Congo youth development focus of 2026 population day push

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

Kinshasa, July 2026 – With over 65% of its population under 25, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is seizing the momentum of World Population Day to spotlight youth empowerment. The national theme, “Turning youth aspirations into today’s and tomorrow’s realities“, underscores the urgency of converting demographic potential into sustainable progress.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Planning have jointly sounded the alarm: the nation’s trajectory hinges on unlocking the full potential of its young citizens. In an era of shifting global demographics, the DRC is positioning its youth bulge not as a challenge, but as a catalyst for long-term prosperity.

What young Congolese really want: insights from groundbreaking research

UNFPA’s latest “Voices of Change” report, drawn from surveys of 100,000 youth across 73 countries, shatters myths about youth priorities. For young people in Kinshasa, Goma and beyond, family planning isn’t about limiting children—it’s about creating the conditions to have the family they desire. Structural barriers loom large: economic instability, job insecurity and housing shortages dominate their concerns.

The data reveals a striking consensus: 88% of young Congolese identify financial security as the non-negotiable foundation for starting a family. This isn’t a rejection of parenthood, but a demand for pathways to stability and opportunity.

As the UNFPA Executive Director emphasized during the national observance, policies that impose demographic targets without addressing youth-identified obstacles are doomed to fail. The words of a youth leader from Bukavu capture the sentiment: “This isn’t about choosing fewer children—it’s about having fewer choices to begin with.”

From crisis to opportunity: strategic youth investment in the DRC

Amid ongoing challenges in eastern provinces, UNFPA and the Government are deepening collaboration under the 2024-2028 National Strategic Development Plan. Their strategy rests on two pillars designed to equip young people—especially girls and vulnerable women—with the tools to shape their futures:

• Expanding access to reproductive healthcare and quality education, empowering youth to take control of their bodies and life decisions.

• Accelerating the second General Population and Housing Census and developing demographic dividend profiles across provinces to direct investments where youth needs are most acute.

Investing in youth: the smartest national strategy

UNFPA stresses that youth investment isn’t an expense—it’s the most productive national expenditure. Sustainable growth requires creating environments where young people can fully contribute to building the nation.

“From every corner of this vast country, young voices have spoken. The time to listen is now. The time to act—to forge conditions where they can make real choices, build the families they envision, and realize their dreams—is overdue,” the UNFPA Executive Director stated.

UNFPA and the Ministry of Planning are rallying development partners, civil society and the private sector to forge a shared vision for a resilient, innovative DRC of tomorrow.