DRC: Fact file

Updated November 2010

Name République Démocratique du Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC)
Area 2 344 885 sq km
Capital Kinshasa
Major cities Lubumbashi, Mbuji-Mayi, Kolwezi, Kisangani, Kananga, Likasi (Frame 2008, 323)
Boundaries Congo, Central African Republic, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola
Population 67.827 million, 2010 est (UN Statistics Division 2009a)
Natural pop growth 2.76 %, 2005-2010 est (UN Statistics Division 2009b)
Urbanisation 33.3%, 2007 est (UN Statistics Division undated)
Life expectancy Female 49.0 yrs, male 45.9 yrs; 2005-2010 est (UN Statistics Division 2009c, 2009d)
Infant mortality 117/1000, 2005-2010 est (UN Statistics Division 2009e)
HIV/AIDS prevalence 4.04%, adults, 2007 est (Programme National Multisectoriel 2008, 11)
Adult literacy rate 67%; 2003-2008 est (UN Statistics Division 2010a)
Military expenditure no data (UN Statistics Division 2010b)
Health expenditure 4.2% of GDP; 2005 (UN Statistics Division 2008)
Legal system Belgian and customary law (Zongwe et al 2007)
Independence June 30, 1960 (Belgium)
GDP US$11.588 billion, 2008 est (UN Statistics Division 2010c)
GDP per capita US$181, 2008 est (UN Statistics Division 2009g)
GDP growth rate 6.2%, 2008 est (UN Statistics Division 2010d)
Main exports Diamonds, oil, cobalt, copper (Frame 2008, 326)
Currency Franc Congolais (FC)
Unemployment 58%, 2009 (AFDB/OECD 2010)
Inflation rate 19.5%, 2008 (UN Statistics Division 2010e)
External debt ratio 47.5% of GDP, 2009 (IMF 2010, 95)
Roads 157 000 km, 33 00 main; in very poor condition; river main means of transport (Frame 2008, 314, 315)
Rail 5 138 km (SADC 2007)
Airports 230, 25 paved (SADC 2007)
Ethnic groups More than 200; major groups Mongo, Luba, Kongo and Mangbetu-Azande 45% population (SADC 2007).
Languages French (official); national languages Lingala, Kingwana (form of Swahili), Kikongo and Tshiluba (SADC 2007)
Religion 70% Christian (50% Roman Catholic, 20% Protestant), 10% Muslim and 20% Traditional African Religions (SADC 2007)

References

AFDB/OECD 2010 "Congo, Democratic Republic" IN African Economic Outlook, [www] http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/central-africa/congo-democratic-republic/ [opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

FRAME, I 2008 (ed) Africa South of the Sahara 2008, Routledge.

IMF 2010 Regional Economic Outlook: Sub-Saharan Africa, October, [www] http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/reo/2010/AFR/eng/pdf/sreo1010.pdf, [PDF document, opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

PROGRAMME NATIONAL MULTISECTORIEL DE LUTTE CONTRE LE VIH/SIDA 2008 "Rapport national de suivi UNGASS 2007" IN 2008 progress reports submitted by countries, UNAIDS, [www] http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2008/ democratic_republic_of_congo_2008_country_progress_report_fr.pdf [PDF document, opens in window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

SADC 2007 "Democratic Republic of Congo" IN Country Profiles, 102, 103, 108, [www] http://www.sadcreview.com/pdfs07/drc2007_08.pdf (offline 23 Nov 2010).

UN STATISTICS DIVISION 2008 "Total expenditure on health as percentage of gross domestic product" IN UNdata, 14 Jul, [www] http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=Gross+domestic+product&d=WHO&f=inID%3AHSR20 [opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

UN STATISTICS DIVISION 2009a "Total population, both sexes combined" IN UNdata, 18 Jun, [www] http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=Population&d=PopDiv&f=variableID%3a12 [opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

UN STATISTICS DIVISION 2009b "Population growth rate" IN UNdata, 18 Jun, [www] http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=Population&d=PopDiv&f=variableID%3a47 [opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

UN STATISTICS DIVISION 2009c "Life expectancy at birth, females" IN UNdata, 18 Jun, [www] http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=Life+expectancy&d=PopDiv&f=variableID%3a67 [opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

UN STATISTICS DIVISION 2009d "Life expectancy at birth, males" IN UNdata, 18 Jun, [www] http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=Life+expectancy&d=PopDiv&f=variableID%3a66 [opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

UN STATISTICS DIVISION 2009e "Infant mortality rate" IN UNdata, [www] http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=MExico&d=PopDiv&f=variableID%3A77%3BcrID%3A484 [opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

UN STATISTICS DIVISION 2009f "Adult HIV/AIDS prevalence rate" IN UNdata, [www] http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=HIV%2fAIDS+prevalence&d=SOWC&f=inID%3a73 [opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

UN STATISTICS DIVISION 2009g "Per capita GDP at current prices" IN UNdata, [www] http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=GDP&d=SNAAMA&f=grID%3a101%3bcurrID%3aUSD%3bpcFlag%3a1 [opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

UN STATISTICS DIVISION 2010a "Adult literacy rate" IN UNdata, 14 Ju, [www] http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=Adult+literacy&d=SOWC&f=inID%3a74 [opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

UN STATISTICS DIVISION 2010b "Military expenditure" IN UNdata, 12 Feb, [www] http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=GDP&d=WDI&f=Indicator_Code%3AMS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS [opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

UN STATISTICS DIVISION 2010c "GDP" IN UNdata, 12 Feb, [www] http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=GDP&d=WDI&f=Indicator_Code%3aNY.GDP.MKTP.CD [opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

UN STATISTICS DIVISION 2010d "GDP growth" IN UNdata, 12 Feb, [www] http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=GDP&d=WDI&f=Indicator_Code%3aNY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG [opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

UN STATISTICS DIVISION 2010e "Inflation, GDP deflator" IN UNdata, 12 Feb, [www] http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=Inflation&d=WDI&f=Indicator_Code%3aNY.GDP.DEFL.KD.ZG [opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

UN STATISTICS DIVISION UNDATED "Democratic Republic of the Congo", [www] http://data.un.org/CountryProfile.aspx?crName=Democratic%20Republic%20of%20the%20Congo [opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).

ZONGWE, D, BUTEDI, F & PHEBE, C 2007 "The Legal System and Research of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): An Overview" IN Hauser Global Law School Program, [www] http://www.nyulawglobal.org/globalex/Democratic_Republic_Congo.htm [opens new window] (accessed 22 Nov 2010).