The Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo has pledged its support for the country's second population census, known as RGPH-2. Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, in his address at the opening mass of the 2026-2027 pastoral year, urged the Church's faithful to participate in the exercise and provide accurate information to ensure the reliability of the results. The census aims to update the country's population data, which has not been accurately recorded since 1984.
The lack of precise demographic data poses significant challenges for the country's planning and security, according to Cardinal Ambongo. He noted that without accurate population figures, it is difficult to determine the country's actual population size, with estimates ranging from 16 to 23 million people. The Cardinal also highlighted the vulnerability of the country to external threats due to the absence of reliable data and identification documents for its citizens.
Cardinal Ambongo emphasized the importance of the census for effective planning and security, stressing that it is crucial for the government to have accurate data to make informed decisions. He encouraged the Church to play a role in sensitizing its faithful to participate in the census and provide reliable information to the enumerators. The Cardinal also urged households to provide accurate information to ensure the credibility of the results.
The census exercise is set to begin in Kinshasa, which has been designated as a pilot city, before being extended to other provinces. The government has been undertaking awareness-raising campaigns across the country, with the minister of state for planning, Guylain Nyembo Mbwizya, engaging with church leaders and other stakeholders to garner support for the initiative. The actual enumeration is scheduled to start in July 2027.
For the Catholic Church, participation in the census is not only an institutional support to the government's initiative but also an opportunity to gather data that will inform its pastoral planning and organization of Christian communities. The Church aims to use the data to assess its current parish structure and ensure that it aligns with the needs of its faithful.
The government has been working to ensure that the census exercise is successful, with the minister of state for planning undertaking extensive consultations with various stakeholders. The RGPH-2 exercise is a crucial step towards addressing the country's data gaps, which have hindered effective planning and development.
The launch of the census exercise has been welcomed by various stakeholders, who see it as a vital step towards promoting development and improving the lives of the Congolese people. The government has urged citizens to cooperate with the enumerators and provide accurate information to ensure that the results are reliable and useful for national development.
Key points
- The Democratic Republic of Congo's second population census, RGPH-2, aims to update the country's population data, which has not been accurately recorded since 1984.
- Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu has urged the Catholic Church to support the census exercise, citing its importance for effective planning and security.
- The census exercise is set to begin in Kinshasa in July 2027, before being extended to other provinces.
