DR Congo - CD - COD - COD - Africa

chief of mission: Ambassador Lucy TAMLYN (since 6 February 2023)

embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa, Gombe

mailing address: 2220 Kinshasa Place, Washington DC  20521-2220

telephone: [243] 081 556-0151

FAX: [243] 81 556-0175

email address and website:
ACSKinshasa@state.gov

https://cd.usembassy.gov/

0-14 years: 45.7% (male 26,584,268/female 26,208,891)

15-64 years: 51.8% (male 29,845,450/female 29,884,958)

65 years and over: 2.5% (2024 est.) (male 1,258,442/female 1,621,018)

0 00 N, 25 00 E

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); active volcanoes in the east along the Great Rift Valley

volcanism: the active volcano Nyiragongo (3,470 m) poses a major threat to the city of Goma, home to a quarter of a million people; it produces unusually fast-moving lava, known to travel up to 100 km/hr; Nyiragongo has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; its neighbor Nyamuragira is Africa's most active volcano; Visoke is the only other historically active volcano

slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US

18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 18-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men; it is unclear how much conscription is used (2024)

note: in eastern Congo, fighters from armed groups, including some associated with government security forces, have been accused of forced recruitment of child soldiers

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.

poaching; water pollution; deforestation from agriculture and wood used for fuel; soil erosion; damage from mining

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

56.2% (2020 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

lowest 10%: 2.1% (2020 est.)

highest 10%: 35.7% (2020 est.)

% share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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)

note: the Republican Guard is overseen by the office of the presidency rather than the FARDC; it focuses on protecting the president and government institutions and enforcing internal security

revenues: $7.524 billion (2021 est.)

expenditures: $5.109 billion (2021 est.)

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

name: Kinshasa

geographic coordinates: 4 19 S, 15 18 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

time zone note: the DRC has two time zones

etymology: founded as a trading post in 1881 and named Leopoldville in honor of King LEOPOLD II of the Belgians; in 1966, Leopoldville was renamed Kinshasa, a Bantu name of unknown meaning

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season (April to October), dry season (December to February); south of Equator - wet season (November to March), dry season (April to October)

37 km

history: several previous; latest adopted 13 May 2005, approved by referendum 18-19 December 2005, promulgated 18 February 2006

amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by either house of Parliament, or by public petition; agreement on the substance of a proposed bill requires absolute majority vote in both houses; passage requires a referendum only if both houses in joint meeting fail to achieve three-fifths majority vote; constitutional articles, including the form of government, universal suffrage, judicial independence, political pluralism, and personal freedoms, cannot be amended

Congolese francs (CDF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
2,340.036 (2023 est.)
2,006.708 (2022 est.)
1,989.391 (2021 est.)
1,851.122 (2020 est.)
1,647.76 (2019 est.)

chief of state: President Felix TSHISEKEDI (since 20 January 2024)

head of government: Prime Minister Judith SUMINWA Tuluka (since 29 May 2024)

cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president

election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple majority vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president

most recent election date: 20 December 2023

election results:
2023: Felix TSHISEKEDI reelected president; percent of vote - Felix TSHISEKEDI (UDPS) 73.3%, Moise KATUMBI (Ensemble) 18.8%, Martin FAYULU (ECIDE) 5.3%, other 2.6%

2018: Felix TSHISEKEDI elected president; percent of vote - Felix TSHISEKEDI (UDPS) 38.6%, Martin FAYULU (Lamuka coalition) 34.8%, Emmanuel Ramazani SHADARY (PPRD) 23.9%, other 2.7%

expected date of next election: 20 December 2028

sky-blue field divided diagonally from the lower hoist corner to upper fly corner by a red stripe bordered by two narrow yellow stripes; a yellow five-pointed star appears in the upper hoist corner; blue stands for peace and hope, red for the blood of the country's martyrs, and yellow for the country's wealth and prosperity; the star symbolizes unity and the brilliant future for the country

30 June 1960 (from Belgium)

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

highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (consists of 26 justices and organized into legislative and judiciary sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)

judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges nominated by the Judicial Service Council, an independent body of public prosecutors and selected judges of the lower courts; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by the president, 3 by the Judicial Service Council, and 3 by the legislature; judges appointed by the president to serve 9-year non-renewable terms with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years

subordinate courts: State Security Court; Court of Appeals (organized into administrative and judiciary sections); Tribunal de Grande Instance; magistrates' courts; customary courts

total: 11,027 km

border countries (9): Angola 2,646 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of Angola's discontiguous Cabinda Province); Burundi 236 km; Central African Republic 1,747 km; Republic of the Congo 1,775 km; Rwanda 221 km; South Sudan 714 km; Tanzania 479 km; Uganda 877 km; Zambia 2,332 km

agricultural land: 15.5% (2022 est.)

arable land: 6.6% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0.9% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 8% (2022 est.)

forest: 54.7% (2022 est.)

other: 29.8% (2022 est.)

civil law system primarily based on Belgian law, but also customary and tribal law

legislature name: Parlement (Parliament)

legislative structure: bicameral

total population: 73.6% (2018 est.)

male: 87.5% (2018 est.)

female: 61.6% (2018 est.)

