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).
