Democratic Republic of the Congo

Full name of country: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Region: Africa

Official language: French

Population: 115,403,027 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Congolese (singular and plural) (noun), Congolese or Congo (adjective)

Land area: 2,267,048 sq km (875,312 sq miles)

Water area: 77,810 sq km (30,043 sq miles)

Capital: Kinshasa

National anthem: "Debout Congolaise" (Arise Congolese), by Joseph Lutumba/Simon-Pierre Boka Di Mpasi Londi

National holiday: Independence Day, June 30 (1960)

Population growth: 3.11% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +1

Flag: The flag of the DRC features an ascending diagonal design, with a stripe originating in the lower hoist (left) corner and extending to the upper fly corner (furthest from the flagpole). The stripe, red and bordered by thin golden-yellow stripes on each side, symbolizes the martyred blood of the nation’s people. The upper left and lower right sections of the flag, divided diagonally by the red stripe, are both sky blue, representing hope. A five-pointed yellow star is situated in the upper left corner, representing unity.

Motto: “Justice, Paix, Travail” (Justice, Peace, Work)

Independence: June 30, 1960 (from Belgium)

Government type: republic

Suffrage: compulsory for all citizens 18 years of age

Legal system: civil legal system based on Belgian version of French civil law, influenced by tribal and customary law

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), located in Central Africa, is the second-largest country in Africa. The country's extensive natural resources have been sought after by competing international powers since the late nineteenth century. First a major center for the slave trade, it eventually came under the control of Belgium, which exploited the DRC's population for labor and profited from its natural resources. The colonial period lasted from the late nineteenth century until 1960 and left behind an impoverished, war-torn nation faced with numerous development challenges.

Five years of conflict in the Congolese Civil War were followed by more than three decades of dictatorship during which the president, Mobutu Sese Seko, enriched himself and his associates while ignoring the welfare of the country. A devastating regional war broke out after Mobutu was deposed in 1997. The transitional government negotiated a ceasefire, but the country continued to struggle with political and social unrest and violence. A United Nations force was charged with maintaining peace, but sporadic fighting continued between rival militias and the government faced periods of instability.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: The DRC has a young, growing population but a low average life expectancy at birth: 60.7 years for men and 64.6 years for women (2024 estimate). Families tend to be large, with each woman bearing an average of 5.49 children (2024 estimate). An estimated 2.8 million Congolese refugees are displaced within their country, while more than 150,000 Africans fleeing conflict in neighboring countries have found refuge in the DRC. The country was ranked 180 out of 193 countries and territories on the 2022 United Nations Human Development Index, which measures quality-of-life indicators.

Though over two hundred ethnic groups make up the population, most of the population is Bantu-speaking. The Luba, Kongo, and Mongo are the largest Bantu groups. Other groups that live in the north and speak Nilo-Saharan languages include the Azande and the Mangbetu. Small groups of pygmies live in the rainforests, including the Mbuti and Efe tribes.

The highest concentration of people is along the Congo and other rivers. More than 47.4 percent of the population is urban, with the rest living in small rural settlements. Kinshasa, the largest city, has a population of about 16.316 million (2023 estimate). It is situated on the Congo, where the river widens into the Malebo Pool. Lubumbashi, Mbuji-Mayi, and Kisangani are other urban centers of note.

Over 210 languages and dialects have been identified in the DRC, the majority belonging to the Bantu family of languages. It is thus common for Congolese to be polyglot. The four most widely spoken African languages are Kikongo, Tshiluba, Swahili (including the Kingwana dialect), and Lingala, a tonal Bantu language used for inter-tribal communication. French is the official language as well as the main language of business, government, literature, and higher education.

Christian missionaries left an important legacy in the DRC which is reflected in the beliefs of the contemporary population. Approximately 29.9 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, and 26.7 percent are Protestant. Muslims account for 1.3 percent. The rest of the population either practices animism or syncretic religions, such as Kimbanguism, which combine Christianity and local animist traditions (2014 estimate).

