Photo: Christina Bergey derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 10 of 18 · Country Index 2026
DR Congo: Peace & Security
Is a country at peace, and how heavily armed is it?
DR Congo is placed 144th of 177 countries on peace & security in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Political Stability and Absence of Violence -2.132 (2025); Physical Violence Index 0.32 (2025).
Share
Peace & Security
144th
of 177 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- -2.132Political Stability and Absence of Violence, 2025Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
- 0.32Physical Violence Index, 2025Freedom from political killings and torture (0–1)
- 1.345Political Violence by Non-State Actors, 2025Original latent estimate (≈ −3.5 to +4); higher = more violence
- 66.58Global Militarisation Index, 2023GMI score (higher means a heavier military weight)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place DR Congo on peace & security — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Political Stability and Absence of Violence
World Bank Group
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
-2.132
Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Higher is better
DR Congo: -2.132. Across the 211 countries in this edition, values run from -2.506 (Yemen) to 1.563 (Andorra); the world median is 0.171.
- World median
- 0.171
- Best in Middle Africa
- 0.546 São Tomé and Príncipe
- Land neighbours
- Angola -0.438 · Burundi -1.234 · Central African Republic -1.694 · Republic of the Congo -0.489 · Rwanda 0.122 · South Sudan -1.515 · Tanzania -0.476 · Uganda -0.867 · Zambia -0.06
Key 2 of 4
Physical Violence Index
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.32
Freedom from political killings and torture (0–1)
Higher is better
DR Congo: 0.32. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.053 (North Korea) to 0.989 (Sweden); the world median is 0.79.
- World median
- 0.79
- Best in Middle Africa
- 0.941 São Tomé and Príncipe
- Land neighbours
- Angola 0.687 · Burundi 0.108 · Central African Republic 0.395 · Republic of the Congo 0.208 · Rwanda 0.19 · South Sudan 0.324 · Tanzania 0.728 · Uganda 0.221 · Zambia 0.769
Key 3 of 4
Political Violence by Non-State Actors
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
1.345
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.5 to +4); higher = more violence
Lower is better
DR Congo: 1.345. Across the 171 countries in this edition, values run from -3.182 (Luxembourg) to 3.375 (Myanmar); the world median is -0.661.
- World median
- -0.661
- Best in Middle Africa
- -2.01 Gabon
- Land neighbours
- Angola -0.206 · Burundi -1.004 · Central African Republic 2.976 · Republic of the Congo -0.872 · Rwanda 0.583 · South Sudan 2.706 · Tanzania 0.282 · Uganda 0.401 · Zambia 1.08
Key 4 of 4
Global Militarisation Index
Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY
66.58
GMI score (higher means a heavier military weight)
Lower is better
Ranked 120th of 149 by BICC
DR Congo: 66.58. Across the 149 countries in this edition, values run from 3.512 (Haiti) to 351.09 (Ukraine); the world median is 100.66.
- World median
- 100.66
- Best in Middle Africa
- 66.58 DR Congo
- Land neighbours
- Angola 120.8 · Burundi 128.86 · Central African Republic 100.66 · Republic of the Congo 131.97 · Rwanda 99.07 · South Sudan 179.32 · Tanzania 71.51 · Uganda 98.47 · Zambia 72.51
02Over time
Which way DR Congo is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Political Stability and Absence of Violence
Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5) · higher is better
DR CongoWorld median
DR Congo rose from -2.574 in 2000 to -2.132 in 2025; the world median went from -0.021 to 0.171.
Every year’s figures
Year DR Congo World median 2025 -2.132 0.1706 2024 -2.058 0.1385 2023 -1.975 0.1269 2022 -1.858 0.0991 2021 -1.661 0.0836 2020 -1.831 0.0582 2019 -1.676 0.0678 2018 -1.921 0.1121 2017 -2.253 0.0177 2016 -2.203 -0.0161 2015 -2.033 0.0464 2014 -2.268 0.0366 2013 -2.255 -0.0060 2012 -2.252 0.0470 2011 -2.195 -0.0034 2010 -2.057 0.0100 2009 -1.537 0.1579 2008 -1.967 0.0744 2007 -2.046 0.1154 2006 -2.066 0.0812 2005 -2.091 0.0308 2004 -2.225 -0.0307 2003 -2.126 0.0683 2002 -2.269 -0.0154 2000 -2.574 -0.0212 Physical Violence Index
Freedom from political killings and torture (0–1) · higher is better
DR CongoWorld median
DR Congo rose from 0.208 in 2000 to 0.32 in 2025; the world median went from 0.728 to 0.79.
