JOINT PRESS RELEASE
Kinshasa, July 11, 2026 – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is taking bold steps to harness its young population as a driving force for sustainable growth. With over 65% of its citizens under 25, the country marks World Population Day this year under the theme: « Turning youth aspirations into today’s achievements and tomorrow’s legacy ».
In a striking move, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Planning have underscored a critical reality: the nation’s future hinges on transforming its youth bulge into an engine of progress. As global demographic shifts reshape economies worldwide, the DRC is positioning its age structure as a strategic advantage rather than a challenge.
Youth insights: what the Lives, Choices and Futures survey reveals
The latest UNFPA report, drawn from a sweeping survey of 100,000 young people across 73 countries, dismantles long-held misconceptions. Congolese youth, like their global counterparts, yearn for family life but face towering barriers: financial instability, scarce job prospects, and housing shortages.
Nearly 88% of respondents name economic security as the non-negotiable foundation for starting a family—not a rejection of parenthood, but a demand for fairer opportunities and lasting stability.
UNFPA’s Executive Director emphasizes this point in her World Population Day message: policies built on coercion are doomed to fail unless they remove the obstacles young people themselves highlight. As one youth activist put it, « The problem isn’t choosing to have fewer children. It’s having fewer choices in life ».
From challenges to development drivers in the DRC
With ongoing crises, particularly in eastern regions, UNFPA and the Government are deepening their collaboration. Aligned with the National Strategic Development Plan (2024–2028), their joint efforts focus on two core areas:
Expanding access to reproductive health services and quality education, empowering young people—especially girls and vulnerable women—to take control of their futures.
Supporting the second General Population and Housing Census (RGPH2) and crafting demographic dividend profiles province by province to channel investments where youth needs are most urgent.
Investing in youth: a win-win for the nation
UNFPA stresses that supporting young people isn’t an expense—it’s the smartest long-term investment a country can make. True prosperity arrives only when youth are equipped to fully contribute to the nation’s growth.
« Young people across every province have spoken. Now it’s time to listen—and act. It’s time to create the conditions that let them build the families they envision, fulfill their dreams, and secure their future », the UNFPA Executive Director asserts.
UNFPA and the Ministry of Planning are rallying development partners, civil society, and the private sector for a unified dialogue aimed at reshaping narratives and building a stronger, more resilient Democratic Republic of Congo.
For further details, contact:
Brigitte Kiaku, UNFPA Communication Officer
[email protected], Phone: +243 818 302 437
