Housing Finance in Congo, Republic of the

Overview

This profile is also available in French here.

To download the full pdf version of the 2022 Congo Republic profile, click here.

The Congo is a member of the Franc Zone and is expected to grow by 4.3% in 2022, boosted by increased oil revenues and the dynamism of the agricultural sector. Inflation may be pushed up by higher world food prices due to the war in Ukraine, but the country has a stable monetary policy. Stable inflation and low Treasury bill rates can benefit the housing market, as mortgages can be issued at reasonable rates.

The population of the Congo is growing at a rate of nearly 3% a year, a challenge for the country’s economy and housing sector. The housing crisis is intensified by high rates of urbanisation (3.19% annual rate) and hence is felt more in urban areas. Informal housing dominates urban areas at around 90% of the housing stock and is thus an impediment to formal, quality, or sustainable planning and construction.

Families’ access to housing is a significant socioeconomic development concern in the Congo, as most families struggle to get developed land.

Because of the high poverty rate of 53.9%, several self-built home projects have been put on hold as people’s priorities necessities such as food, children’s tuition, and medical expenses. The COVID-19 pandemic also reduced many households’ purchasing power in terms of housing. As a result, nearly 52% of households have been unable to pay their rent, 39.1% have been unable to pay their utility bills (electricity and water), 40.7% have been unable to purchase food, and 26.8% have been unable to pay for medical expenses. In addition, upscale residences, which are typically rented or purchased by foreigners, have seen a sharp decline in price.

The potential of the real estate industry to provide people with access to adequate housing, generate wealth and employment, promote growth, and increase public revenue through taxes makes it a crucial factor for economic diversification. Potential investors have access to numerous policies implemented in special economic zones. For ten years, there has been no corporate tax, no value-added tax (VAT), no duty on the import of machinery, raw materials, or spare parts, and no tax on employees who work abroad.

Find out more information on the housing finance sector of Republic of Congo, including key stakeholders, important policies and housing affordability:

Each year, CAHF publishes its Housing Finance in Africa Yearbook. The profile above is from the 2022 edition, which has up-to-date profiles for 55 African countries.

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