'I've Never Been Counted': DR Congo's First Census in 42 Years The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is conducting its first census in 42 years, raising crucial questions about what it means to be counted when you've never been seen by the state.
For millions of Congolese like Heritier Ramazani, who has grown up without official documents confirming his citizenship, this moment is about more than just population figures – it's about recognition, identity, and being recorded in a country where the state's presence often feels tenuous.
The DRC's last census was conducted in 1984, when the country was still known as Zaire. Since then, the nation has been plagued by decades of political upheaval, armed conflict, and rapid population growth.