Democratic Republic of the Congo: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 15, 2026

News •

Ebola outbreak remains out of control in Congo 6 months into response • Nov. 15, 2026, 12:02 AM ET (AP)

Ebola tops 11,000 cases in Congo's deadliest outbreak • Nov. 11, 2026, 3:56 PM ET (AP)

British doctor who tested positive for Ebola in Congo is evacuated to London hospital • Nov. 5, 2026, 5:39 PM ET (AP)

Congo's Ebola deaths top 5,000 as fear of continent-wide spread mounts • Oct. 31, 2026, 4:57 AM ET (AP)

Experts warn of wider spread as Ebola outbreak reaches plateau • Oct. 29, 2026, 9:51 AM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	République du Congo • Congo-Kinshasa • Republic of the Congo • DRC • République Démocratique du Congo
Head Of Government	Prime Minister: Judith Suminwa Tuluka
Capital	Kinshasa
Population	(2026 est.) 116,452,000
Head Of State	President: Félix Tshisekedi
Form Of Government	unitary multiparty republic with two legislative houses (Senate [109¹]; National Assembly [500])
Official Language	French²
Official Religion	none
Official Name	République Democratique du Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Total Area (Sq Km)	2,345,000
Total Area (Sq Mi)	905,409
Monetary Unit	Congo franc (FC)
Population Rank	(2026) 12
Population Projection 2030	138,749,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 128.6
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 49.7
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 48.1% • Rural: (2024) 51.9%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2021) 49.6 years • Female: (2021) 55.4 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2024) 72,705
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 670
¹Includes 108 indirectly elected members as well as former elected presidents of the republic, who have a lifetime appointment as a senator.²National languages are Kongo, Lingala, Swahili, and Tshiluba.

Photos

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Political map of the Democratic Republic of the Congo showing national boundaries, major cities such as Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, and Kisangani, and neighboring countries including Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, and Gabon. An inset locator map highlights the country's position within Africa.

Map of central Africa highlighting the Democratic Republic of the Congo in tan, with surrounding countries labeled, including Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, and Gabon. Major cities and bodies of water are not detailed.

Map of the Democratic Republic of the Congo highlighting major physical features such as rivers, lakes, plateaus, and national parks. The Congo Basin and Congo River dominate the central region, with notable landmarks including Lake Tanganyika, Lake Albert, and national parks like Garamba, Salonga, Kahuzi-Biega, Upemba, and Kundelungu. Surrounding countries and a small locator map of Africa are also shown.

Dense green banana plants fill the foreground with rolling hills behind, and Mount Nyiragongo partly obscured by clouds in the background near Gisenyi, Rwanda.

Physical map of the Congo River basin and its drainage network in Central Africa, showing rivers, major tributaries, elevation gradients, cities, international boundaries, and the approximate boundary of the Ituri Forest. Swamps and flood-prone areas are marked in blue, with symbols indicating waterfalls, rapids, and dams. An inset locator map shows the basin's position within Africa.

Congo River: fishing

Group of bonobo chimpanzees at the edge of a pond with lily pads, surrounded by dense green vegetation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Aerial view of Mount Nyiragongo volcano in Virunga National Park, showing a glowing lava lake with smoke rising from the crater, surrounded by rocky caldera walls.

National anthem of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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