DRC

Background

Bantu, Sudanic, and other migrants from West and Northeastern Africa arrived in the Congo River Basin between 2000 B.C. and A.D. 500. The territory that is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo has more than 200 ethnic groups that trace their histories to many communal organizations and kingdoms. The Kingdom of Kongo, for example, ruled the area around the mouth of the Congo River from the 14th to 19th centuries. Meanwhile, the Kingdoms of Luba and Lunda, located to the south and east, were also notable political groupings in the territory and ruled from the 16th and 17th centuries to the 19th century. European prospectors in the Congo Basin invaded and splintered these kingdoms in the late 1800’s, sponsored by King LEOPOLD II of Belgium, and the kingdoms were eventually forced to grant Leopold the rights to the Congo territory as his private property. During this period, known as the Congo Free State, the king's private colonial military forced the local population to produce rubber. From 1885 to 1908, millions of Congolese people died as a result of disease and inhumane treatment. International condemnation finally forced LEOPOLD to cede the land to the state of Belgium, creating the Belgian Congo.

The Republic of the Congo gained its independence from Belgium in 1960, but its early years were marred by instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name to MOBUTU Sese Seko and the country's name to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years, using sham elections and brute force. In 1994, a massive inflow of refugees from conflict in neighboring Rwanda and Burundi sparked ethnic strife and civil war. A rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA toppled the MOBUTU regime in 1997. KABILA renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In 1998, another insurrection -- again backed by Rwanda and Uganda -- challenged the KABILA regime, but troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe helped quell the uprising.

In 2001, KABILA was assassinated, and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state. In 2002, the new president negotiated the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying the eastern DRC; the remaining warring parties subsequently signed the Pretoria Accord to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. KABILA was elected as president in 2006 and 2011. The DRC constitution barred him from running for a third term, so in 2016, the DRC Government delayed national elections for two years. This fueled significant civil and political unrest, with sporadic street protests and exacerbation of tensions in the eastern DRC regions. 

The results of the 2018 elections were disputed, but opposition candidate Felix TSHISEKEDI, son of long-time opposition leader Etienne TSHISEKEDI, was announced as the election winner. This was the first transfer of power to an opposition candidate without significant violence or a coup since 1960. In 2023, the DRC held its fourth electoral cycle since independence; TSHISEKEDI was proclaimed the winner despite some allegations of fraud, with his Sacred Union alliance retaining a large parliamentary majority. 

The DRC continues to experience violence -- particularly in the East -- perpetrated by more than 100 armed groups active in the region, including the March 23 (M23) rebel group, the ISIS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF, or ISIS-DRC), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and assorted local militias known as Mai Mai militias. The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) has operated in the region since 1999 and is the largest and most expensive UN peacekeeping mission in the world.

Area

Climate

tropical; characterized by hot and humid conditions in the equatorial river basin; cooler and drier climates in the southern highlands; cooler and wetter conditions in the eastern highlands; north of the Equator experiences a wet season from April to October and a dry season from December to February; south of the Equator has a wet season from November to March and a dry season from April to October

Terrain

the expansive central basin is predominantly a low-lying plateau, with mountainous regions to the east

Land use

Location

Central Africa, located to the northeast of Angola

Coastline

37 km

Elevation

Irrigated land

110 sq km (2012)

Major aquifers

Congo Basin

Map references

Africa

Land boundaries

Maritime claims

Natural hazards

the south experiences periodic droughts; seasonal flooding occurs along the Congo River; the eastern region has active volcanoes situated along the Great Rift Valley

volcanism: the active volcano Nyiragongo (3,470 m) poses a significant risk to Goma, a city with a population of approximately a quarter of a million; it is known for its exceptionally fast-moving lava, which can reach speeds of up to 100 km/h; Nyiragongo has been designated a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, due to its explosive history and close proximity to populated areas; adjacent to it, Nyamuragira is recognized as Africa's most active volcano; Visoke is another historically active volcano in the region

Geography - note

note 1: the second-largest nation on the African continent (after Algeria) and the largest in sub-Saharan Africa; it spans the equator; the central river basin and eastern highlands are covered by dense tropical rainforest; the DRC's sole outlet to the South Atlantic Ocean is a narrow strip of land that governs the lower Congo River

note 2: the Congo River, which predominantly flows through the DRC, has not been accurately measured for significant portions of its length due to its swift currents, cataracts, rapids, and turbulence; however, it is acknowledged as the deepest river in the world, with estimates of its maximum depth ranging between 220 and 250 meters

