Laws in Democratic Republic of the Congo

How the Democratic Republic of the Congo is classified on 24 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.

Body & Life

Abortion
Legal (limited) Abortion is permitted on limited grounds such as a risk to health.
FGM Laws
Specifically banned FGM is banned by a dedicated law or an explicit criminal provision.

Money & Games

Gambling Age
18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.

Daily Life

Public Smoking Bans
Partial ban The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a smoking ban in place for certain public places.

Animals & Environment

Fur Farming
Legal No ban on fur farming.
Cosmetic Animal Testing
No ban No ban on testing cosmetics on animals.
Plastic Bag Bans
Banned Lightweight plastic bags are banned nationwide.

Civic & Family

Voting Age
18 The voting age is 18.
Compulsory Voting
Voluntary Voting is voluntary.

Relationships & Sexuality

Same-Sex Marriage
Not recognized Same-sex unions have no legal recognition, and marriage is constitutionally or statutorily barred.
Same-Sex Activity
Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
Age of Consent
18+ The age of consent is 18.
Sex Work
Legal & regulated Selling sex is legal in the DRC, though pimping and brothel operation are criminalized.
Divorce
Heavily restricted Divorce is legal but requires a long period of separation.
Incest Laws
Legal between adults

Speech & Belief

Holocaust Denial
No specific law No specific law against Holocaust denial.
Conversion Therapy
No ban No legal ban on conversion therapy.

Justice & Weapons

Death Penalty
Retained / in use Retained in law and used.
Gun Laws
Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
Military Conscription
No conscription

Substances

Cannabis
Illegal Cannabis is illegal for all purposes.
Drinking Age
18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
Smoking Age
18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
E-Cigarettes
Legal / lightly regulated E-cigarettes are legal, subject to an age limit.

Nearby countries

A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.