DRC: Fact file
Updated October 2009
| Name | 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 | 62.5 million, 2007 (UNDP 2009) |
| Natural pop growth | 2.8%, 2005-2010 (UNDP 2009) |
| Urbanisation | 27.8%, 1990 (UNDP 2009) |
| Life expectancy | Female 49.2 yrs, male 46.1 yrs; 2007 (UNDP 2009) |
| HIV/AIDS prevalence | 4.04%, adults, 2007 est (Programme National Multisectoriel 2008, 11) |
| Adult literacy rate | Female 54.1%, male 80.9%; 2007 (UNDP 2009) |
| Health expenditure | 7.2% of government expenditure; 2004 (UNDP 2009) |
| Legal system | Belgian and customary law (Zongwe et al 2007) |
| Independence | June 30, 1960, Belgium |
| GDP | US$10.144 billions, 2007 est (IMF 2008) |
| GDP per capita | US$166, 2007 est (IMF 2008) |
| GDP growth rate | 6.2%, 2008 est (IMF 2009) |
| Main exports | Diamonds, oil, cobalt, copper (Frame 2008, 326) |
| Currency | Franc Congolais (FC) |
| Unemployment | 85%, 2002 (Moyroud & Katunga 2002) |
| Inflation rate | 18%, 2008 est (IMF 2009) |
| External debt ratio | 86.6% of GDP, 2008 (IMF 2009) |
| 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
FRAME, I 2008 (ed) Africa South of the Sahara 2008, Routledge.
IMF 2008 World Economic Outlook Database, April 2008, [www] http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/index.aspx [opens new window] (accessed 21 Apr 2008).
IMF 2009 Regional Economic Outlook: Sub-Saharan Africa, 66, 70, 88, [www] http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/reo/2009/afr/eng/sreo0409.pdf, [PDF document, opens new window] (accessed 18 May 2009).
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 30 Apr 2008).
SADC 2007 " Democratic Republic of Congo" IN Country Profiles, 102, 103, 108, [www] http://www.sadcreview.com/pdfs07/drc2007_08.pdf [PDF document, opens new window] (accessed 22 Apr 2008).
MOYROUD, C & KATUNGA, J 2002 "Coltan Exploration in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)" IN Lind, J & Sturman, K (eds) Scarcity and Surfeit: The ecology of Africa’s conflicts, African Centre for Technology Studies and Institute for Security Studies, 167, [www] http://www.iss.co.za/dynamic/administration/file_manager/file_links/SCARCITYCHAPTER4.PDF?link_id=22&slink_id=1513&link_type=12&slink_type=13&tmpl_id=3 [PDF document, opens new window] (accessed 19 May 2009).
UNDP 2009 "Congo (Democratic Republic of the) HDI Rank - 176", IN Human Development Report 2009, [www] http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/data_sheets/cty_ds_COD.html [opens new window] (accessed 15 October 2009).
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 Apr 2008).
