DRC: Fact file
Updated March 2010
| 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) |
| Infant mortality | 117/1000, 2005-2010 (UN Statistics Division 2010a) |
| 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) |
| Military expenditure | No data (UN Statistics Division 2010b) |
| Health expenditure | 4.2% of GDP; 2005 (UN Statistics Division 2010c) |
| 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$101, 2008 (IMF 2009, 65) |
| GDP growth rate | 6.2%, 2008 (IMF 2009, 62) |
| Main exports | Diamonds, oil, cobalt, copper (Frame 2008, 326) |
| Currency | Franc Congolais (FC) |
| Unemployment | 8.9% underemployment 81.7%; 2008 (AfDB/OECD 2008, 255) |
| Inflation rate | 18%, 2008 (IMF 2009, 66) |
| External debt ratio | 115.9% of GDP, 2008 (IMF 2009, 84) |
| 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 2008 "Democratic Republic of the Congo" IN African Economic Outlook 2008, [www] http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/13/39/40577125.pdf [PDF document, opens new window] (accessed 17 Mar 2010).
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 17 Mar 2010).
IMF 2009 Regional Economic Outlook: Sub-Saharan Africa, October, [www] http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/reo/2009/AFR/eng/sreo1009.pdf, [PDF document, opens new window] (accessed 17 Mar 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 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 17 Mar 2010).
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).
UN STATISTICS DIVISION 2010a "Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 births)" IN UNdata, [www] http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=MExico&d=PopDiv&f=variableID%3A77%3BcrID%3A484 [opens new window] (accessed 17 Mar 2010).
UN STATISTICS DIVISION 2010b "Military expenditure (% of GDP)" IN UNdata, [www] http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=GDP&d=WDI&f=Indicator_Code%3AMS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS [opens new window] (accessed 17 Mar 2010).
UN STATISTICS DIVISION 2010c "Total expenditure on health as percentage of gross domestic product" IN UNdata, [www] http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=Gross+domestic+product&d=WHO&f=inID%3AHSR20 [opens new window] (accessed 17 Mar 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 17 Mar 2010).