Indigenous People: What little evidence there is about the pre-history of the Congo region suggests that the ethnic groups represented in the DRC were present in the area by two thousand years ago. The population became predominantly Bantu-speaking when these groups spread across the central and southern portion of the continent from the north. Their arrival for the most part displaced the Indigenous peoples known to outsiders as pygmies, some of whom survive as hunters and gatherers in the face of widespread discrimination and persecution.

Education: The lack of funds, adequate facilities, materials, and qualified educators limits educational prospects in the DRC. In rural areas, the system is even less developed. The average literacy rate stands at about 80 percent (2021 estimate).

Catholic missionaries founded the educational system, and several Catholic private schools still operate in the country. Others are subsidized by the government. Six years of primary education were to become free and compulsory as of 2010, though many children do not attend because fees remain. Many children must work in order to help support their family, and females are more underrepresented in schools than males. This trend is more common at the secondary level, which consists of six years with two years of lower and four years of upper secondary schooling.

The cities of Kinshasa, Kisangani, and Lubumbashi are home to state universities. There are also colleges for teacher training.

Health Care: The health care system in the DRC is very basic and does not meet the needs of the majority of the country’s population. The government spends only a fraction of its resources on health care. There is a lack of facilities, supplies, and trained medical professionals, and many Congolese rely on traditional medicines and religious practices. Most facilities are located in urban centers.

Tropical illnesses such as malaria and sleeping sickness, in addition to poor sanitation and the recent war, all contribute to the dire state of public health. AIDS is also a major cause of death, and some 510,000 Congolese were estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in 2020. Malnutrition remains a widespread problem, especially among children.

Food: Stews are the most common dish in the DRC. They generally have a base of mashed cassava, particularly in rural areas, or of yams or rice. They can be flavored with vegetables and spices as well as fish, chicken, or beef, though many Congolese cannot afford to eat meat. Poorer people usually eat only one main meal a day. Sometimes wild meats such as monkey and crocodile are served. Popular homemade drinks include palm wine, ginger beer, and fruit juices.

Arts & Entertainment: Music is one of the most well-developed art forms in the DRC, and the one best known outside of the country. Soukous, an urban dance music for guitar, drums, and vocals, boasts musicians like Papa Wemba and Sam Mangwana, who have had wide followings on the world music circuit. Congolese jazz is also popular. Dancing and music played on traditional instruments are important components of social occasions, and singing often accompanies work.

Ethnic groups in the DRC have developed extensive folktales and proverbs which are passed down orally between generations. Postcolonial literature, written mostly in French but also in local languages and in Flemish, is represented by a growing body of plays, poems, and novels. Mwilambwe Kibawa, Paul Lomami-Tshibamba, and Vumbi Yoka Mudimbe are all well regarded authors.

Congolese produce a variety of traditional craft items. Styles differ between ethnic groups, but jewelry, wood carvings, baskets, and pottery are all popular forms.

Holidays: The large Christian communities and the small Muslim community both follow the traditional calendars associated with their respective religions. Non-African religions were repressed during the dictatorship, and only in recent years has full religious freedom been restored.

Martyrs of the struggle for independence are commemorated on January 4, and independence from Belgium is marked on June 30. Parents' Day is celebrated on August 1, and derives from the importance that Congolese place upon their ancestors. On this day, people visit their family's graves, clean and decorate them, and enjoy a feast in their honor.

Environment and Geography

Topography: The DRC is bordered by Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. It has 37 kilometers (23 miles) of coastline along the South Atlantic Ocean, where the Congo River drains.

The low-lying Congo River basin accounts for a third of the country's territory, measuring approximately 800,000 square kilometers (308,882 square miles). The basin is heavily forested and has areas of swamp and dry land. It is drained by the swift, wide Congo River which flows for 4,374 kilometers (2,718 miles) and has many smaller tributaries feeding it; its upper portion is known as the Lualaba. The river is navigable for long distances and is an important source of hydroelectricity. It has its source on the Katanga Plateau, in the southeast of the country. Other important rivers include the Ubangi in the north and the Kasai in the south.