Natural resources

cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, both industrial and gem-quality diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber

Area - comparative

just under one-fourth the area of the United States

Geographic coordinates

0 00 N, 25 00 E

Population distribution

urban areas are dispersed throughout the nation, especially in the northeast near the borders with Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi; the capital, Kinshasa, is the largest city and is situated in the west along the Congo River; the southern region is the least densely populated, as illustrated in the population distribution map

Major lakes (area sq km)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Major rivers (by length in km)

the mouth of the Zaire (Congo) river (shared with Zambia [s], Angola, and the Republic of Congo) - 2,920 km; the mouth of the Ubangi river (shared with the Central African Republic [s] and the Republic of Congo) - 2,270 km

Literacy

Languages

Religions

 Christian 93.1% (Roman Catholic 29.9%, Protestant 26.7%, other Christian 36.5%), Kimbanguist 2.8%, Muslim 1.3%, other (which includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 1.2%, none 1.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2014 estimate)

Sex ratio

Birth rate

38.8 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

7.37 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco use

Urbanization

Age structure

Ethnic groups

comprises over 200 African ethnic groups, predominantly Bantu; the four principal groups - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) - account for approximately 45% of the population

Child marriage

Dependency ratios

Physician density

0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Health expenditure

Net migration rate

-0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.42 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

Education expenditure

Infant mortality rate

Population growth rate

3.09% (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

2.67 (2025 est.)

Population distribution

urban areas are dispersed across the country, especially in the northeast near the borders with Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi; the most populous city is the capital, Kinshasa, situated in the west along the Congo River; the southern region is the least densely populated, as indicated in this population distribution map

Life expectancy at birth

Maternal mortality ratio

427 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation facility access

Alcohol consumption per capita

Major urban areas - population

16.316 million KINSHASA (capital), 2.892 million Mbuji-Mayi, 2.812 million Lubumbashi, 1.664 million Kananga, 1.423 million Kisangani, 1.249 million Bukavu (2023)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.7% (2016)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.9 years (2013/14 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

58.2% (2018 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

25% (2023 est.)

Climate

tropical; characterized by hot and humid conditions in the equatorial river basin; cooler and drier climates in the southern highlands; cooler and wetter weather in the eastern highlands; north of the Equator experiences a wet season from April to October and a dry season from December to February; south of the Equator sees a wet season from November to March and a dry season from April to October.

Land use

Urbanization

Methane emissions

Waste and recycling

Environmental issues

poaching; contamination of water sources; deforestation due to agricultural practices and the use of wood for fuel; erosion of soil; environmental damage resulting from mining activities.

Total water withdrawal

Carbon dioxide emissions

Particulate matter emissions

33.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

1.283 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

International environmental agreements

Flag

description: a sky-blue background that is divided diagonally from the bottom-left to the top-right by a red stripe, which is flanked by two narrow yellow stripes; located in the upper-left corner is a five-pointed yellow star.

meaning: blue represents peace and hope, red signifies the blood of the nation's martyrs, and yellow symbolizes the nation's wealth and prosperity; the star stands for unity and a bright future for the nation.

Capital

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Citizenship

Constitution

Country name

Independence

30 June 1960 (from Belgium)

Legal system

the legal system is based on civil law primarily influenced by Belgian law, alongside customary and tribal law.

Government type

the government is structured as a semi-presidential republic.

Judicial branch

Executive branch

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 June (1960)

National color(s)

sky blue, red, yellow

National heritage

Political parties

Christian Democrat Party or PDC 
Congolese Rally for Democracy or RCD 
Convention of Christian Democrats or CDC 
Engagement for Citizenship and Development or ECIDE 
Forces of Renewal or FR 
Movement for the Liberation of the Congo or MLC 
Nouvel Elan 
Our Congo or CNB ("Congo Na Biso") 
People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy or PPRD 
Social Movement for Renewal or MSR 
Together for Change ("Ensemble") 
Unified Lumumbist Party or PALU
Union for the Congolese Nation or UNC 
Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS

Legislative branch

National anthem(s)

National symbol(s)

leopard

Administrative divisions

comprises 26 provinces: Bas-Uele (Lower Uele), Equateur, Haut-Katanga (Upper Katanga), Haut-Lomami (Upper Lomami), Haut-Uele (Upper Uele), Ituri, Kasai, Kasai-Central, Kasai-Oriental (East Kasai), Kinshasa, Kongo Central, Kwango, Kwilu, Lomami, Lualaba, Mai-Ndombe, Maniema, Mongala, Nord-Kivu (North Kivu), Nord-Ubangi (North Ubangi), Sankuru, Sud-Kivu (South Kivu), Sud-Ubangi (South Ubangi), Tanganyika, Tshopo, Tshuapa.