Every year’s figures
Year DR Congo World median 2025 0.320 0.7900 2024 0.314 0.7850 2023 0.449 0.7885 2022 0.552 0.8190 2021 0.505 0.8245 2020 0.461 0.8265 2019 0.539 0.8015 2018 0.291 0.8200 2017 0.274 0.7880 2016 0.311 0.7865 2015 0.327 0.7930 2014 0.327 0.7790 2013 0.327 0.7700 2012 0.361 0.7805 2011 0.361 0.7900 2010 0.361 0.7990 2009 0.333 0.7890 2008 0.265 0.7770 2007 0.265 0.7700 2006 0.265 0.7700 2005 0.265 0.7550 2004 0.265 0.7700 2003 0.208 0.7600 2002 0.208 0.7440 2001 0.208 0.7480 2000 0.208 0.7280 Political Violence by Non-State Actors
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.5 to +4); higher = more violence · lower is better
DR CongoWorld median
DR Congo fell from 2.6 in 2000 to 1.345 in 2025; the world median went from -0.766 to -0.661.
Every year’s figures
Year DR Congo World median 2025 1.35 -0.661 2024 1.11 -0.626 2023 1.29 -0.617 2022 1.29 -0.522 2021 1.16 -0.530 2020 1.74 -0.620 2019 1.86 -0.620 2018 1.86 -0.787 2017 2.22 -0.651 2016 2.22 -0.633 2015 2.22 -0.757 2014 2.22 -0.748 2013 2.22 -0.755 2012 2.22 -0.755 2011 2.22 -0.737 2010 2.22 -0.767 2009 2.22 -0.767 2008 2.22 -0.798 2007 2.22 -0.801 2006 2.22 -0.847 2005 2.22 -0.743 2004 2.22 -0.847 2003 2.22 -0.818 2002 2.60 -0.770 2001 2.60 -0.760 2000 2.60 -0.766 Global Militarisation Index
GMI score (higher means a heavier military weight) · lower is better
DR CongoWorld median
DR Congo rose from 17.41 in 2000 to 66.58 in 2023; the world median went from 120.02 to 100.66.
Every year’s figures
Year DR Congo World median 2023 66.6 100.7 2022 50.3 100.9 2021 49.5 102.9 2020 55.7 104.4 2019 55.6 101.6 2018 54.0 98.1 2017 71.9 101.3 2016 79.9 102.0 2015 86.6 105.7 2014 78.6 103.0 2013 84.9 108.5 2012 86.2 109.5 2011 83.4 112.0 2010 77.1 114.8 2009 70.6 117.0 2008 49.2 114.4 2007 62.0 117.1 2006 58.6 116.5 2005 57.3 113.9 2004 55.4 113.6 2003 45.5 117.9 2002 21.4 120.1 2001 22.1 122.0 2000 17.4 120.0
03In context
DR Congo beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 177 countries on peace & security, never a place within the region.
DR Congo and the countries it borders
Standing among all 177; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Political Stability and Absence of ViolencePolitical Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5) | Physical Violence IndexFreedom from political killings and torture (0–1) | Political Violence by Non-State ActorsOriginal latent estimate (≈ −3.5 to +4); higher = more violence | Global Militarisation IndexGMI score (higher means a heavier military weight) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Zambia | 99th | -0.06 | 0.769 | 1.08 | 72.51 |
 Tanzania | =100th | -0.476 | 0.728 | 0.282 | 71.51 |
 Angola | 125th | -0.438 | 0.687 | -0.206 | 120.8 |
 Rwanda | =128th | 0.122 | 0.19 | 0.583 | 99.07 |
 Republic of the Congo | =137th | -0.489 | 0.208 | -0.872 | 131.97 |
| DR Congo | 144th | -2.132 | 0.32 | 1.345 | 66.58 |
 Burundi | 147th | -1.234 | 0.108 | -1.004 | 128.86 |
 Uganda | 148th | -0.867 | 0.221 | 0.401 | 98.47 |
 Central African Republic | 163rd | -1.694 | 0.395 | 2.976 | 100.66 |
 South Sudan | 173rd | -1.515 | 0.324 | 2.706 | 179.32 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Middle Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 177.
Placed either side on peace & security
The countries immediately above and below DR Congo in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where DR Congo is ahead of the world, and behind
12 more statistics filed under peace & security, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median1
Statistics on which DR Congo does better than the middle country measured.
Armed Forces Personnel (% of population)U.S. Department of State · 2019 · world median 0.260.120.26▲ Improved since 2009
DR Congo: 0.12 · world median 0.26 · Active-duty armed forces personnel (% of population). U.S. Department of State, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.04 to 4.6; lower is better.
Behind the world median8
Statistics on which DR Congo does worse than the middle country measured.
Government Cyber Security CapacityV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.196-0.8690.196▲ Improved since 2015
DR Congo: -0.869 · world median 0.196 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.66 to 3.715; higher is better.
Position 142nd of 176 · derived.
Military Dimension IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.10.4170.1▲ Improved since 2015
DR Congo: 0.417 · world median 0.1 · Military dimension index (0–1; higher = larger military role). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1; lower is better.
State Authority over TerritoryV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 95.373.5795.3No real change since 2015
DR Congo: 73.57 · world median 95.3 · Territory under effective state control (% of official territory). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 47.56 to 100; higher is better.