The country's most important lakes are also found in the Congo River basin. Lake Tanganyika, the deepest lake in Africa, and Lake Kiyu both drain into the Congo River. These lakes, as well as Mweru, Edward and Albert Lakes, are part of the Great Rift Valley which runs along the eastern portion of the country. Lake Mai-Ndombe and Lake Tumba are located in the west.

North and south of the Congo River basin are regions of hills and plains which rise to an average elevation of 600 meters (1,969 feet). Rugged highlands dominate the east. The Ruwenzori Mountains contain the country's highest point, Marguerite Peak, which rises to 5,110 meters (16,765 feet) above sea level. The Virunga Mountains also rise in this region; the range is formed of both active and inactive volcanoes.

Natural Resources: In terms of its natural resources, the DRC is one of the richest countries in Africa. Among its mineral deposits are diamonds, gold, copper, silver, tin, manganese, tantalum, cobalt, coal, and uranium; offshore oil reserves are also present. The country's vast forests and plantations yield timber as well as rubber and palm oil, and its swift rivers have enormous potential for generating hydroelectricity. Its soil is also rich, especially where it has been mixed with volcanic ash.

Deforestation threatens the country's tropical forests and the animals which inhabit them where forests are cut for timber or cleared for agriculture. Soil erosion and water pollution are other problems faced by the country.

Plants & Animals: The ecosystems of the DRC are rich in plant and animal life. Dense forest covers three-quarters of its territory. The rainforests of the Congo River basin and the eastern highlands support various species of trees, including rubber trees, fruit trees, redwood, teak, ebony, cedar, and mahogany. Mangroves grow along the coast, while savannah interspersed with stands of trees dominates the drier regions of the far north, south and east.

The extensive forests support a diverse range of animal species. Among the large mammals are gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees, elephants, antelope, wild boar, and hippopotamuses. The savannah supports zebras, lions, leopards, giraffes, rhinoceroses, buffaloes, and hyenas. Bird and insect life are also abundant, and many species of fish thrive in the country's lakes and rivers.

Poaching and disturbance of natural habitats have taken a toll on the country's animal species. Those listed as endangered include the forest elephant, the bonobo, the chimpanzee, and the mountain gorilla. Many others are threatened.

Climate: The DRC has a tropical climate dictated by its location on the equator. In the Congo River basin, it is hot and humid. March is the hottest month. It is cooler in the uplands and in the eastern mountains. Though the highlands are cooler and receive less rainfall, the humidity is very high.

The central basin and the regions north and south of the equator experience different rainfall patterns. North of the equator, the rainy season lasts from April to October, and the dry season lasts from December to February. South of the equator, the rainy season lasts from November to March, and the dry season lasts from April to October. The Congo River basin, where the rainfall pattern is more even throughout the year than in the eastern highlands, receives the most precipitation.

Periodically the southern uplands experience drought, while the Congo River can flood during the rainy seasons.

Economy

Years of corruption, heavy debt, inflation, and war have decimated the economy of the DRC. Statistics regarding the current state of affairs are often unavailable or hypothetical, but it has become one of the poorest countries in the world despite its wealth of natural resources.

The end of major hostilities and the transitional government's ostensible commitment to reform has resulted in slight improvements to the country's stability. The mining sector is once again beginning to operate, and foreign aid and investment have to some degree returned. The labor force, which includes a large number of children, numbers over 35.983 million (2023 estimate).

Both unemployment and underemployment remain significant problems. In 2023, the gross domestic product (GDP, purchasing power parity) was an estimated $154.012 billion, with a per-capita GDP of $1,500. The underground economy is thought to be as large as the official economy.

Industry: The industrial sector accounted for 46.5 percent of the GDP in 2023. Mining and mineral processing are the most important parts of the sector and have the potential to transform the economy, with diamonds, copper, and gold being the most important exports. Logging also has potential but is limited by the country's poor transportation system. Manufactured products include textiles, processed foods and beverages, and building materials.

Agriculture: Agriculture accounted for 17.4 percent of the GDP in 2023. Farming is generally done on a small scale with basic agricultural implements, and many of the crops, such as corn, rice, cassava, bananas, and yams are locally consumed. Crops that are raised for export include coffee, rubber, and palm kernels, from which palm oil is derived.

