How large natural resource rents were relative to Central African GDP
The World Bank estimated natural resource rents at 38.83% of GDP in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and 37.71% in the Republic of the Congo in 2021. Gabon and Chad were below both, at 18.49% and 21.34%.
Sources checked
Central Africa Record Editorial Team
2021 comparisonNatural resource rents (% of GDP) in 2021
DR Congo38.83%
Republic of the Congo37.71%
Chad21.34%
Gabon18.49%
Central African Republic10.26%
Cameroon5.53%
The two highest estimates were both above 37% of GDP in 2021.
The two Congo economies had similar shares in 2021
The Democratic Republic of the Congo moved from 15.93% in 2020 to 38.83% in 2021. The Republic of the Congo moved from 26.22% to 37.71%. The two estimates brought them within about 1.1 percentage points of each other. Source 1
Earlier estimates put Gabon and Chad in different positions
Gabon’s estimated rent share was 47.77% in 2000 and 18.49% in 2021. Chad’s was 10.57% and 21.34%. Changes in output, prices, costs and the broader economy can all change the share. The table lets readers compare levels in the same year. Source 1
Resource rent measures an estimated economic return
The World Bank estimates rent as the difference between a commodity’s unit value and the costs of producing it, multiplied by the quantity produced. The resulting amount is compared with national GDP. The total combines five kinds of resources. Source 3
Budget receipts require a separate source
A government can collect part of a resource sector’s value through taxes, royalties and other payments. Resource-rent estimates describe returns to the underlying resource. Budget accounts and sector disclosures are needed to trace what governments and operators actually received. Source 3