Where the church stands in DR Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has one of the largest Christian populations in Africa and the largest Catholic population on the continent. Churches run a great share of the country's schools and clinics, and in many regions they are the most trusted institution people have.
In the east, the picture is very different. Armed groups — including the Allied Democratic Forces, which is affiliated with the Islamic State — have repeatedly attacked churches and Christian villages in North Kivu and Ituri, and conflict has driven one of the largest displacement crises in the world.
Signs of hope
A vast, deeply rooted church that is the backbone of education, healthcare and hope across the country.
The honest difficulty
Massacres of believers in the east, mass displacement, and corruption that keeps a resource-rich nation poor.
What "Reached" means
There is an established church large enough to reach the rest of the nation without outside help. That does not mean the work is finished — it means the work now belongs mainly to believers who live there.
In DR Congo the majority religious context is Christianity (~93%), Islam (~2%). The largest population still considered without meaningful Gospel access is the Small Muslim communities in the east and a handful of forest peoples.
How to pray for DR Congo
Prayer is not a substitute for going; it is how going begins. Take one of these for a week rather than all of them for a day.
- Pray for believers in North Kivu and Ituri facing violent attacks.
- Pray for millions displaced by conflict in the east.
- Ask God for church leaders who model integrity in a nation scarred by corruption.
- Thank God for the Congolese church's schools, clinics and faithful witness.
Questions people ask about DR Congo
Is DR Congo an unreached nation?
DR Congo is classified as reached. There is an established church large enough to reach the rest of the nation without outside help. That does not mean the work is finished — it means the work now belongs mainly to believers who live there. Roughly 93% of the population identifies as Christian and about 20% as evangelical, with an estimated 5 of its 250 people groups still considered unreached. Figures are rounded estimates and vary by source and year.
How many Christians are there in DR Congo?
About 93% of DR Congo's roughly 110 million people identify as Christian — approximately 102 million people. Around 20% are evangelical. Identification is high, though active faith is usually lower than the figure suggests.
How can I pray for DR Congo?
Pray for believers in North Kivu and Ituri facing violent attacks. Pray for millions displaced by conflict in the east. Pick one of these, pray it for two minutes a day for a week, and ask one other person to pray it with you.