Country Profile: Congo, Democratic Republic

Last reviewed: 17 March 2008

Country information

Map of the Democratic Republic of Congo

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO TODAY

Country Facts

Area: 2,345,410 sq km
Population: 58,784,400 (estimated)
Capital City: Kinshasa (approx 8 million)
People: Over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the 4 largest tribes – Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbtu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population.
Language(s): French (official), Lingala, Swahili, Kikongo, Tshiluba.
Religion(s): Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other sects and indigenous beliefs 10%.
Currency: Congolese franc
Major political parties: Parti du Peuple pour la Réconstruction et la Démocratie (PPRD), Mouvement pour la Libération du Congo (MLC), Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie (RCD), Mouvement Social pour la Renouveau (MSR), Parti Unifié Lumumbiste (PALU), Forces du Renouveau, Union des Democrates Mobutistes (UDEMO), Coalition des Democrates Congolais (CODECO), Union Nationale de Federalistes en Congo (UNAFEC), RCD-Nationale (RCD-N), Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social (UDPS)
Head of State: President Joseph Kabila (elected 2006)
Prime Minister: Antoine Gizenga
Foreign Minister: Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi
Membership of international groupings: UN, African Union (AU), Southern African Development Community(SADC), and Community of East and Southern African States (COMESA).