Number of people treated for river blindness in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Number of people treated for river blindness was 44.32 million People in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of people treated for river blindness in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2005–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in People.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people treated for river blindness in Democratic Republic of Congo is 44.32 million People, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 70.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people treated for river blindness in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 44.59 million People in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0 People, in 2020.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 1st out of 33 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people treated for river blindness in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 4.88 million People | — |
| 2006 | 8.31 million People | +70.4% |
| 2007 | 9.34 million People | +12.4% |
| 2008 | 9.53 million People | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 17.70 million People | +85.7% |
| 2010 | 20.29 million People | +14.6% |
| 2011 | 22.40 million People | +10.4% |
| 2012 | 23.13 million People | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 24.54 million People | +6.1% |
| 2014 | 26.05 million People | +6.2% |
| 2015 | 29.75 million People | +14.2% |
| 2016 | 31.37 million People | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 35.70 million People | +13.8% |
| 2018 | 39.75 million People | +11.4% |
| 2019 | 39.81 million People | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 0 People | -100.0% |
| 2021 | 41.67 million People | — |
| 2022 | 44.01 million People | +5.6% |
| 2023 | 44.59 million People | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 44.32 million People | -0.6% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 44.32 million People is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.66 million People, 26.7× the median. (15 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 44.32 million People is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.06 million People, 14.5× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people treated for river blindness in Democratic Republic of Congo changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -100.0% | 39.81 million People | 0 People |
| 2009 | +85.7% | 9.53 million People | 17.70 million People |
| 2006 | +70.4% | 4.88 million People | 8.31 million People |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.95 million People | 4.88 million People | 17.70 million People | 5 |
| 2010s | 29.28 million People | 20.29 million People | 39.81 million People | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.92 million People | 0 People | 44.59 million People | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More reference data data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 220.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 3,924 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 3,062 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 9.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure left on Pasture 1,764 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure applied to Soils 313.43 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Burning - Crop residues 0.2179 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure applied 313.43 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Enteric 3,057 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people treated for river blindness in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Number of people treated for river blindness in Democratic Republic of Congo was 44.32 million People in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people treated for river blindness recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 44.59 million People in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of people treated for river blindness recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 People in 2020.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for number of people treated for river blindness?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 1st out of 33 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of people treated for river blindness rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 70.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people treated for river blindness. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 20 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Reported number of people treated with ivermectin for river blindness.