Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
0.03 (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
33,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
state-owned TV station with near-national coverage; more than a dozen privately owned TV stations, including 2 with near-national coverage; 2 state-owned radio stations and over 100 private radio stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available
Communications: Internet country code
.cd
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
19.7% (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
0.00 (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
(2023 est.) Currently, operators holding fixed-line telephone licenses do not have an operational distribution network, which explains the low number of customers.
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
58.53 (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
56.3 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
cassava, plantains, sugarcane, maize, oil palm fruit, rice, root vegetables, bananas, sweet potatoes, groundnuts (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$13.026 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$11.568 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$587.407 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$3.148 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$3.883 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$-3.944 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$12.485 billion (2024, World Bank)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Congolese francs (CDF) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
1,647.76 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
1,851.122 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
1,989.391 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
2,006.708 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
2,340.036 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
refined copper, cobalt, copper ore, raw copper, crude petroleum (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$22.354 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$28.753 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$29.65 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$39.523 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
43.4% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
15.9% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
52.7% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
43.9% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
28.8% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
8.9% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
39.7% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
48.0% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$1,920 (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$91.031 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$185.109 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
44.7 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024
44.70 (2020, World Bank)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
35.7% (2020, World Bank)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.1% (2020, World Bank)
Economy: Imports - commodities
trucks, refined petroleum, stone processing machines, plastic products, sulphur (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$22.193 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$31.699 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$33.68 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$39.978 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
10.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
0.7% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
2.9% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
41.5% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.9% (2016, World Bank)
Economy: Labor force
39,217,778 (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Population below poverty line
56.2% (2020, World Bank)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2022
16% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2023
14.9% of GDP (2022, World Bank)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$141.867 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$154.081 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$185.109 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
8.9% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
8.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
5.8% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$1,400 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$1,500 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
4.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
3.6% of GDP (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$3.467 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$4.378 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$5.104 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$5.104 billion (2023, World Bank)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
13.2% of GDP (2022, World Bank)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
4.6% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
4.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
4.4% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
6.1% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
9.8% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
7.8% (2025, World Bank)
Energy: Coal: consumption
304,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
304,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
987.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
1.0% (2024, World Bank)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
22.5% (2024, World Bank)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
55.0% (2024, World Bank)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
86% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
13.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
16.069 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
62 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
1.473 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
3.229 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
1.242 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
1.305 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
380,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
380,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
991.09 million cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
180 million barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
35,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
19,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
731,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
5.152 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
5.883 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season (April to October), dry season (December to February); south of Equator - wet season (November to March), dry season (April to October)
Environment: Environmental issues
poaching; water pollution; deforestation from agriculture and wood used for fuel; soil erosion; damage from mining
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Environmental Modification
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
15.5% (2023, World Bank)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
6.6% (2023, World Bank)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
54.2% (2023, World Bank)
Environment: Land use: other
22.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
567.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