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: since 2011, the DRC has had a Common Interest Zone agreement with Angola for the mutual development of off-shore resources

ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, CEPGL, COMESA, 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

Independence Day, 30 June (1960)

noun: Congolese (singular and plural)

adjective: Congolese or Congo

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

note 1: coltan, the industrial name for a columbite–tantalite mineral from which niobium and tantalum are extracted, is mainly artisanal and small-scale; tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold extracted from central Africa are considered "conflict minerals" and as such are subject to international monitoring

note 2: the DROC is the World's leading producer of cobalt, accounting for as much as 70% of the World's supply; between 20-30% of this cobalt is produced in artisanal and small-scale mining operations

note 1: second-largest country in Africa (after Algeria) and largest country in sub-Saharan Africa; straddles the equator; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands; the narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo River is the DRC's only outlet to the South Atlantic Ocean

note 2: the Congo River, most of which flows through the DRC, has never been accurately measured along much of its length because of its speed, cataracts, rapids, and turbulence; nonetheless, it is conceded to be the deepest river in the world, with estimates of the point of greatest depth varying between 220 and 250 meters

very poor, large, natural resource-rich sub-Saharan country; possesses the world’s second largest rainforest; increasing Chinese extractive sector trade; massive decrease in government investments; increasing current account deficit and public debts

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

total: 4,007 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 3,882 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified)

125 1.000-mm gauge

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east

semi-presidential republic

conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo

conventional short form: DRC

local long form: République démocratique du Congo

local short form: RDC

former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire

abbreviation: DRC (or DROC)

etymology: named for the Congo River, most of which lies within the DRC; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom in the area 

Central Africa, northeast of Angola

Africa

110 sq km (2012)

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Michael SHAKU YUMI (since 1 August 2024)

chancery: 1100 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690

FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609

email address and website:
ambassade@ambardcusa.org

https://www.ambardcusa.org/

representative office: New York

percent of population: 31% (2023 est.)

.cd

refugees (country of origin): 208,328 (Rwanda), 53,297 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 49,836 (Burundi) (2023); 212,211 (Central African Republic) (2024)

IDPs: 6.38 million (fighting between government forces and rebels since mid-1990s; conflict in Kasai region since 2016) (2023)

$70.749 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

1.29 trillion cubic meters (2020 est.)

urban population: 47.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 4.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

state-owned TV station with near-national coverage; more than a dozen privately owned TV stations, including 2 with near-national coverage; 2 state-owned radio stations and over 100 private radio stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available

improved:

urban: 88.8% of population

rural: 34.7% of population

total: 59.4% of population

unimproved:

urban: 11.2% of population

rural: 65.3% of population

total: 40.6% of population (2020 est.)

title: "Debout Congolaise" (Arise, Congolese)

lyrics/music: Joseph LUTUMBA/Simon-Pierre BOKA di Mpasi Londi

history: adopted 1960; replaced when the country was known as Zaire, but readopted in 1997

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)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

leopard

19.9 years (2013/14 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

28.1% (2017/18)

household consumption: 62.7% (2024 est.)

government consumption: 8.1% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 32.9% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.5% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services: 46.6% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services: -50.9% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

total dependency ratio: 93.2 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 88.4 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 20.7 (2024 est.)

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

urban clusters are spread throughout the country, particularly in the northeast along the border with Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi; the largest city is the capital, Kinshasha, located in the west along the Congo River; the south is least densely populated, as shown in this population distribution map

electrification - total population: 21.5% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas: 45.3%

electrification - rural areas: 1%

9Q

improved:

urban: 53.4% of population

rural: 20.5% of population

total: 35.5% of population

unimproved:

urban: 46.6% of population

rural: 79.5% of population

total: 64.5% of population (2020 est.)

more than 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest groups - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) - make up about 45% of the population

 Christian 93/1% (Roman Catholic 29.9%, Protestant 26.7%, other Christian 36.5%), Kimbanguist 2.8%, Muslim 1.3%, other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 1.2%, none 1.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2014 est.)

French (official), Lingala (a trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba

major-language sample(s):
Buku oyo ya bosembo ya Mokili Mobimba Ezali na Makanisi ya Liboso Mpenza. (Lingala)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 726 m

3.8% of GDP (2021)

4% of national budget (2022 est.)

the FARDC’s primary focus is internal security and conducting operations against rebels and other illegal armed groups (IOGs) operating in the DRC, particularly in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, where more than 15 significant and cohesive IOGs operate; there is also IOG-related violence in Maniema, Kasai, Kasai Central, and Tanganyika provinces; some estimates place over 100 IOGs operating in the country, including organized militias, such as the Nduma Defense of Congo-Renewal (NDC-R), which controls a large portion of North Kivu; Mai Mai groups (local militias that operate variously as self-defense networks and criminal rackets); and foreign-origin groups seeking safe haven and resources, such as the Ugandan-origin Allied Democratic Forces (ADF; aka Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the DRC), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), multiple groups originating from Burundi, the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), and the March 23 Movement (aka M23 or Congolese Revolutionary Army), which Rwanda has been accused of supporting militarily; the FARDC incorporates some non-state armed groups and has been accused of collaborating with some IOGs, such as the NDC-R

the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has operated in the central and eastern parts of the country since 1999; it has nearly 14,000 personnel assigned, and its mandate had been extended to the end of 2025; MONUSCO includes a Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), the first ever UN peacekeeping force specifically tasked to carry out targeted offensive operations to neutralize and disarm groups considered a threat to state authority and civilian security (2025)

estimated 100-150,000 active FARDC (2025)

the FARDC is equipped mostly with Soviet-era and older French weapons and equipment; in 2024, the DRC signed an agreement with China for the provision of military equipment (2024)

