IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Congo (Kinshasa), Democratic Republic of the

Democratic Republic of the Congo

None
Population (as of Jan. 1, 2022)

38,542,138
Registered Voters (as of April 10, 2018)

58.45%
Average Turnout

11
Elections in our database

V-Dem* Score: 0.327
Regimes of the World Classification: Electoral Autocracy
*Varieties of Democracy Electoral Democracy Index (2024)

CEDAW Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: July 17, 1980
Ratified Date: Oct. 17, 1986

SIGI* Score: 46.9
Level of Discrimination: High
*Social Institutions and Gender Index (2023)

CRPD Status: Ratified
Ratified Date: Sept. 30, 2015

HDI* Score: 0.522
Category: Low
*UNDP Human Development Index (2023)

Name	Official Name	Type
Congo DRC Presidency	None	Head of State
Congo DRC National Assembly	Assemblée Nationale	Lower House
Congo DRC Senate	Sénat	Upper House

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: President Felix TSHISEKEDI (since 24 January 2019)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Judith Tuluka SUMINWA (since 1 April 2024)
Assembly: bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consisting of the Senate (Sénat) with 109 seats and the National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) with 500 seats.

Description of electoral system:

The President is directly elected by plurality vote and may serve up to two 5-year terms.
The Prime Minister is appointed by the President.
The Senate consists of 108 members indirectly elected by provincial assemblies who serve 5-year terms. The 109th seat is held by former President Joseph Kabila who holds a lifetime appointment.
In the National Assembly, 439 members are elected by proportional representation vote in multi-seat constituencies, and 61 are elected by plurality vote in single-seat constituencies. All 500 members are directly elected and serve 5-year terms.

Elections

2023-12-20 | Status: Held
Congo DRC Presidency
Votes -
Registered 38,542,138
Turnout -

2023-12-20 | Status: Held
Congo DRC National Assembly
Votes 18,813,469
Registered 38,542,138
Turnout 48.81

2018-12-30 | Status: Held
Congo DRC National Assembly
Votes 18,329,318
Registered 40,287,387
Turnout 45.5

2018-12-30 | Status: Held
Congo DRC Presidency
Votes 18,329,318
Registered 40,287,387
Turnout 45.5

2011-11-28 | Status: Held
Congo DRC Presidency
Votes 18,911,572
Registered 32,024,640
Turnout 59.05

2011-11-28 | Status: Held
Congo DRC National Assembly
Votes 18,911,572
Registered 32,024,640
Turnout 59.05

2007-01-19 | Status: Held
Congo DRC Senate
Votes -
Registered 25,420,199
Turnout -

2006-10-29 | Status: Held
Congo DRC Presidency
Votes 16,615,479
Registered 25,420,199
Turnout 65.36

2006-07-30 | Status: Held
Congo DRC National Assembly
Votes 17,868,580
Registered 25,420,199
Turnout 70.29

2006-07-30 | Status: Held
Congo DRC Presidency
Votes 17,931,631
Registered 25,421,249
Turnout 70.54

2005-12-18 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 15,505,810
Registered 25,021,703
Turnout 61.97

Election For	Date	Status	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
Congo DRC Presidency	2023-12-20	Held	-	38,542,138	-
Congo DRC National Assembly	2023-12-20	Held	18,813,469	38,542,138	48.81
Congo DRC National Assembly	2018-12-30	Held	18,329,318	40,287,387	45.5
Congo DRC Presidency	2018-12-30	Held	18,329,318	40,287,387	45.5
Congo DRC Presidency	2011-11-28	Held	18,911,572	32,024,640	59.05
Congo DRC National Assembly	2011-11-28	Held	18,911,572	32,024,640	59.05
Congo DRC Senate	2007-01-19	Held	-	25,420,199	-
Congo DRC Presidency	2006-10-29	Held	16,615,479	25,420,199	65.36
Congo DRC National Assembly	2006-07-30	Held	17,868,580	25,420,199	70.29
Congo DRC Presidency	2006-07-30	Held	17,931,631	25,421,249	70.54
Referendum	2005-12-18	Held	15,505,810	25,021,703	61.97

Voter Turnout

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