 7,028 deaths | +7376.6% |
| 1994 | 4,382 deaths | -37.6% |
| 1995 | 581 deaths | -86.7% |
| 1996 | 48,792 deaths | +8297.9% |
| 1997 | 42,414 deaths | -13.1% |
| 1998 | 16,650 deaths | -60.7% |
| 1999 | 13,524 deaths | -18.8% |
| 2000 | 5,638 deaths | -58.3% |
| 2001 | 1,838 deaths | -67.4% |
| 2002 | 11,280 deaths | +513.7% |
| 2003 | 6,012 deaths | -46.7% |
| 2004 | 1,047 deaths | -82.6% |
| 2005 | 329 deaths | -68.6% |
| 2006 | 554 deaths | +68.4% |
| 2007 | 969 deaths | +74.9% |
| 2008 | 2,183 deaths | +125.3% |
| 2009 | 6,126 deaths | +180.6% |
| 2010 | 1,265 deaths | -79.4% |
| 2011 | 563 deaths | -55.5% |
| 2012 | 2,426 deaths | +330.9% |
| 2013 | 2,688 deaths | +10.8% |
| 2014 | 1,879 deaths | -30.1% |
| 2015 | 696 deaths | -63.0% |
| 2016 | 3,849 deaths | +453.0% |
| 2017 | 7,968 deaths | +107.0% |
| 2018 | 2,335 deaths | -70.7% |
| 2019 | 2,788 deaths | +19.4% |
| 2020 | 4,244 deaths | +52.2% |
| 2021 | 3,677 deaths | -13.4% |
| 2022 | 6,111 deaths | +66.2% |
| 2023 | 4,737 deaths | -22.5% |
| 2024 | 7,561 deaths | +59.6% |
| 2025 | 29,291 deaths | +287.4% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 29,291 deaths is above the median for low income countries, which is 371 deaths, 79.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 29,291 deaths is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.5 deaths, 58582.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Deaths in armed conflicts 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +8297.9% | 581 deaths | 48,792 deaths |
| 1993 | +7376.6% | 94 deaths | 7,028 deaths |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 28 deaths | 28 deaths | 28 deaths | 1 |
| 1990s | 13,377 deaths | 94 deaths | 48,792 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,598 deaths | 329 deaths | 11,280 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,646 deaths | 563 deaths | 7,968 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,270 deaths | 3,677 deaths | 29,291 deaths | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More health data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.56 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 821.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 133,650 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 390 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 2.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0895 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 2.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is deaths in armed conflicts in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Deaths in armed conflicts in Democratic Republic of Congo was 29,291 deaths in 2025, according to Uppsala Conflict Data Program (2026); geoBoundaries (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest deaths in armed conflicts recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 48,792 deaths in 1996.
- What is the lowest deaths in armed conflicts recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 28 deaths in 1989.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for deaths in armed conflicts?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 3rd out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is deaths in armed conflicts rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4,108.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Uppsala Conflict Data Program (2026); geoBoundaries (2023) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Deaths in armed conflicts. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
High estimate of the number of deaths of combatants and civilians due to fighting in interstate, intrastate, extrasystemic, non-state conflicts, and one-sided violence that were ongoing that year.