Democratic Republic of the Congo: Key Facts

The DRC (Congo-Kinshasa) is Central Africa's giant.

Geography

• Area: 2.34M km² (2nd in Africa)
• Borders 9 countries
• Congo River (2nd largest discharge), lakes Tanganyika, Kivu, Mweru
• Rainforests, savannas, mountains (Mt. Ngaliema 5,109m)

People

• Population: ~105M (14th globally)
• 200+ ethnic groups (Kongo, Luba, Mongo, Mangbetu largest)
• Official: French; Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba, Swahili widely spoken
• 80%+ Christian

Economy

• Vast minerals: copper, cobalt (world's largest), diamonds, gold, oil, coltan
• Yet: poverty, corruption, conflict, poor infrastructure hinder development
• Agriculture: cassava, maize, rice, plantains (subsistence)

History & Culture

Independence 1960 (from Belgium). Decades of dictatorship, wars (1996–2003, deadliest since WWII). Rich culture: music (rumba, soukous), art, literature (Mujila, Dongala, Mabanckou). Biodiversity: gorillas, bonobos, okapi, elephants in rainforests.