Infographic

Mining in DR Congo in numbers

DR Congo's mining drawn as one poster: number 1 in cobalt with 74% of world output, top three for 4 minerals, mineral rents 28.8% of GDP. Scroll to draw it, then download it as SVG or PNG.

PROSPECTOR TRAILS · INFOGRAPHIC · DATA YEAR 2025DR CongoCODMining country · ISO CODDR Congo is the world's number 1 producer of cobalt (74% of 2025 mine output), ranks in the topthree for 4 of the 36 minerals we track, mineral rents were 28.8% of GDP in 2021.MINERAL RENTS, % OF GDP 202128.8%Mineral rents are what the minerals earn above the cost ofproducing them. World Bank WDI.ORES AND METALS IN EXPORTS 202476%Share of merchandise exports that are ores and metals.World Bank WDI.MINERALS IN THE WORLD TOP 34Of the 36 minerals in our atlas, DR Congo is among thethree largest producers for 4: cobalt, tantalum, copper,RULE OF LAW ESTIMATE 2025-1.66World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, scale −2.5(weak) to +2.5 (strong).GDP 2025$91 bnMINERALS PRODUCED (OF 36)5WORLD SHARE BY MINERAL 2025What DR Congo mines, by share of world outputCobalt #174%230 ktTantalum #152%1.3 ktCopper #214%3.2 MtTin #59.3%27 ktNiobium #30.9%970 tBar is the share of world production; number after # is the world rank. USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, minestage where reported.GOVERNANCE 2025World Bank governance estimates−2.50+2.5Rule of law-1.66Political stability-2.13Control of corruption-1.49Regulatory quality-1.31Estimates on a −2.5 to +2.5 scale; higher is stronger. Source: World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators.2020–2025DR Congo: cobalt mine output0.00 t62 kt125 kt188 kt250 kt2020202120222023202420252025: 230 ktCo content. Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, successive editions.2020–2025DR Congo: tantalum mine output0.00 t375 t750 t1.1 kt1.5 kt2020202120222023202420252025: 1.3 ktTa content. Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, successive editions.ON THE MAPDR Congo, 5 of our 36 minerals producedOutline map simplified from Natural Earth.TOP EXPORT FLOWS 2024Where DR Congo's mineral exports goCopper (refined) → China · HS 740311 2024$14 bnCobalt (refined) → China · HS 810520 2024$3.0 bnTin (ore) → China · HS 260900 2024$601 mCobalt (intermediate) → Namibia · HS 282200 2024$142 mCobalt (intermediate) → Zambia · HS 282200 2024$67 mLargest single exporter-to-importer flows across the HS codes we track for these minerals, by customs value. Source:CEPII BACI (HS22).POLICYPolicy and operationsEXPORT CONTROLSCobalt: export prohibition from 2025, export quota from 2025. Source: OECD export restrictions inventory andgovernment notices, as recorded in our data.OPERATIONS IN OUR DATA23 operations across 6 minerals, including Kamoa-Kakula, Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) / Katanga Mining Complex,Kibali, Kipushi, Kisanfu (KFM), Mutanda and others.prospectortrails.comSources: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, CEPII BACI, IEA (CC BY 4.0), World Bank,government lists. Figures rounded.PROSPECTOR TRAILSOpen data, drawn in numbers
Mining in DR Congo infographic: mineral rents, export dependence, world share and rank by mineral, governance estimates, export flows and policy. Data year 2025.

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The numbers

The figures on the poster, with their sources. Production shares are USGS estimates, economic indicators are World Bank data, trade values are CEPII BACI customs data.

Mineral rents, % of GDP, 2021
28.8% World Bank World Development Indicators
Ores and metals, % of merchandise exports, 2024
76.5% World Bank World Development Indicators
Minerals where it is a top-three producer
4: Cobalt (#1), Tantalum (#1), Copper (#2), Niobium (#3) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Rule of law (WGI estimate), 2025
-1.66 on a −2.5 to +2.5 scale World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators
GDP, current US$, 2025
$91 billion World Bank World Development Indicators
Largest world share
Cobalt: 74% of world mine output (#1), 230 kt USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Political stability (WGI estimate), 2025
-2.13 World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators
Control of corruption (WGI estimate), 2025
-1.49 World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators
Regulatory quality (WGI estimate), 2025
-1.31 World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators
Cobalt mine output, 2020 → 2025
98 kt → 230 kt USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Tantalum mine output, 2020 → 2025
780 t → 1.3 kt USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Largest mineral export flow, 2024
Copper (refined) to China, $14 bn CEPII BACI trade database
Export controls on minerals
Cobalt (export prohibition, export quota)

Sources

USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · World Bank World Development Indicators · World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators · CEPII BACI trade database. Figures are rounded.

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Mining in DR CongoCobalt infographicTantalum infographicCopper infographicNiobium infographicMining by countryAll infographics