Democratic Republic of the Congo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Democratic Republic of the Congo République démocratique du Congo  (French)
Flag Emblem
Motto: "Justice – Paix – Travail" ("Justice – Peace – Work")
Anthem: "Debout Congolais" ("Arise, Congolese")
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Capital and largest city	Kinshasa 4°19′S 15°19′E / 4.317°S 15.317°E / -4.317; 15.317
Official languages	French
Recognised national languages	Kikongo ya leta Lingala Swahili Tshiluba
Religion (2021)	95.4% Christianity 2.6% traditional faiths 1.5% Islam 0.5% others / none
Demonym(s)	Congolese
Government	Unitary semi-presidential republic
• President	Félix Tshisekedi
• Prime Minister	Judith Suminwa
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	National Assembly
Formation
• Colonised	17 November 1879
• Congo Free State	1 July 1885
• Belgian Congo	15 November 1908
• Independence from Belgium	30 June 1960
• Admitted to the United Nations	20 September 1960
• Democratic Republic	1 August 1964
• Republic of Zaire	27 October 1971
• First Congo War	17 May 1997
• Current constitution	18 February 2006
Area
• Total	2,345,409 km2 (905,567 sq mi) (11th)
• Water (%)	3.32
Population
• 2025 estimate	111,050,097 (15th)
• Density	50/km2 (129.5/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2024 estimate
• Total	$160.197 billion
• Per capita	$1,552
GDP (nominal)	2024 estimate
• Total	$73.761 billion
• Per capita	$714
Gini (2012)	▼ 42.1 medium
HDI (2022)	0.481 low · 180th
Currency	Congolese franc (CDF)
Time zone	UTC+1 to +2 (WAT and CAT)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+243
ISO 3166 code	CD
Internet TLD	.cd

Location of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Principal rivers and lakes of the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (French: République démocratique du Congo), often called DR Congo or the DRC, is a large country in central Africa. It was known as Zaïre from 1971 to 1997. The DRC is the second-largest country in Africa by land area. It is also the most populous French-speaking country in the world.

The DRC shares borders with many countries. To the north are the Central African Republic and South Sudan. To the east are Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. Zambia and Angola are to the south. To the west, it borders the Republic of the Congo, a small part of Angola called Cabinda, and the Atlantic Ocean. Lake Tanganyika separates it from Tanzania in the east. The country has a small coastline on the Atlantic Ocean.

What's in a Name? The Congo River

The Democratic Republic of the Congo gets its name from the Congo River. This river is super deep, making it the deepest river in the world! It's also the third-largest river globally by how much water it carries.

Early European sailors named the river after the Kingdom of Kongo. This kingdom was home to the Kongo people, who are a Bantu group. The word Kongo comes from their language, Kikongo. It likely means "to gather" or "a public gathering."

A Brief Look at History

After the Belgian Congo became independent in 1960, the country faced challenges. Leaders sometimes disagreed, and there were conflicts. The United Nations helped to bring peace and stability.

A major conflict, known as the Second Congo War, began in 1998. It involved several African nations and many armed groups. Even after peace agreements were signed in 2003, some fighting continued in the eastern part of the country. This conflict caused great hardship and loss of life for many people.

Over time, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has had several names. These include the Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo-Léopoldville, and Zaire.

Geography: A Land of Rivers and Rainforests

The DRC is in central sub-Saharan Africa. It's a huge country, stretching across the Equator. About one-third of the country is north of the Equator, and two-thirds are to the south. With an area of over 2.3 million square kilometers, it's the second-largest country in Africa.

Because it's near the Equator, the DRC gets a lot of rain. It has the most thunderstorms in the world! This heavy rainfall helps create the Congolian rainforests, which are the second-largest rainforests globally, after the Amazon rainforest. This huge jungle covers most of the central part of the country.

The Congo River system is a very important part of the DRC's geography. The Congo Basin covers almost the entire country. The river and its smaller rivers (tributaries) are vital for the country's economy and transportation. Some major tributaries include the Kasai and Ubangi.

