DR Congo

Region

🌍 Africa

Population

👥 116

Currency

💱 Congolese franc

Languages

🗣️ French, Kongo, Lingala, Luba-Lulua, Swahili

This mark means a fact is linked to a checked source. Hover or tap it to see the source. 36 of 141 facts on this page are sourced.

Official NameSource: REST Countries

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Continent

Africa

DemonymSource: REST Countries

Congolese

Independence

June 30, 1960 (from Belgium)

Top-Level Domain

.cd

Calling CodeSource: REST Countries

+243

Time ZoneSource: REST Countries

UTC+01:00, UTC+02:00

Capital CitySource: REST Countries

Kinshasa

ISO Alpha-2

ISO Alpha-3

COD

UN Code

180

Geographic Coordinates

0,25

Area (km²)Source: REST Countries

2,344,858#12 of 249

PopulationSource: REST Countries

116,452,000#12 of 247

Population Density (per km²)

46.66

Highest Point (m)

5,109 m (Mount Stanley)

Lowest Point (m)

0 m (Atlantic Ocean)

Land Use

Agricultural land: 31.8%; forest: 67.9%; other: 0.3% (2018 estimate)

Irrigated Land

70 sq km (2012)

Coastline Length

40 km

Climate

Tropical; hot and humid in the equatorial basin, cooler and drier in the highlands; season variations.

Natural Resources

Cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, radium, hydropower

Bordering CountriesSource: REST Countries

Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

Major Rivers

Congo River, Ubangi River, Kasai River

Major Lakes

Lake Tanganyika, Lake Mai-Ndombe, Lake Mweru

Government Type

Semi-presidential republic

Administrative Divisions

26 provinces

Legal System

Based on Belgian civil law system and customary law.

Chief of State

President Félix Tshisekedi

Head of Government

Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Elections

President elected by popular vote for a 5-year term; National Assembly and Senate elections are held separately.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court.

Legislative Branch

Parliament (consisting of the Senate and the National Assembly).

Major Political Parties

Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Congolese National Movement (MNC), and others.

CurrencySource: REST Countries

Congolese franc

GDP, Nominal (US$ billion)Source: World Bank: GDP (current US$) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026

91.03#82 of 211

GDP, PPP (US$ billion)Source: World Bank: GDP, PPP (current international $) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026

216.62#79 of 201

GDP per Capita (US$)Source: World Bank: GDP per capita (current US$) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026

806.78#201 of 211

GDP - Agriculture (%)Source: World Bank: Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (% of GDP) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026

8.93

GDP - Industry (%)Source: World Bank: Industry (including construction), value added (% of GDP) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026

39.71

GDP - Services (%)Source: World Bank: Services, value added (% of GDP) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026

47.96

Inflation Rate (%)Source: World Bank: Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) (2016)Checked September 29, 2026

2.89#98 of 191

Labor Force (people)Source: World Bank: Labor force, total (2025)Checked September 29, 2026

39,217,778

Unemployment Rate (%)Source: World Bank: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026

4.43#113 of 185

Public Debt (% of GDP)Source: World Bank: Central government debt, total (% of GDP) (2022)Checked September 29, 2026

14.94

Budget

The government budget is primarily allocated to infrastructure, education, and healthcare.

Exports (US$ billion)Source: World Bank: Exports of goods and services (current US$) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026

39.52#74 of 192

Imports (US$ billion)Source: World Bank: Imports of goods and services (current US$) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026

39.98#70 of 192

Foreign Reserves

Information on foreign reserves varies depending on the reporting period.

Currency Exchange

Currency exchange rates can be found through various online financial resources.

GDP by Sector

Primarily services, industry, and agriculture.

Major Industries

Mining (copper, cobalt, diamonds), agriculture, and timber.

Major Export Partners

China, Belgium, Zambia, and South Korea.

Major Import Partners

South Africa, Belgium, and China.

Society

Literacy Rate (%)Source: World Bank: Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) (2023)Checked September 29, 2026

68.5#141 of 169

Birth Rate (per 1,000 people)Source: World Bank: Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

40.9

Death Rate (per 1,000 people)Source: World Bank: Death rate, crude (per 1,000 people) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

8.4

Net Migration Rate

The net migration rate is often influenced by factors such as economic conditions and political stability.

Median Age

Approximately 18 years (2022 estimate).

Urban Population (%)Source: World Bank: Urban population (% of total population) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026

45.11#159 of 214

Urbanization Rate

The urbanization rate is relatively high due to rural-urban migration.

Life Expectancy (years)Source: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, total (years) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

62.1#201 of 214

HIV/AIDS Prevalence

Prevalence is significant; approximately 1.2% of adults are affected (2021 estimate).