INFORM Risk IndexEuropean Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee · 2025 · world median 3.783.7No real change since 2016
DR Congo: 8 · world median 3.7 · INFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk). European Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 8.5; lower is better.
Position 4th of 191 · derived, 1st = worst.
Deaths in Organized ViolenceUCDP · 2025 · world median 09,1720▼ Worsened since 2015
DR Congo: 9,172 · world median 0 · Deaths in organized violence (people). Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 90,345; lower is better.
Position 4th of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.
Deaths in State-Based Armed ConflictUCDP · 2025 · world median 04,5250▼ Worsened since 2015
DR Congo: 4,525 · world median 0 · Deaths in state-based armed conflict (people). Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 90,323; lower is better.
Deaths in Non-State ConflictUCDP · 2025 · world median 08030▼ Worsened since 2015
DR Congo: 803 · world median 0 · Deaths in non-state conflict (people). Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 7,827; lower is better.
Civilian Deaths in Organized ViolenceUCDP · 2025 · world median 04,9140▼ Worsened since 2015
DR Congo: 4,914 · world median 0 · Civilians killed in organized violence (people). Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 65,911; lower is better.
No better end3
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Refugees by Country of OriginUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 1,2721,176,4891,272No real change since 2015
DR Congo: 1,176,489 · world median 1,272 · Refugees under UNHCR's mandate from this country, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5,224,131.
Internally Displaced People of Concern to UNHCRUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 489,6505,669,479489,650Moved since 2015
DR Congo: 5,669,479 · world median 489,650 · Internally displaced people protected or assisted by UNHCR, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4,099 to 9,139,309.
Arms Imports (% of total imports)U.S. Department of State · 2019 · world median 0.300.3Moved since 2009
DR Congo: 0 · world median 0.3 · Arms imports (% of all imports of goods and services). U.S. Department of State, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Peace & Security among DR Congo’s 15 topics
Peace & Security is DR Congo’s 6th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability8th of 1864/4 keys
- Energy53rd of 1653/3 keys
- Gender & Equality130th of 1834/4 keys
- Work & Labour137th of 1824/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties159th of 1984/4 keys
- Peace & Security144th of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technology166th of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience180th of 1934/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions182nd of 1944/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade167th of 1773/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital187th of 1963/3 keys
- Economy & Innovation172nd of 1764/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture181st of 1844/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 197th of 2004/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality157th of 1593/3 keys
No standing on Education & Knowledge: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on peace & security
The three countries placed highest of 177, and the leaders DR Congo can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 177 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
Costa RicaCentral America
2nd of 177 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Henry Zbyszynski from Capitola California, USA · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
3
MaltaSouthern Europe
3rd of 177 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Seychelles4th4/4 keysHighest in Middle Africa
São Tomé and Príncipe37th3/4 keysThis page
DR Congo144th4/4 keys
Positions out of 177 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about DR Congo and peace & security
08Questions
DR Congo on peace & security: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does DR Congo rank on peace & security?
DR Congo is placed 144th of 177 countries on Peace & Security in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Political Stability and Absence of Violence, Physical Violence Index, Political Violence by Non-State Actors and Global Militarisation Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Political Stability and Absence of Violence figure for DR Congo?
-2.132 in 2025 (political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.171.
What is the latest Physical Violence Index figure for DR Congo?
0.32 in 2025 (freedom from political killings and torture (0–1)), according to V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg. The world median in the same edition was 0.79.
How does DR Congo compare with Tanzania on peace & security?
Tanzania is placed joint 100th of 177, and DR Congo 144th. Political Stability and Absence of Violence: Tanzania -0.476, DR Congo -2.132; Physical Violence Index: Tanzania 0.728, DR Congo 0.32; Political Violence by Non-State Actors: Tanzania 0.282, DR Congo 1.345; Global Militarisation Index: Tanzania 71.51, DR Congo 66.58.
How have DR Congo’s peace & security figures changed?
Political Stability and Absence of Violence rose from -2.574 in 2000 to -2.132 in 2025; Physical Violence Index rose from 0.208 in 2000 to 0.32 in 2025; Political Violence by Non-State Actors fell from 2.6 in 2000 to 1.345 in 2025; Global Militarisation Index rose from 17.41 in 2000 to 66.58 in 2023.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Deaths in armed conflict and violent deaths per person are published here as context, because the counts are uneven between years and between sources. Crime in daily life and personal safety are not covered. Humanitarian crises driven by conflict appear in Risk & Resilience.
How the Peace & Security standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The peace & security method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Political Stability and Absence of Violence — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Physical Violence Index — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Political Violence by Non-State Actors — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Global Militarisation Index — Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC), CC BY
The other 12 statistics on this page come from 5 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
DR Congo’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- DR Congo (banner) — Christina Bergey derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Costa Rica — Henry Zbyszynski from Capitola California, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Malta — Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). DR Congo: Peace & Security — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/dr-congo/security