Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
République Démocratique du Congo
Flag
Coat of arms
Motto: Justice – Paix – Travail (French)
"Justice – Peace – Work"
Capital
(and largest city)
Kinshasaa
4°19′S 15°19′E / 4.317°S
15.317°E / -4.317; 15.317
Official languages
French
Recognised
regional languages
Lingala, Kongo/Kituba,
Swahili, Tshiluba
Demonym
Congolese
Government
Semi-Presidential
Republic
-
President
Joseph Kabila
-
Prime Minister
Adolphe Muzito
Independence
-
from Belgium
30 June 1960
Area
-
Total
2,344,858 km2 (12th)
905,355 sq mi
- Water (%)
3.3
Population
-
2007 United
Nations estimate
62,600,000 (21st)
-
Density
25/km2 (188th)
65/sq mi
GDP (PPP)
2008 estimate
-
Total
$20.639 billion[1]
-
Per capita
$328[1]
GDP (nominal)
2008 estimate
-
Total
$11.589 billion[1]
-
Per capita
$184[1]
HDI (2008)
▼ 0.361 (low) (177th)
Currency
Congolese franc (CDF)
Time zone
WAT, CAT (UTC+1 to
+2)
-
Summer (DST)
not observed (UTC+1 to
+2)
Drives on the
right
Internet TLD
.cd
Calling code
243
a Estimate is based on regression; other PPP figures are
extrapolated from the latest International Comparison
Programme benchmark estimates.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo
(French: République
démocratique
du
Congo), is a country in central Africa with a
small length of Atlantic coastline. It is the
third largest country (by area) in Africa. DR
Congo is with its population of more than 60
million people the fourth most populous na-
tion in Africa and the most populous French-
speaking country.
In order to distinguish it from the neigh-
bouring Republic of the Congo, the Demo-
cratic Republic of the Congo is often referred
to as DR Congo, DRC, or RDC, or is called
Congo-Kinshasa after the capital Kinshasa
(in contrast to Congo-Brazzaville
for
its
neighbour).
The name "Congo" refers to the river
Congo, also known as the river Zaire. (The
river name Congo is related to the name of
the Bakongo ethnic group).
The Democratic Republic of the Congo
was formerly, in turn, the Congo Free State,
Belgian Congo, Congo