Country

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Also Known As DR Congo · Zaire (the country's name from 1971 to 1997)

Middle Africa

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country in Central Africa centered on the Congo Basin, most of its terrain covered by dense rainforest and crossed by many rivers, with mountainous terrain in the east and southeast. It gained independence from Belgium on 30 June 1960. President Mobutu Sese Seko renamed the country Zaire in October 1971, a name it carried until 1997; it is also known today as DR Congo or Congo-Kinshasa, distinguishing it from the neighboring Republic of the Congo. Its capital, largest city and economic center is Kinshasa.

Facts

Capital

Kinshasa 2

Population

116,452,000 2

Population Estimate Year

2026 2

Area (sq km)

2,345,409 2

Independence or Founding Year

1960 2

Independence from Belgium, 30 June 1960.

Landlocked

No 3

Income Group

Low 4

Government Type

Republic 3

Classification

Sovereignty Status

UN Member State 1

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Regions

Kasaï region

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Cities

102 entries

Continent

Country (Contained By)

Population Band

Subregion

Founding Era

Founding Era (Approximate Range)

Elevation Band

Coastal or Inland

Climate Zone

Time Zone

Showing 1 to 50 of 102 in Cities, page 1 of 3.

FAQs

Why was the Democratic Republic of the Congo once called Zaire?

Mobutu renamed it after the Congo River's past name in October 1971.

President Mobutu Sese Seko renamed the country Zaire in October 1971. Zaire was a past name for the Congo River.

Connections

Associated With

Albertine Rift

Boyoma Falls

Central Africa

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the nine states the UN Middle Africa definition names.

Source Central Africa (Wikipedia)

Congolian Rainforests

Cuvette Centrale

Kinshasa

Source Kinshasa (Wikipedia)

Source Sub-Saharan Africa (Wikipedia)

The Congo Basin

Source Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)

The Great Rift Valley

Source East African Rift (Wikipedia)

The Nile

Source Nile (Wikipedia)

Virunga National Park

Source Virunga National Park (Wikipedia)

Bordered By Water

Angola

Source CIA World Factbook (factbook.json archive): The World Factbook archive: Angola

Central African Republic

Source CIA World Factbook (factbook.json archive): The World Factbook archive: Central African Republic

Lake Tanganyika

Source Lake Tanganyika (Wikipedia)

Republic of the Congo

Source CIA World Factbook (factbook.json archive): The World Factbook archive: Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

Source CIA World Factbook (factbook.json archive): The World Factbook archive: Rwanda

South Sudan

Source CIA World Factbook (factbook.json archive): The World Factbook archive: South Sudan

Has Capital

Kinshasa

Kinshasa is the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Source Kinshasa (Wikipedia)

Long-Form Articles

The many names of the Congo

Rivers Through Territory

Kasai River

The Congo River

Source Congo River (Wikipedia)

Ubangi River

In the Other Atlases

Same As

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Also in Political Atlas: the same subject.

Governed By

Suminwa Government

Also in Political Atlas: which governs this subject.

Source Judith Suminwa (Wikipedia)tier 2

Tshisekedi Administration

Also in Political Atlas: which governs this subject.

Source Felix Tshisekedi (Wikipedia)tier 2

Nationals Include

Paul Panda Farnana

Also in Agriculture and Farming Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Paul Panda Farnana

Bodo (painter)

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Bodo (painter)

Chéri Chérin

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Chéri Chérin

Chéri Samba

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: a national of this subject.

Pilipili Mulongoy

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: a national of this subject.

Tshibumba Kanda-Matulu

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: a national of this subject.

Marcel Lihau

Also in Law Atlas: a national of this subject.

Nicolas Bayona Ba Meya

Also in Law Atlas: a national of this subject.

Denis Mukwege

Also in Medicine Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Denis Mukwege (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

is a Congolese humanitarian, gynecologist and Pentecostal pastor

Felix Tshisekedi

Also in Political Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Felix Tshisekedi (Wikipedia)Leadtier 2

Quote, Lead

Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo (French: [feliks ɑ̃twan tʃisekedi tʃilombo]; born 13 June 1963) is a Congolese politician who is the fifth president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, serving since 2019.

Judith Suminwa

Also in Political Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Judith Suminwa (Wikipedia)Leadtier 2

Quote, Lead

Judith Suminwa Tuluka (born 19 October 1967) is a Congolese politician who has served as Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 2024, and is the first woman to hold the position.

Léon Kengo wa Dondo

Also in Political Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Léon Kengo wa Dondo (Wikipedia)Lead, country

Quote, Lead, country

is a Congolese politician

Patrice Lumumba

Also in Political Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Patrice Lumumba (Wikipedia)Leadtier 2

Quote, Lead

Patrice Émery Lumumba ( pə-TREESS luu-MUUM-bə; born Isaïe Tasumbu Tawosa; 2 July 1925 – 17 January 1961) was a Congolese politician, independence leader and revolutionary who served as the first prime minister of the First Congolese Republic (modern day Democratic Republic of the Congo) from June until September 1960, following his party's success in the May 1960 election.

Simon Kimbangu

Also in Political Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Simon Kimbangu (Wikipedia)Lead

Quote, Lead

Simon Kimbangu (September 12, 1887 – October 12, 1951) was a Congolese religious leader who founded the Christian new religious movement Kimbanguism.

Sophie Kanza

Also in Political Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Sophie Kanza (Wikipedia)Lead section

Quote, Lead section

was a Congolese politician

Cédric Mongongu

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Cédric Mongongu (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a centre back for the DR Congo national team

Dikembe Mutombo

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Dikembe Mutombo

Origin Of

Bodo (painter)

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Chéri Samba

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Pilipili Mulongoy

Also in Arts and Music Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Pilipili Mulongoy (Wikipedia)Wikipedia sections

Quote, Wikipedia sections

was born on February 12, 1914, in Ankoro, a town in the Shaba Province of the Belgian Congo, now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Isombe

Also in Food and Drink Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Location Of

Second Congo War

Also in War and Military Atlas: which took place in this subject.

Source Second Congo War - WikipediaInfobox: location

Quote, Infobox: location

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Site Of

Central Bank of the Congo

Also in Economics Atlas: which is located in this subject.