Legislative branch - lower chamber

Legislative branch - upper chamber

Diplomatic representation in the US

Diplomatic representation from the US

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC (observer), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

International law organization participation

accepts the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ with reservations; accepts the jurisdiction of the ICCt.

Budget

Exports

Imports

Industries

mining (copper, cobalt, gold, diamonds, coltan, zinc, tin, tungsten), mineral processing, consumer goods (textiles, plastics, footwear, cigarettes), metal products, processed food and beverages, timber, cement, commercial ship repair

Labor force

38.546 million (2024 est.)

Public debt

Remittances

Exchange rates

Debt - external

Economic overview

extremely impoverished, large, resource-abundant sub-Saharan nation; home to the second-largest rainforest globally; growing trade in the extractive sector with China; significant reduction in government investments; rising current account deficit and public debt levels

Unemployment rate

Exports - partners

China 69%, UAE 7%, India 3%, Spain 3%, Egypt 3% (2023)

Imports - partners

China 35%, Zambia 12%, South Africa 12%, India 5%, Belgium 4% (2023)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP growth rate

Agricultural products

cassava, plantains, sugarcane, maize, oil palm fruit, rice, root vegetables, bananas, sweet potatoes, groundnuts (2023)

Exports - commodities

refined copper, cobalt, copper ore, raw copper, crude petroleum (2023)

Imports - commodities

trucks, refined petroleum, stone processing machinery, plastic products, sulphur (2023)

Current account balance

Taxes and other revenues

11.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$70.749 billion (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

Population below poverty line

56.2% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Industrial production growth rate

10.1% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Coal

Petroleum

Electricity

Natural gas

Electricity access

Energy consumption per capita

Electricity generation sources

Internet users

Broadcast media

a government-operated television network providing near-national reach; over a dozen privately owned television channels, of which 2 offer near-national coverage; 2 government-owned radio stations alongside more than 100 private radio outlets; broadcasts from at least 2 international media organizations are accessible

Internet country code

.cd

Telephones - fixed lines

Telephones - mobile cellular

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Ports

Airports

273 (2025)

Railways

Heliports

1 (2025)

Merchant marine

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9Q

Military - note

The primary objective of the FARDC is to maintain internal security and to execute operations against rebels and various illegal armed groups (IOGs) active in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), especially within the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, where over 15 notable and organized IOGs are present. IOG-related violence is also observed in the provinces of Maniema, Kasai, Kasai Central, and Tanganyika. Some assessments suggest that there are more than 100 IOGs functioning within the nation, including organized militias such as the Nduma Defense of Congo-Renewal (NDC-R), which exercises control over a significant area of North Kivu; Mai Mai groups (local militias that serve as both self-defense units and criminal enterprises); and foreign groups seeking refuge and resources, including the Ugandan-based Allied Democratic Forces (ADF; also known as Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the DRC), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), various groups from Burundi, the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), and the March 23 Movement (also referred to as M23 or Congolese Revolutionary Army), which has faced allegations of military support from Rwanda. The FARDC integrates certain non-state armed factions and has been accused of cooperating with some IOGs, including the NDC-R.

The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has been active in the central and eastern regions of the country since 1999, with its mandate extended through the end of 2026. MONUSCO comprises a Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), marking the first UN peacekeeping force specifically assigned to carry out targeted offensive operations aimed at neutralizing and disarming groups deemed a threat to state authority and civilian safety (2025).

Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Forces d'Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo, FARDC): Land Forces (Forces Terrestres), National Navy (La Marine Nationale), Congolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Congolaise, FAC); Republican Guard (Garde Républicaine, GR)

Ministry of Interior: Congolese National Police (Police Nationale Congolaise, PNC) (2025).

Military service age and obligation

Individuals aged 18-35 are eligible for voluntary military service for both men and women; compulsory military service applies to men aged 18-45. The extent of conscription utilized remains unclear (2025).

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The FARDC primarily utilizes armaments from the Soviet era and older French military equipment; however, in recent years, it has acquired some modern assets, including armored vehicles and armed drones, from China, South Africa, Turkey, and the UAE (2025).

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 100-150,000 active FARDC (2025)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Democratic Republic of the Congo (ISIS-DRC)

Trafficking in persons

Refugees and internally displaced persons