Refugees of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Refugees of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are people originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), a country with more than 114 million inhabitants, who seek refuge outside the borders of their native country. For decades, DR Congo has faced recurring conflict, political volatility and deep economic difficulties. Armed violence is widespread, particularly in the east, where more than 120 non-state groups operate and often inflame local tensions. Civilians are frequently trapped in these clashes. These conditions have displaced more than eight million people from their homes. As of September 2025, an estimated 8.2 million people had been internally displaced, but more than 1.2 million Congolese have sought refuge abroad, with almost half living in Uganda.

As of December 2023, the country also hosts more than 500,000 refugees from neighbouring states, mainly from Rwanda, the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Burundi.