Satellite image of Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Congo River has the second-largest flow of water and the second-largest area of land it drains (watershed) in the world. Only the Amazon is bigger in these ways. The river starts in the mountains of the East African Rift. It flows west, then southwest, passing by major cities like Kinshasa and Brazzaville. Finally, it flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

The eastern part of the DRC is mountainous due to the African Great Lakes region. This area also has volcanoes, which sometimes erupt. Four of the African Great Lakes are on the DRC's eastern border: Lake Albert, Lake Kivu, Lake Edward, and Lake Tanganyika.

The rift valley has also made the DRC rich in minerals. You can find Cobalt, copper, diamonds, gold, silver, and uranium here. These are especially common in the southeastern Katanga region.

On January 17, 2002, Mount Nyiragongo erupted. Lava flowed very fast, reaching speeds of 64 kilometers per hour. One lava stream went right through the city of Goma. This event caused many people to lose their homes. Six months later, nearby Mount Nyamuragira also erupted. These volcanoes have erupted again in recent years.

Amazing Wildlife and Nature

The rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are home to incredible biodiversity. This means there are many different kinds of plants and animals. You can find rare and unique species here, like the common chimpanzee, the bonobo (also called pygmy chimpanzee), the African forest elephant, mountain gorilla, okapi, and leopard.

Five of the country's national parks are recognized as World Heritage Sites. These include Garumba, Kahuzi-Biega, Salonga, and Virunga National Parks, plus the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. The DRC is one of the most biodiverse countries in Africa.

Conservationists are especially concerned about primates. The DRC is home to several types of great apes: chimpanzees, bonobos, and eastern gorillas. It's the only country where bonobos live in the wild. Sadly, the numbers of these great apes have decreased a lot due to hunting and their homes being destroyed.

Major environmental issues in the DRC include deforestation (cutting down forests) and poaching (illegal hunting). These activities threaten the amazing wildlife. Water pollution and mining also cause environmental problems.

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  The map of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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  Democratic Republic of the Congo map of Köppen climate classification

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  The Ituri Rainforest

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  The endangered mountain gorilla; half of its population live in the DRC's Virunga National Park, making the park a critical habitat for these animals.

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  Found in the Congolian rainforests, the okapi was unknown to science until 1901

How the Country is Divided

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is divided into 26 main areas. One of these is the city-province of Kinshasa, which is the capital. The other 25 areas are called provinces. These provinces are then split into smaller areas called territories and cities.

	1. Kinshasa	14. Ituri Province
	2. Kongo Central	15. Haut-Uele
	3. Kwango	16. Tshopo
	4. Kwilu Province	17. Bas-Uele
	5. Mai-Ndombe Province	18. Nord-Ubangi
	6. Kasaï Province	19. Mongala
	7. Kasaï-Central	20. Sud-Ubangi
	8. Kasaï-Oriental	21. Équateur
	9. Lomami Province	22. Tshuapa
	10. Sankuru	23. Tanganyika Province
	11. Maniema	24. Haut-Lomami
	12. South Kivu	25. Lualaba Province
	13. North Kivu	26. Haut-Katanga Province

Government and How it Works

Joseph Kabila was President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from January 2001 to January 2019.

The DRC has a government based on its 2006 constitution. This constitution created a system with a President and a government led by a Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is chosen from the political party that has the most support in the National Assembly.

The country's government also gives powers to local provincial governments. Each province has its own parliament that watches over its Governor. The DRC is part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which helps with economic and regional cooperation in Southern Africa.

Education for All

A classroom in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In 2014, about 75.9% of people aged 15 to 49 could read and write. More men (88.1%) could read and write than women (63.8%). Even though the constitution says primary education should be free, it is not always.

However, more children are going to school now. In 2014, about 82.4% of children aged 6–11 attended primary school. This shows a good improvement in school attendance.

Health and Well-being

Development of life expectancy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The DRC faces some health challenges. For example, it has a high rate of babies who don't survive their first year. In 2011, a new vaccine was introduced to help prevent a serious lung infection called pneumococcal disease.

