Democratic Republic of the Congo

Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • Sometimes abbreviated as DRC and D.R. Congo.
  • Also referred to as Congo-Kinshasa to distinguish it from its northwestern neighbour
  • Capital » Kinshasa
    • Also largest city in the DRC
    • Largest French speaking city in the world
    • The world’s fastest-growing megacities with some 14 million residents (2023)
    • Current Date & Time
    • Weather

Not to be confused with the neighbouring Republic of the Congo

Facts

  • Population » 95 million (2021)
    • Kinshasa had a population of about 15 million people in 2021
  • Major languages » French, Lingala, Kiswahili, Kikongo, Tshiluba
  • Major religions » Christianity, Islam
  • Life expectancy » 58 years (men), 61 years (women)
  • Currency » Congolese franc (CDF)

Geography

  • Area » 2.34 million sq km (905,354 sq miles)
    • Second largest country in Africa
    • Largest in Central Africa
    • About 6 times the size of Germany
Map of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Source » France, 2021)

Map of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Source » France, 2021)

Maps

Travel

UNESCO Heritage Site

  • Virunga National Park
    • Africa’s oldest National Park
    • The park has incredible variety of landscape, an exceptional collection of biodiversity, including critically endangered mountain gorillas.
    • Mount Nyiragongo (3,470m) is an active stratovolcano located inside Virunga National Park, about 12 km north of the town of Goma and Lake Kivu and just west of the border with Rwanda.

Health

  • A yellow fever vaccination card is mandatory.
  • The 2018 outbreak of the Ebola virus has been called the worst in the country’s history.

Notes

  • A vast country with immense resources and, until recently, has been at the centre of conflict and war, with widespread civilian suffering the result.

Overland

  • In Kinshasa the roads are mostly not paved.
  • Navigation is difficult and crowded.

Safety and Security

  • DRC is still considered a dangerous destinations for travellers. (2023)
  • The political and security situation in the DRC remains unpredictable.
  • The DRC is considered a failed state as the government is not able to care for its citizens.
  • Violent crime including armed robbery and carjacking is a significant issue in the DRC.
  • The DRC has experienced armed insurrections for two decades.
    • UN Peacekeepers are present.
  • Crisis Watch

Government Travel Advice

Posts

Media

Resources

This page was updated September 9, 2023