780.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
214.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
499.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
33.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
1.283 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
71.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
146.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
464.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
45.1% (2025, World Bank)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
14.385 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
6.4% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
Geography: Area: land
2,267,048 sq km
Geography: Area: water
77,810 sq km
Geography: Coastline
37 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
726 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
0 00 N, 25 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
note 1: second-largest country in Africa (after Algeria) and largest country in sub-Saharan Africa; straddles the equator; dense tropical rainforest in central river basin and eastern highlands; the narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo River is the DRC's only outlet to the South Atlantic Ocean note 2: the Congo River, most of which flows through the DRC, has never been accurately measured along much of its length because of its speed, cataracts, rapids, and turbulence; nonetheless, it is conceded to be the deepest river in the world, with estimates of the point of greatest depth varying between 220 and 250 meters
Geography: Irrigated land
110 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Angola 2,646 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of Angola's discontiguous Cabinda Province); Burundi 236 km; Central African Republic 1,747 km; Republic of the Congo 1,775 km; Rwanda 221 km; South Sudan 714 km; Tanzania 479 km; Uganda 877 km; Zambia 2,332 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
11,027 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
15.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 6.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
61.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
22.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Congo Basin
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): fresh water lake(s)
Lake Tanganyika (shared with Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Albert (shared with Uganda) - 5,590 sq km; Lake Mweru (shared with Zambia) - 4,350 sq km; Lac Mai-Ndombe - 2,300 sq km; Lake Kivu (shared with Rwanda) - 2,220 sq km; Lake Edward (shared with Uganda) - 2,150 sq km; Lac Tumba - 500 sq km; Lac Upemba - 530 sq km
Geography: Major rivers (by length in km)
Zaïre (Congo) river mouth (shared with Zambia [s], Angola, and Republic of Congo) - 2,920 km; Ubangi river mouth (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Republic of Congo) - 2,270 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage
Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
since 2011, the DRC has had a Common Interest Zone agreement with Angola for the mutual development of off-shore resources
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); active volcanoes in the east along the Great Rift Valley volcanism: the active volcano Nyiragongo (3,470 m) poses a major threat to the city of Goma, home to a quarter of a million people; it produces unusually fast-moving lava, known to travel up to 100 km/hr; Nyiragongo has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; its neighbor Nyamuragira is Africa's most active volcano; Visoke is the only other historically active volcano
Geography: Population distribution
urban clusters are spread throughout the country, particularly in the northeast along the border with Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi; the largest city is the capital, Kinshasha, located in the west along the Congo River; the south is least densely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Geography: Terrain
vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east
Government: Administrative divisions
26 provinces; Bas-Uele (Lower Uele), Equateur, Haut-Katanga (Upper Katanga), Haut-Lomami (Upper Lomami), Haut-Uele (Upper Uele), Ituri, Kasai, Kasai-Central, Kasai-Oriental (East Kasai), Kinshasa, Kongo Central, Kwango, Kwilu, Lomami, Lualaba, Mai-Ndombe, Maniema, Mongala, Nord-Kivu (North Kivu), Nord-Ubangi (North Ubangi), Sankuru, Sud-Kivu (South Kivu), Sud-Ubangi (South Ubangi), Tanganyika, Tshopo, Tshuapa
Government: Capital: etymology
founded as a trading post in 1881 and named Leopoldville in honor of King LEOPOLD II of the Belgians; in 1966, Leopoldville was renamed Kinshasa, a Bantu name of unknown meaning
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
4 19 S, 15 18 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Capital: time zone note
the DRC has two time zones
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by either house of Parliament, or by public petition; agreement on the substance of a proposed bill requires absolute majority vote in both houses; passage requires a referendum only if both houses in joint meeting fail to achieve three-fifths majority vote; constitutional articles, including the form of government, universal suffrage, judicial independence, political pluralism, and personal freedoms, cannot be amended
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest adopted 13 May 2005, approved by referendum 18-19 December 2005, promulgated 18 February 2006
Government: Country name: abbreviation
DRC (or DROC)
Government: Country name: conventional short form
DRC
Government: Country name: etymology
named for the Congo River, most of which lies within the DRC; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom in the area
Government: Country name: former
Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire
Government: Country name: local long form
République démocratique du Congo
Government: Country name: local short form
RDC
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Susan TULLER (since January 2026)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ACSKinshasa@state.gov https://cd.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa, Gombe
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[243] 81 556-0175
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2220 Kinshasa Place, Washington DC 20521-2220
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[243] 081 556-0151
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
1100 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20036
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Michael SHAKU YUMI (since 1 August 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
ambassade@ambardcusa.org https://www.ambardcusa.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 234-2609
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: representative office
New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 234-7690
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Ministers of State appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Felix TSHISEKEDI (since 20 January 2024)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2023: Felix TSHISEKEDI reelected president; percent of vote - Felix TSHISEKEDI (UDPS) 73.3%, Moise KATUMBI (Ensemble) 18.8%, Martin FAYULU (ECIDE) 5.3%, other 2.6% 2018: Felix TSHISEKEDI elected president; percent of vote - Felix TSHISEKEDI (UDPS) 38.6%, Martin FAYULU (Lamuka coalition) 34.8%, Emmanuel Ramazani SHADARY (PPRD) 23.9%, other 2.7%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by simple majority vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
