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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. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

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.
Classification
Sovereignty Status
UN Member State 1
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Cities

Bandundu

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Boende

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Boma

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Bukavu

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Bunagana

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Bunia

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Buta

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Butembo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Gbadolite

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Gemena

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Goma

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Inongo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Isiro

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kabinda

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kalemie

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kamina

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kananga

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kenge

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kikwit

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kindu

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kinshasa

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kisangani

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kolwezi

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Likasi

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lisala

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lubumbashi

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lusambo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Matadi

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mbandaka

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mbuji-Mayi

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Tshikapa

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Uvira

Democratic Republic of the Congo
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, Landforms
Boyoma Falls, Bodies of Water
Central Africa, Regions

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

Source Central Africa (Wikipedia)
Congolian Rainforests, Landforms
Cuvette Centrale, Bodies of Water
Kinshasa, Cities
Source Kinshasa (Wikipedia)
Lake Albert, Bodies of Water
Lake Edward, Bodies of Water
Lake Kivu, Bodies of Water
Lake Mweru, Bodies of Water
Sub-Saharan Africa, Regions
Source Sub-Saharan Africa (Wikipedia)
The Congo Basin, Landforms
Source Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)
The Great Rift Valley, Landforms
Source East African Rift (Wikipedia)
The Nile, Bodies of Water
Source Nile (Wikipedia)
Virunga National Park, Protected Areas
Source Virunga National Park (Wikipedia)

Bordered By Water

Lake Tanganyika, Bodies of Water
Source Lake Tanganyika (Wikipedia)

Has Capital

Kinshasa, Cities

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

Source Kinshasa (Wikipedia)

Rivers Through Territory

Kasai River, Bodies of Water
The Congo River, Bodies of Water
Source Congo River (Wikipedia)
Ubangi River, Bodies of Water
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.

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.

Site Of

Central Bank of the Congo

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

Found There

Thielaviopsis basicola

Also in Agriculture and Farming Atlas: found in this subject.

Source EPPO Global Database: Berkeleyomyces basicola (THIEBA) - DistributionDistribution
Quote, Distribution
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Present, widespread
Albertine Rift

Also in Earth and Environment Atlas: found in this subject.

Congo Craton

Also in Earth and Environment Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Congo Craton
Lavaka

Also in Earth and Environment Atlas: found in this subject.

Malachite

Also in Earth and Environment Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Geology.com: Malachite mineral and gemstoneArticle text
Quote, Article text
Much of the malachite entering the lapidary market today is from deposits in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mount Bisoke

Also in Earth and Environment Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Mount Bisoke
Mount Karisimbi

Also in Earth and Environment Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Mount Karisimbi
Mount Nyiragongo

Also in Earth and Environment Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Mount Nyiragongo
Mount Sabyinyo

Also in Earth and Environment Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Mount Sabyinyo
Rift Valley

Also in Earth and Environment Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Gregory Rift
Ruwenzori Mountains

Also in Earth and Environment Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Ruwenzori Mountains
Virunga Mountains

Also in Earth and Environment Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Virunga Mountains
Democratic Republic of the Congo National Program to Fight AIDS (PNLS)

Also in Health and Wellness Atlas: found in this subject.

Boan languages

Also in Language Atlas: found in this subject.

Konjo language (Bantu)

Also in Language Atlas: found in this subject.

Lenduic languages

Also in Language Atlas: found in this subject.

Mangbetu languages

Also in Language Atlas: found in this subject.

Mangbutu-Lese languages

Also in Language Atlas: found in this subject.

Ngiri language

Also in Language Atlas: found in this subject.

Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Also in Law Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Wikidata: Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Court of Cassation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Also in Law Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Association des hautes juridictions de cassation des pays ayant en partage l usage du francais: Republique democratique du Congo, Cour de cassation, AHJUCAFPage listing, jurisprudence of the Court of Cassation
Quote, Page listing, jurisprudence of the Court of Cassation
Jurisprudence de la Cour de cassation de la République Démocratique du Congo
Supreme Court of Justice of Zaire

Also in Law Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Marcel Antoine Lihau, une sommite intellectuelle, Gazette du ContinentBiography of Marcel Lihau, president in 1968
Quote, Biography of Marcel Lihau, president in 1968
en 1968, il est président de la Cour suprême de justice du Congo.
Adder's Tongue Fern

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

African Baobab

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

African Great Lakes

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

African Yellowwood

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Global Biodiversity Information Facility: GBIF species distributions: African YellowwoodDistributions
Quote, Distributions
"locality": "Democratic Republic of the Congo", "country": "CD", "status": "PRESENT", "establishmentMeans": "NATIVE", "source": "Checklist of the vascular plants of the Democratic Republic of the Congo"
Asian Tiger Mosquito

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Atlantic Tarpon

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Banana (Musa acuminata)

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Banyan

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Baobab

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Black Spleenwort

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Blue Marlin

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Bluegill

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Book Scorpion

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Cacao (Theobroma cacao)

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Common Carp

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Common redshank

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Congo Basin Rainforest

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Dalbergia melanoxylon

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Drosophila melanogaster

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Eggplant

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Fruit Fly

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Giant Oarfish

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Great cormorant

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Green Sea Turtle

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Greylag Goose

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

House Sparrow

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Humpback Anglerfish

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Showing 1 to 50 of 70 in Found There, page 1 of 2.

Sources
1. Member States of the United Nations (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationIntroduction
Quote, Introduction
The United Nations comprise 193 sovereign states and the world's largest intergovernmental organization.
View the Source
2. Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead section, alt names
    also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo
  • Zaire period section
    It was renamed Zaire, a past name for the Congo River, in October 1971 by President Mobutu Sese Seko
  • Infobox
    The capital, largest city, and economic center is Kinshasa.
  • Infobox, Area
    2,345,409 km2 (905,567 sq mi)
  • Infobox, Population
    2026 estimate: 116,452,000
  • Article text
    In 2026, 52% of the population had access to water services (29% in rural areas).
  • Article text
    The Belgian Congo achieved independence on 30 June 1960 under the name "Republic of the Congo".
  • Lead section
    Centered on the Congo Basin, most of the DRC's terrain is covered by dense rainforests and is crossed by many rivers. The east and southeast are mountainous.
  • On Continent: Africa
  • Associated With: The Congo Basin
View the Source
Central Africa (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationDefinition section, DRC associated-with edge
Quote, Definition section, DRC associated-with edge
the United Nations geoscheme identifies it as Middle Africa, comprising nine sovereign states including the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
View the Source
Wikidata: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Wikidata Q974, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Congo River (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationRivers Through Territory: The Congo River, Course description
Quote, Rivers Through Territory: The Congo River, Course description
running by Matadi and Boma, and into the sea at Muanda
View the Source
Lake Tanganyika (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationBordered By Water: Lake Tanganyika, Lead section
Quote, Bordered By Water: Lake Tanganyika, Lead section
The lake is shared among four countries-Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the DRC), Burundi, and Zambia-with Tanzania (46%) and the DRC (40%) possessing the majority of the lake.
View the Source
Nile (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: The Nile, Article text
Quote, Associated With: The Nile, Article text
Eleven countries are wholly or partially within the basin: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
View the Source
Kinshasa (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Associated With: Kinshasa, Infobox, Country
    Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Has Capital: Kinshasa, Lead section
    Kinshasa (; French: [kinʃasa]; Lingala: Kinsásá), formerly named Léopoldville (Dutch: Leopoldstad) from 1881 to 1966, is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
View the Source
East African Rift (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: The Great Rift Valley, Extent section
Quote, Associated With: The Great Rift Valley, Extent section
The Western Rift Valley includes the Albertine Rift, which transects Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi through the Ruzizi Plain, and farther south Tanzania, Zambia, the valley of Lake Malawi and Mozambique.
View the Source
Wikidata: Virunga National Park
Encompasses: Virunga National Park, Wikidata item, property P17 (country)View the Source
Wikidata: Mangroves National Park
Encompasses: Mangroves National Park, Wikidata item, property P17 (country)View the Source
Wikidata: Okapi Wildlife Reserve
Encompasses: Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Wikidata item, property P17 (country)View the Source

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