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Sub Saharan Africa

Congo (Democratic Republic)
Last reviewed: 16 June 2011

Country information

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), Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social (UDPS), Union Pour La Nation Congolaise (UNC), 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),
Head of State: President Joseph Kabila (elected 2006)
Prime Minister: Adolphe Muzito
Foreign Minister: Alexis Thambwe
Membership of international groupings: UN, African Union (AU), Southern African Development Community(SADC), and Community of East and Southern African States (COMESA).

HEALTH  

Health requirements: Health Needs  

Country information

Travel Advice

Travel Advice: Democratic Republic of Congo

See also

Useful links

• DFID Country Profile: Democratic Republic of Congo
• IMF Country Reports - Democratic Republic of Congo
• United Nations Development Programme
• World Bank
• Hansard website
• Health Needs
• BBC News: Africa
• BBC News Country Profile: Democratic Republic of Congo