20 December 2028
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Judith SUMINWA Tuluka (since 29 May 2024)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
20 December 2023
Government: Flag
description: sky-blue field divided diagonally from the lower-left corner to the upper-right corner by a red stripe bordered with two narrow yellow stripes; a five-pointed yellow star is in the upper-left corner meaning: blue stands for peace and hope, red for the blood of the country's martyrs, and yellow for the country's wealth and prosperity; the star symbolizes unity and a brilliant future for the country
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC (observer), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (consists of 26 justices and organized into legislative and judiciary sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Court of Cassation judges nominated by the Judicial Service Council, an independent body of public prosecutors and selected judges of the lower courts; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by the president, 3 by the Judicial Service Council, and 3 by the legislature; judges appointed by the president to serve 9-year non-renewable terms with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
State Security Court; Court of Appeals (organized into administrative and judiciary sections); Tribunal de Grande Instance; magistrates' courts; customary courts
Government: Legal system
civil law system primarily based on Belgian law, but also customary and tribal law
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
mixed system
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
December 2028
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
4/29/2024 to 5/26/2024
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
500 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Union for Democracy and Social Progress/TSHISEKEDI (UDPS/TSHISEKEDI) (69); Action of Allies and Union for the Congolese Nation (A/A-UNC) (35); Alliance of Democratic Forces of Congo and Allies (AFDC-A) (35); Act and Build (AB) (26); Action of Allies/All for the Development of the Congo (2A/TDC) (21); Alliance of Stakeholders for the People (AAAP) (21); Alliance Bloc 50 (A/B50) (20); Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) (19); Other (131)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
12.8%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate (Sénat)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
April 2029
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
12/20/2023
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
109 (all indirectly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
15.8%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parlement (Parliament)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1960; replaced when the country was known as Zaire, but readopted in 1997
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Joseph LUTUMBA/Simon-Pierre BOKA di Mpasi Londi
Government: National color(s)
sky blue, red, yellow
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Garamba National Park; Kahuzi-Biega National Park; Okapi Wildlife Reserve; Salonga National Park; Virunga National Park
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
5 (all natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 30 June (1960)
Government: National symbol(s)
leopard
Government: Political parties
Christian Democrat Party or PDC Congolese Rally for Democracy or RCD Convention of Christian Democrats or CDC Engagement for Citizenship and Development or ECIDE Forces of Renewal or FR Movement for the Liberation of the Congo or MLC Nouvel Elan Our Congo or CNB ("Congo Na Biso") People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy or PPRD Social Movement for Renewal or MSR Together for Change ("Ensemble") Unified Lumumbist Party or PALU Union for the Congolese Nation or UNC Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Introduction: Background
Bantu, Sudanic, and other migrants from West and Northeastern Africa arrived in the Congo River Basin between 2000 B.C. and A.D. 500. The territory that is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo has more than 200 ethnic groups that trace their histories to many communal organizations and kingdoms. The Kingdom of Kongo, for example, ruled the area around the mouth of the Congo River from the 14th to 19th centuries. Meanwhile, the Kingdoms of Luba and Lunda, located to the south and east, were also notable political groupings in the territory and ruled from the 16th and 17th centuries to the 19th century. European prospectors in the Congo Basin invaded and splintered these kingdoms in the late 1800’s, sponsored by King LEOPOLD II of Belgium, and the kingdoms were eventually forced to grant Leopold the rights to the Congo territory as his private property. During this period, known as the Congo Free State, the king's private colonial military forced the local population to produce rubber. From 1885 to 1908, millions of Congolese people died as a result of disease and inhumane treatment. International condemnation finally forced LEOPOLD to cede the land to the state of Belgium, creating the Belgian Congo. The Republic of the Congo gained its independence from Belgium in 1960, but its early years were marred by instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name to MOBUTU Sese Seko and the country's name to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years, using sham elections and brute force. In 1994, a massive inflow of refugees from conflict in neighboring Rwanda and Burundi sparked ethnic strife and civil war. A rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA toppled the MOBUTU regime in 1997. KABILA renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In 1998, another insurrection -- again backed by Rwanda and Uganda -- challenged the KABILA regime, but troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe helped quell the uprising. In 2001, KABILA was assassinated, and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state. In 2002, the new president negotiated the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying the eastern DRC; the remaining warring parties subsequently signed the Pretoria Accord to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. KABILA was elected as president in 2006 and 2011. The DRC constitution barred him from running for a third term, so in 2016, the DRC Government delayed national elections for two years. This fueled significant civil and political unrest, with sporadic street protests and exacerbation of tensions in the eastern DRC regions. The results of the 2018 elections were disputed, but opposition candidate Felix TSHISEKEDI, son of long-time opposition leader Etienne TSHISEKEDI, was announced as the election winner. This was the first transfer of power to an opposition candidate without significant violence or a coup since 1960. In 2023, the DRC held its fourth electoral cycle since independence; TSHISEKEDI was proclaimed the winner despite some allegations of fraud, with his Sacred Union alliance retaining a large parliamentary majority. The DRC continues to experience violence -- particularly in the East -- perpetrated by more than 100 armed groups active in the region, including the March 23 (M23) rebel group, the ISIS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF, or ISIS-DRC), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and assorted local militias known as Mai Mai militias. The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) has operated in the region since 1999 and is the largest and most expensive UN peacekeeping mission in the world.