Diseases like malaria and yellow fever are also concerns. In 2019, there was a serious Ebola outbreak in the country. However, the number of deaths from yellow fever is quite low.

Road accidents are also a problem, causing many deaths each year. Health for mothers during childbirth is also an area that needs improvement. Many young children in the DRC experience stunted growth, meaning they are too short for their age due to poor nutrition.

Recently, international groups have warned about the risk of hunger in the DRC. Conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic have made it harder for people to get enough food. In 2020, many people in the Congo did not have enough food.

Air pollution is also a concern in the DRC. The air quality is often unhealthy, which can affect people's health and reduce how long they live. The country is working on ways to improve air quality.

Major Cities

Culture and Traditions

A Hemba male statue

The culture of the DRC is very diverse. It reflects the many different ethnic groups and their ways of life. These ways of life vary from the coast to the rainforests and mountains. Over time, things like colonialism and wars have changed traditional customs. However, the unique cultures of the Congo have mostly stayed strong.

Most of the country's people live in rural areas. But the 30% who live in cities have been more influenced by Western cultures.

Music: The Heartbeat of Congo

The DRC is famous for its music, especially a style called soukous. This music style came from Cuban rumba and merengue. Many other African countries have music styles that were inspired by Congolese soukous. Some African bands even sing in Lingala, one of the main languages in the DRC.

Famous musicians like Papa Wemba have influenced fashion, with young men dressing in expensive designer clothes. This style is known as "le sapeur."

Sports: A Passion for the Game

Many sports are popular in the DRC, including football (soccer), basketball, and rugby. These games are played in stadiums across the country. The national football team even played in the 1974 FIFA World Cup.

The DRC is also known for its talented basketball players who play in the NBA. Dikembe Mutombo is one of the most famous African basketball players. He is also known for his humanitarian work in his home country. Other well-known players include Bismack Biyombo and Jonathan Kuminga.

Many Congolese football players have become famous worldwide, like Romelu Lukaku and Yannick Bolasie. The DR Congo has won the African Cup of Nations football tournament twice.

Media and News

The DRC has several newspapers, such as L'Avenir and Le Phare. The national broadcaster is Radio Télévision Nationale Congolaise (RTNC). It broadcasts in Lingala, French, and English.

Literature: Stories of Identity

Writers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo use literature to help people feel a sense of national pride. Authors like Frederick Kambemba Yamusangie write stories that connect different generations. These stories often explore cultural differences and the journey of growing up in the Congo.

Raïs Neza Boneza, an author from the Katanga province, writes novels and poems. He uses art to help people understand and deal with conflicts.

Images for kids

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  View of Leopoldville Station and Port in 1884

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  1908 photograph of a married Christian couple.

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  The leader of ABAKO, Joseph Kasa-Vubu, first democratically elected President of Congo-Léopoldville

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  Patrice Lumumba, first democratically elected Prime Minister of the Congo-Léopoldville, who died during a difficult time in 1961

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  Mobutu Sese Seko and Richard Nixon in Washington, D.C., 1973.

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  Mobutu with the Dutch Prince Bernhard in Kinshasa in 1973

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  Belligerents of the Second Congo War

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  Refugees in the Congo

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  DR Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi with neighbouring Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso in 2020; both wear face masks due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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  Mount Nyiragongo, which last erupted in 2021.

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  Salonga National Park.

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  Masisi Territory

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  Lake Kivu in North Kivu province

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  Bas-Congo landscape

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  A male western gorilla

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  Hippopotami

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  Rough diamonds ≈1 to 1.5 mm in size from DR Congo.

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  DR Congo's Human Development Index scores, 1970–2010.

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  Collecting firewood in Basankusu.

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  Train from Lubumbashi arriving in Kindu on a newly refurbished line.

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  The Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Lubumbashi

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  Our Lady of Peace Cathedral in Bukavu

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  Population fleeing their villages due to fighting between FARDC and rebels groups, Sake North Kivu 30 April 2012

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  Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa.

See also

In Spanish: República Democrática del Congo para niños