DR Congo
Africa Β· Capital: Kinshasa
How it is run: DR Congo is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
DR Congo is home to 112.8 million people in Middle Africa, where people speak French, Kikongo, Lingala.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
112.8 million people
That is 1.4% of everybody alive (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
2,344,858 kmΒ²
One of the world's large countries: flying across it takes hours.
ποΈ How crowded
About 48 people per square kilometre β a comfortable mix of cities and open land.
π Size in its region
4th most people in Africa
2nd largest by land in Africa.
π£οΈ Official languages
French, Kikongo, Lingala, Tshiluba, Swahili
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Congolese franc (FC)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
62.1 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$807
A lower-income country: money for schools, clinics and roads has to stretch a very long way.
π’ Living in cities
45.1% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
45.9% of the population
A very young country β schools have to be built quickly.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+243
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.cd
π§ People here are called
Congolese
π·οΈ Name at home
RD Congo Β· Repubilika ya Kongo Demokratiki Β· Republiki ya KongΓ³ Demokratiki
Also written: DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
African Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
DR Congo touches 9 neighbours by land. Neighbours share rivers, roads and usually a lot of trade.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Congo (Rep. Dem.)
French
Congo (RΓ©p. dΓ©m.)
Arabic
Ψ§ΩΩΩΩΨΊΩ
Chinese
ζ°δΈ»εζ
Japanese
γ³γ³γ΄ζ°δΈ»ε ±εε½
Russian
ΠΠ΅ΠΌΠΎΠΊΡΠ°ΡΠΈΡΠ΅ΡΠΊΠ°Ρ Π Π΅ΡΠΏΡΠ±Π»ΠΈΠΊΠ° ΠΠΎΠ½Π³ΠΎ
Portuguese
RepΓΊblica DemocrΓ‘tica do Congo
German
Kongo (Dem. Rep.)
Put it in perspective π
- Nigeria β the most populated country in Africa β has about 2.1Γ as many people as DR Congo.
- DR Congo covers roughly 22,332 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in DR Congo lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 56,416 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: π¨π© is the flag of DR Congo. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is CD.
π·οΈ Official name
Democratic Republic of the Congo
ποΈ Capital
Kinshasa
π Region
Africa Β· Middle Africa
π€ Country code
CD
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about DR Congo π
π§ Where on the map
0.0Β° N, 25.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Northern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+2 β when it is noon in London it is about 14:00 in Kinshasa.
- DR Congo is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
- π¨π© is the flag of DR Congo. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is CD.
- The capital of DR Congo is Kinshasa β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- DR Congo shares its part of the world with SΓ£o TomΓ© and PrΓncipe. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- DR Congo is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- DR Congo has 5 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- DR Congo can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If DR Congo spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of DR Congo?
Kinshasa
Which money do people spend in DR Congo?
Congolese franc (FC)
How many countries share a land border with DR Congo?
9 β Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia.
Roughly how many people live in DR Congo?
112.8 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.