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
Population Estimate Year Area (sq km) Independence or Founding YearIndependence from Belgium, 30 June 1960. Classification
Sovereignty Status Democratic Republic of the Congo
Connections
Associated With
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the nine states the UN Middle Africa definition names.
Source Central Africa (Wikipedia)
Source Kinshasa (Wikipedia)
Source Sub-Saharan Africa (Wikipedia)
Source Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)
Source East African Rift (Wikipedia)
Source Nile (Wikipedia)
Source Virunga National Park (Wikipedia)
Bordered By Water
Source Lake Tanganyika (Wikipedia)
Has Capital
Kinshasa is the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Source Kinshasa (Wikipedia)
Rivers Through Territory
Source Congo River (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Member States of the United Nations (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationIntroductionQuote, Introduction
The United Nations comprise 193 sovereign states and the world's largest intergovernmental organization.
2. Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead 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
Infobox, Population year
2026 estimate
Infobox, Independence
Independence from Belgium: 30 June 1960
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 edgeQuote, 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.
Congo River (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationRivers Through Territory: The Congo River, Course descriptionQuote, Rivers Through Territory: The Congo River, Course description
running by Matadi and Boma, and into the sea at Muanda
Lake Tanganyika (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationBordered By Water: Lake Tanganyika, Infobox, CountriesQuote, Bordered By Water: Lake Tanganyika, Infobox, Countries
Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Zambia
Nile (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: The Nile, Infobox, Basin countriesQuote, Associated With: The Nile, Infobox, Basin countries
Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda
Kinshasa (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Kinshasa, Infobox, Country
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Has Capital: Kinshasa, Lead section, capital fact
Kinshasa 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 sectionQuote, 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.
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