‘I’ve never been counted’: DR Congo’s first census in 42 years

Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo – For Heritier Ramazani, being counted is about more than a population figure. It could be the first time the Congolese state officially recognises his existence.

The 28-year-old resident of Bunia, the capital of Ituri province in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, has never appeared in a national census and has no official document confirming his Congolese citizenship.

“I’ve never been registered in a census since I was born,” Ramazani told Al Jazeera.

“Being registered and having my identity card will make me very happy.”

His experience reflects a wider challenge in the DRC, where millions of people have grown up without official documents confirming their identity.

Now, 42 years after the country’s last census, authorities are preparing to count the population again.

The previous census was conducted in 1984, when the country was still known as Zaire. Since then, the DRC has experienced decades of political upheaval, armed conflict and rapid population growth.

The World Bank estimates the country’s population at about 112 million people, with an annual growth rate of roughly 3.2 percent.