01
Physical geography
Vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east.
Local timeKinshasa ·
Africa / Middle Africa · Card 013
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country in Middle Africa. Its capital is Kinshasa.
Find Democratic Republic of the Congo
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Kinshasa
- Languages
- French & Kikongo & Lingala & Tshiluba & Swahili
- Currency
- Congolese franc (CDF)
- Population
- 112.8 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 2,344,858 km²905,354 square miles
- Independence
- 1960from Belgium
Democratic Republic of the Congo in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Kinshasa; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
French is the official language. Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili and Tshiluba have national-language status.
03
Location
Central Africa, northeast of Angola.
Flag
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
History & independence
The Belgian Congo became independent on 30 June 1960 after negotiations with Belgium. A political crisis followed. The country was called Zaire from 1971 to 1997, when it resumed the name Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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Independence from Belgium
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The country is renamed Zaire
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The name Democratic Republic of the Congo is restored
Economy
Main activities
Copper and cobalt mining are major sources of export earnings. Agriculture supports many livelihoods. Large mineral and hydropower resources coexist with major transport, electricity and security constraints.
Industry and production
mining (copper, cobalt, gold, diamonds, coltan, zinc, tin, tungsten), mineral processing, consumer products (textiles, plastics, footwear, cigarettes), metal products, processed foods and beverages, timber, cement, commercial ship repair
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people112.82025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 20,137,436 | 20.137 |
| 1980 | 26,711,099 | 26.711 |
| 1990 | 36,684,063 | 36.684 |
| 2000 | 50,507,442 | 50.507 |
| 2010 | 68,563,038 | 68.563 |
| 2020 | 95,989,998 | 95.990 |
| 2025 | 112,832,473 | 112.832 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars64.02025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 30,508,775,959 | 30.509 |
| 1991 | 27,939,616,223 | 27.940 |
| 1992 | 25,005,954,127 | 25.006 |
| 1993 | 21,637,889,528 | 21.638 |
| 1994 | 20,794,012,528 | 20.794 |
| 1995 | 20,939,570,373 | 20.940 |
| 1996 | 20,725,322,417 | 20.725 |
| 1997 | 19,561,171,399 | 19.561 |
| 1998 | 19,243,467,843 | 19.243 |
| 1999 | 18,421,744,665 | 18.422 |
| 2000 | 17,148,631,281 | 17.149 |
| 2001 | 16,788,480,353 | 16.788 |
| 2002 | 17,283,365,331 | 17.283 |
| 2003 | 18,247,400,739 | 18.247 |
| 2004 | 19,476,978,834 | 19.477 |
| 2005 | 20,671,920,926 | 20.672 |
| 2006 | 21,728,037,858 | 21.728 |
| 2007 | 23,593,025,526 | 23.593 |
| 2008 | 25,346,774,325 | 25.347 |
| 2009 | 25,484,044,901 | 25.484 |
| 2010 | 27,680,432,462 | 27.680 |
| 2011 | 27,568,834,900 | 27.569 |
| 2012 | 29,958,665,160 | 29.959 |
| 2013 | 35,206,198,726 | 35.206 |
| 2014 | 37,777,053,057 | 37.777 |
| 2015 | 40,179,574,490 | 40.180 |
| 2016 | 40,337,814,833 | 40.338 |
| 2017 | 42,048,626,460 | 42.049 |
| 2018 | 44,601,688,164 | 44.602 |
| 2019 | 44,849,398,935 | 44.849 |
| 2020 | 45,197,173,729 | 45.197 |
| 2021 | 48,103,175,756 | 48.103 |
| 2022 | 52,582,143,957 | 52.582 |
| 2023 | 57,069,235,865 | 57.069 |
| 2024 | 60,551,902,787 | 60.552 |
| 2025 | 64,039,235,049 | 64.039 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.522Low human developmentRank 171 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.388
20000.391
20100.440
20200.506
20230.522
61.9 yearsLife expectancy at birth
7.4 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Semi-presidential republic. Parlement (Parliament) has two chambers (a bicameral legislature). The president holds executive responsibilities; the legislature makes national laws.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Democratic Republic of the Congo.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which currency is listed for Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.