Countries

Democratic Republic of the Congo

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

Citation Formats

General Reference

Geography Atlas. "Democratic Republic of the Congo." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://dev-geography.interactiveatlas.org/countries/democratic-republic-of-the-congo.

APA Style

Geography Atlas. (n.d.). Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://dev-geography.interactiveatlas.org/countries/democratic-republic-of-the-congo

BibTeX

@misc{geographyatlas-democratic-republic-of-the-congo,
  author = {Geography Atlas},
  title = {Democratic Republic of the Congo},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://dev-geography.interactiveatlas.org/countries/democratic-republic-of-the-congo},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

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 1

Population

116,452,000 1

Population Estimate Year

2026 1

Area (sq km)

2,345,409 1

Independence or Founding Year

1960 1

Independence from Belgium, 30 June 1960.

Cross-Tradition Connections

Associated With

Central Africa

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

Source Central Africa (Wikipedia)

Kinshasa

Source Kinshasa (Wikipedia)

Sub-Saharan Africa

Source Sub-Saharan Africa (Wikipedia)

The Congo Basin

Source Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)

The Nile

Source Nile (Wikipedia)

Bordered By Water

Lake Tanganyika

Source Lake Tanganyika (Wikipedia)

Has Capital

Kinshasa

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

Source Kinshasa (Wikipedia)

On Continent

Africa

Source Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)

Rivers Through Territory

The Congo River

Source Congo River (Wikipedia)

In the Other Atlases

Also in Political Atlas: Suminwa Government, part of this there.
Also in Political Atlas: Tshisekedi Administration, part of this there.

Sources

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationLead section, alt names

Quote, Lead section, alt names

also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo

View the Source

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationZaire period section

Quote, Zaire period section

It was renamed Zaire, a past name for the Congo River, in October 1971 by President Mobutu Sese Seko

View the Source

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationInfobox

Quote, Infobox

The capital, largest city, and economic center is Kinshasa.

View the Source

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationInfobox, Area

Quote, Infobox, Area

2,345,409 km2 (905,567 sq mi)

View the Source

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationInfobox, Population

Quote, Infobox, Population

2026 estimate: 116,452,000

View the Source

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationInfobox, Population year

Quote, Infobox, Population year

2026 estimate

View the Source

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationInfobox, Independence

Quote, Infobox, Independence

Independence from Belgium: 30 June 1960

View the Source

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationLead section

Quote, 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.

View the Source

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationOn Continent: AfricaView the Source

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: The Congo BasinView the Source

Central Africa (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia FoundationDefinition section, DRC associated-with edge

Quote, Definition section, DRC associated-with edge