Socio-Demographic Determinants of Savings Capacity among Women Resellers in Lumumbaville Market, Democratic Republic of Congo

This study investigates the socio demographic determinants of savings capacity among women resellers in the informal sector of Lumumbaville, DRC. Using a sample of 240 women resellers across eight market sites, data were collected through structured questionnaires, semi structured interviews and direct observation. Statistical analyses included Chi square tests, ANOVA and Pearson correlation. The results reveal that in Lumumbaville, average monthly income is USD 407.25, but only exclusive resellers (USD 100 per month) and farmer resellers (USD 75 per month) achieve positive savings; porters and mixed activity resellers have zero savings (F = 4765.5, p < 0.001). Household size is strongly negatively correlated with savings (r = -0.93, p < 0.05), with ordinary expenditure increasing from USD 157 for households of 0 2 persons to USD 351 for households of 9 or more persons. Marital status has a very significant effect on savings in Lumumbaville (F = 7869.5, p < 0.001): single women save USD 152.25 per month, married women USD 147.25, divorced women USD 32.25, and widowed women USD 32.25. Age is significantly associated with marital status (χ² = 68.34, p < 0.001), and education level is significantly associated with source of income (χ² = 86.52, p < 0.001). The study highlights the extreme vulnerability of divorced and widowed women and those with large households in Lumumbaville.