Military and Security: Military - note
the FARDC’s primary focus is internal security and conducting operations against rebels and other illegal armed groups (IOGs) operating in the DRC, particularly in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, where more than 15 significant and cohesive IOGs operate; there is also IOG-related violence in Maniema, Kasai, Kasai Central, and Tanganyika provinces; some estimates place over 100 IOGs operating in the country, including organized militias, such as the Nduma Defense of Congo-Renewal (NDC-R), which controls a large portion of North Kivu; Mai Mai groups (local militias that operate variously as self-defense networks and criminal rackets); and foreign-origin groups seeking safe haven and resources, such as the Ugandan-origin Allied Democratic Forces (ADF; aka Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the DRC), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), multiple groups originating from Burundi, the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), and the March 23 Movement (aka M23 or Congolese Revolutionary Army), which Rwanda has been accused of supporting militarily; the FARDC incorporates some non-state armed groups and has been accused of collaborating with some IOGs, such as the NDC-R the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has operated in the central and eastern parts of the country since 1999; its mandate had been extended to the end of 2026; MONUSCO includes a Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), the first ever UN peacekeeping force specifically tasked to carry out targeted offensive operations to neutralize and disarm groups considered a threat to state authority and civilian security (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Forces d'Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo, FARDC): Land Forces (Forces Terrestres), National Navy (La Marine Nationale), Congolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Congolaise, FAC); Republican Guard (Garde Républicaine, GR) Ministry of Interior: Congolese National Police (Police Nationale Congolaise, PNC) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 100-150,000 active FARDC (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the FARDC is equipped mostly with Soviet-era and older French armaments; in recent years, it has received some more modern equipment, such as armored vehicles and armed drones, from China, South Africa, Turkey, and the UAE (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2025
1.2% of GDP (2024, World Bank)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 18-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men; it is unclear how much conscription is used (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
45.9% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
51.0% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.1% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
40.88 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
5.6% (2018)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
8.4% (2018)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
29.1% (2018)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
25% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Contraceptive prevalence rate
28.1% (2018, World Bank)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
3.7% of GDP (2023, World Bank)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
58.2% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
8.42 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
4.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
20.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
92.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
87.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 13.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
35.7% (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 59.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 86.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 64.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 40.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
13.5% national budget (2017 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
more than 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest groups - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) - make up about 45% of the population
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
2.67 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
3.8% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
4% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
0.80 (2006, World Bank)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
50.30 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
62.40 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
56.40 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
French (official), Lingala (a trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
Buku oyo ya bosembo ya Mokili Mobimba Ezali na Makanisi ya Liboso Mpenza. (Lingala) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
64.23 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
59.96 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Literacy: female
53.8% (2023, World Bank)
People and Society: Literacy: male
85.4% (2023, World Bank)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
68.5% (2023, World Bank)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
16.316 million KINSHASA (capital), 2.892 million Mbuji-Mayi, 2.812 million Lubumbashi, 1.664 million Kananga, 1.423 million Kisangani, 1.249 million Bukavu (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
427.00 (2023, World Bank)
People and Society: Median age: female
17 years
People and Society: Median age: male
16.7 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
19.9 years (2013/14 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Congolese or Congo
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
6.7% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.21 (2022, World Bank)
People and Society: Population
112,832,473 (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Population distribution
urban clusters are spread throughout the country, particularly in the northeast along the border with Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi; the largest city is the capital, Kinshasha, located in the west along the Congo River; the south is least densely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
People and Society: Population growth rate
3.2% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Population: female
56,847,963 (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Population: male
55,984,510 (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 20.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
16.3% (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 48.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 79.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 66.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 51.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.01 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.78 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
2.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
18.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
10.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
5.98 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.0% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
45.1% (2025, World Bank)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Democratic Republic of the Congo (ISIS-DRC)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
5,669,479 (2025, UNHCR)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
503,732 (2025, UNHCR)
Transnational Issues: Trafficking in persons: tier rating
Tier 2 Watch List — the Democratic Republic of the Congo did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/
Transportation: Airports
273 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
9Q
Transportation: Heliports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 17
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
24 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Banana, Boma, Matadi
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
2
Transportation: Ports: small
2
Transportation: Ports: total ports
3 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
1
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
3,882 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified)
Transportation: Railways: total
4,007 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.