The Democratic Republic of Congo is a vast country in central Africa, straddling the Congo River and covering much of the Congo Basin. It is home to the world's second-largest tropical rainforest and extraordinary biodiversity, including endangered gorillas and bonobos. The country is rich in natural resources such as cobalt, coltan, and diamonds.
- Capital
- Kinshasa
- Continent
- Africa
- Region
- Middle Africa
- Area
- 2,344,858 km²
- Coordinates
- 0° N, 25° E
- Languages
- French, Kikongo, Lingala, Tshiluba, Swahili
- Currency
- CDF FC
- Domain
- .cd
- Calling code
- +243
On the world map
Bordering countries
Angola
Burundi
Central African Republic
Republic of the Congo
Rwanda
South Sudan
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
Country facts
- The Congo River is the deepest river in the world, reaching depths of over 220 metres in places.
- The DRC is the only country in the world where bonobos are found in the wild.
- French is the official language, but over 200 local languages are spoken across the country.
- The country gained independence from Belgium on 30 June 1960.
- The DRC contains a large share of Africa's tropical rainforest, making it critical to global climate regulation.
Capital facts
- Kinshasa is the largest francophone city in the world by population.
- The city sits on the southern bank of the Congo River, directly across from Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo.
- Kinshasa was founded as a trading post by explorer Henry Morton Stanley in 1881 and was originally called Léopoldville.
- The Académie des Beaux-Arts in Kinshasa is one of Africa's most respected fine arts schools.
- Kinshasa gave its name to the music style known as ndombolo, a vibrant genre rooted in the broader Congolese rumba tradition.