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

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

municipal: 460 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 150 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 70 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 14,385,226 tons (2016 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 704,876 tons (2005 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.9% (2005 est.)

particulate matter emissions: 31.58 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 2.02 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 61.24 megatons (2020 est.)

Congo Basin

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Albert (shared with Uganda) - 5,590 sq km; Lake Mweru (shared with Zambia) - 4,350 sq km; Lac Mai-Ndombe - 2,300 sq km; Lake Kivu (shared with Rwanda) - 2,220 sq km; Lake Edward (shared with Uganda) - 2,150 sq km; Lac Tumba - 500 sq km; Lac Upemba - 530 sq km

Zaïre (Congo) river mouth (shared with Zambia [s], Angola, and Republic of Congo) - 2,920 km; Ubangi river mouth (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Republic of Congo) - 2,270 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Garamba National Park; Kahuzi-Biega National Park; Okapi Wildlife Reserve; Salonga National Park; Virunga National Park

women married by age 15: 8.4% (2018)

women married by age 18: 29.1% (2018)

men married by age 18: 5.6% (2018)

consumption: 304,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 304,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 987.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)

solar: 13.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 86% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

production: 380,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

consumption: 380,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

proven reserves: 991.09 million cubic meters (2021 est.)

total petroleum production: 19,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 35,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 180 million barrels (2021 est.)

2.7 (2024 est.)

55.3% (2023 est.)

4.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
5% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

total ports: 3 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 0

small: 2

very small: 1

ports with oil terminals: 2

key ports: Banana, Boma, Matadi

chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)

number of seats: 500 (all directly elected)

electoral system: mixed system

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 12/20/2023

parties elected and seats per party: Union for Democracy and Social Progress/TSHISEKEDI (UDPS/TSHISEKEDI) (69); Action of Allies and Union for the Congolese Nation (A/A-UNC) (35); Alliance of Democratic Forces of Congo and Allies (AFDC-A) (35); Act and Build (AB) (26); Other (312)

percentage of women in chamber: 12.8%

expected date of next election: December 2028

chamber name: Senate (Sénat)

number of seats: 109 (all indirectly elected)

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 4/29/2024 to 5/26/2024

percentage of women in chamber: 15.8%

expected date of next election: April 2029

sky blue, red, yellow

38.546 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total: 8.5% (2024 est.)

male: 10.8% (2024 est.)

female: 6.6% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

total: 16.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 16.7 years

female: 17 years

$7.926 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

$5.104 billion (2023 est.)
$4.378 billion (2022 est.)
$3.467 billion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

16% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

5.49 children born/woman (2024 est.)

4.6% (2024 est.)
4.5% (2023 est.)
4.6% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 115,403,027 (2024 est.)

male: 57,688,160

female: 57,714,867

5.883 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 731,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 5.152 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total : 2,344,858 sq km

land: 2,267,048 sq km

water: 77,810 sq km

11.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$164.367 billion (2024 est.)
$154.081 billion (2023 est.)
$141.867 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

273 (2025)

total: 57.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 62.9 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 51.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total subscriptions: 49.8 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2022 est.)

44.7 (2020 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

41.5% (2017 est.)
2.9% (2016 est.)
0.7% (2015 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$3.883 billion (2023 est.)
-$3.148 billion (2022 est.)
-$587.407 million (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$1,500 (2024 est.)
$1,500 (2023 est.)
$1,400 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

total: 33,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

total: 10.4% (2025 est.)

male: 18.8% (2025 est.)

female: 2.3% (2025 est.)

6.7% (2016)

1.305 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

7.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

39.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

installed generating capacity: 3.229 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 16.069 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 62 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 1.473 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 1.242 billion kWh (2023 est.)

total: 24 (2023)

by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 17

23.1% (2017/18)

$33.68 billion (2023 est.)
$31.699 billion (2022 est.)
$22.193 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$29.65 billion (2023 est.)
$28.753 billion (2022 est.)
$22.354 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

1 (2025)

total subscriptions: 0 (2021 est.) less than 1

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

total: 0.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total population: 62.6 years (2024 est.)

male: 60.7 years

female: 64.6 years

6.7% (2024 est.)
8.6% (2023 est.)
8.9% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

10.1% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

agriculture: 17.1% (2024 est.)

industry: 46.6% (2024 est.)

services: 33% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

2.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

18.4% national budget (2022 est.)

3.11% (2024 est.)