Health Expenditures (% of GDP)Source: World Bank: Current health expenditure (% of GDP) (2023)Checked September 29, 2026

3.68

Ethnic Groups

Over 200 ethnic groups; major groups include Mongo, Luba, Kongo, and Mangbetu.

Religions

Predominantly Christian, with a significant minority practicing traditional religions.

LanguagesSource: REST Countries

French, Kongo, Lingala, Luba-Lulua, Swahili

Education

Education System

Education system is divided into primary, secondary, and higher levels. Faced with challenges like lack of resources and infrastructure.

School Life Expectancy (years)Source: World Bank: School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (2013)Checked September 29, 2026

9.6

Government Education Spending

Government spending on education is relatively low.

Primary Education Access

—

Secondary Education Access

—

Higher Education Access

—

Major Universities

University of Kinshasa, University of Lubumbashi.

Culture

Cultural Overview

Rich and diverse culture influenced by numerous ethnic groups. Includes a strong emphasis on music, dance, and oral traditions.

National HolidaysSource: Nager.Date

New Year's Day (2026-01-01)
Martyrs Day (2026-01-04)
Laurent-Désiré Kabila Assassination (2026-01-16)
Patrice Lumumba Assassination (2026-01-17)
Kimbangu's Day (2026-04-06)
Labour Day (2026-05-01)
Liberation Day (2026-05-17)
Independence Day (2026-06-30)
Parents' Day (2026-08-01)
Congolese Genocide Day (2026-08-02)
Christmas Day (2026-12-25)

Popular Music

Rumba, soukous, and other genres are popular. Known for influential musicians.

Traditional Food

Cassava, fufu, pondu (cassava leaves), and various stews are common.

Sports

Football (soccer) is the most popular sport.

Major Festivals

Kinshasa International Film Festival, and various regional festivals.

Famous People

Mobutu Sese Seko, Papa Wemba, Koffi Olomidé.

Cultural Heritage Sites

Limited number of formally designated sites.

UNESCO Sites

Virunga National Park, Garamba National Park, Salonga National Park, Okapi Wildlife Reserve.

Annual Tourist Visits

—

Tourism Overview

—

Top Tourist Attractions

—

Famous Cities

—

National Parks

—

Protected Areas

—

Best Time to Visit

—

Tourist Visa Info

—

Visa Requirements Overview

—

Travel Advisory

—

Healthcare

Healthcare Quality

The healthcare quality index is generally low compared to global standards.

Medical Cost

Medical costs vary, with significant disparities depending on the location and type of service.

Number of Hospitals

The number of hospitals varies depending on the reporting period and available data.

Universal Healthcare

Limited universal healthcare access; mainly relies on out-of-pocket payments and aid.

Medical Services Overview

Medical services are often limited, particularly outside of major cities, and face challenges in resource availability.

Emergency Medical Access

Emergency medical access is often limited due to various infrastructure and resource constraints.

Emergency & Safety

Emergency Number (Police)

—

Emergency Number (Ambulance)

—

Emergency Number (Fire)

—

Crime Rate

—

Safety Index

—

Military Expenditure

—

Emergency Services Overview

—

Safety Overview

—

Military Branches

—

Infrastructure

Electricity Access

—

Water Access

—

Sanitation Access

—

Railways

Limited railway network, primarily for freight transport.

Roadways

—

Transportation System

Poorly developed. Roads are often in disrepair. River transport is important. Air travel is utilized.

AirportsSource: OurAirports

Bangoka International Airport (FKI), Goma International Airport (GOM), Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM), Ndjili International Airport (FIH), Bandundu Airport (FDU), Bukavu Kavumu Airport (BKY)

Ports

—

Public Transit

—

Technology & Communication

Internet Penetration (%)Source: World Bank: Individuals using the Internet (% of population) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

19.67#192 of 211

Mobile Subscriptions (per 100)

—

Tech Startups

—

Innovation Index

—

ICT Development Index

—

TV Broadcast Stations

—

Radio Broadcast Stations

—

Plug Type & Voltage

—

CO2 Emissions (t per capita)Source: World Bank: Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions excluding LULUCF per capita (t CO2e/capita) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

0.06#191 of 202

Air Quality Index

—

Water Pollution Level

—

Renewable Energy Usage

—

Environmental Issues

—

Natural Hazards

—

Waste Management

—

Environmental Agreements

—

UN MembershipSource: REST Countries

Yes

Diplomatic Missions

—

International OrganizationsSource: REST Countries

African Union

Major Treaties

—

Visa-Free Countries

—