The forests are sources of wild game, medicinal plants, and timber, and some people are still engaged in hunting and gathering. Freshwater fish are commonly caught for local consumption. The most common domestic animals are sheep, goats, chickens, and pigs.

Tourism: The DRC has never been a major tourist destination despite its natural wonders and wildlife. Both civil unrest and a lack of infrastructure have prevented the industry's development. Should the country become safer and more developed, the Virunga, Garamba, and Salonga National Parks as well as other nature reserves are likely to be the greatest attractions.

Government

The DRC won its independence from Belgium in 1960, and five years later a military coup put Mobutu in power to begin a thirty-two year period of dictatorship during which the Popular Movement for the Revolution was the sole legal political party. The dictatorship was overthrown by rebel forces in 1997, but a year later fighting broke out between different rebel factions backed by neighboring countries, and the country descended into war. Widespread death and injury occurred, with 3 million Congolese killed and millions more displaced both inside the country and in neighboring countries.

An end to the fighting was negotiated in 2002, and a transitional, multi-party government took power in 2003 under a new constitution. The Constitution of the Third Republic came into effect in February of 2006. On June 30, 2006, the DRC held its first multi-party elections in over forty years. However, the leader of the opposition party running against President Joseph Kabila did not participate. The election was conducted peacefully, but the results, which showed a victory for Kabila, were questioned by many. Kabila was reelected in 2011 and subsequently delayed elections in order to remain in power. Elections were next held on December 2018; citizens elected Felix Tshisekedi president, though the election results were again deemed controversial and widespread voting irregularities were reported.

The DRC continued to see periods of political instability throughout the early 2020s. For example, in May 2024, a group of conspirators led by Christian Malanga, a Congolese businessperson and naturalized US citizen, attempted to carry out a coup d'etat in Kinshasa and overthrow Tshisekedi's government. The coup was put down and Malanga was killed by DRC government forces; Malanga's status as a naturalized US citizen, as well as the fact that some other Americans were involved in the coup attempt, caused considerable international controversy.

The executive branch consists of a president, a prime minister, and two deputy prime ministers. There is also a cabinet department ministers appointed by the president. The legislative branch consists of a Senate and a National Assembly.

The judicial system is based on a mixture of Belgian and tribal law. The Constitutional Court and the Court of Cassation are the highest courts in the country; beneath it are county courts and appeal courts. The president is responsible for appointing three judges to the Constitutional Court, the legislature another three, and the rest by the Judicial Service Council. The Judicial Service Council is a group made up of lower-court judges and prosecutors.

For administrative purposes, the DRC is divided into twenty-six provinces.

President Félix Tshisekedi won a second term in the December 2023 elections.

Interesting Facts

• The DRC was the third-largest country in Africa, after Sudan and Algeria, until South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011; Algeria then became the largest and the DRC the second largest.
• The Congo River is the fifth longest river in the world and the second longest on the African continent.
• The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s forests contain more of the world’s carbon than anywhere except the Amazon rainforest.

Bibliography

"Congo, Dem. Rep." The World Bank, data.worldbank.org/country/congo-dem-rep. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

"Congo (Democratic Republic of the)." Human Development Reports, United Nations Development Programme, 13 Mar. 2024, hdr.undp.org/data-center/specific-country-data#/countries/COD. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

"Congo, Democratic Republic of the." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 2 Jan. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/congo-democratic-republic-of-the/. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

"Democratic Republic of the Congo." World Health Organization, www.who.int/countries/cod/en/. Accessed 28 May 2024.

"DR Congo Country Profile." BBC, 2 Jan. 2024, www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13283212. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

Kasongo, Ange Adihe, and Sonia Rolley. "DRC Army Says It Stopped Attempted Coup Involving US Citizens." Reuters, 19 May 2024, www.reuters.com/world/africa/democratic-republic-congo-army-says-it-stopped-attempted-coup-2024-05-19/. Accessed 28 May 2024.