What are the Key Facts of The Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Where is the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a Central African country in the sub-Saharan region. It shares its border with South Sudan and Central African Republic (to the north), Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda (to the east), Angola and Zambia (to the south), the Republic of the Congo to the west. It has a unique location on the equator, where 1/3 of the country’s total land area is found north of the equator, and 2/3 is found south of the equator.

What is the Geography of the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is predominantly a landlocked country with just 37 km (23 miles) of coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the second largest country of Africa and is spread over a total area of 2,344,858 sq. km (905,567 sq. miles). The country has 2,267,048 sq. km (1,408,678 sq miles) of land and 77,810 sq. km (48,348 sq miles) of water. The country was known as the Republic of Zaire from 1971 to 1997.

DRC has six distinct physical geographic traits:

1. Surrounded by plateaus.
2. The savannas (located in the south and southwest) get merged with the surrounding plateaus.
3. The mountainous terraces are located in the west.
4. In the northern part of the country, dense grasslands are there that extend beyond the Congo River.
5. In the eastern part of the DRC, plateaus of over 1,524 meters (5,000 feet) are there. The glaciated and volcanic Great Rift Valley mountains are also there in the eastern region.
6. Shaba Plateau is also located in the southeastern part of DRC.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has the second largest rainforest of the world, second only to the Amazon. It is spread over the central and western part of the country as well as the Congo River basin. The extreme elevation of the country ranges from sea level (Atlantic Ocean) to 5,110 meters (16,765 feet) of Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema, Mount Stanley. Mean elevation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is 726 meters (2,382 feet).

The major mountains of DRC are Mount Stanley, Mount Emin, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Mikeno, Mount Visoke, Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Mohi, and Mount Nyiragongo. The Congo River is the longest river (4,398 km or 2,733 miles) in DRC, which is navigable for around 1,448 km (900 miles). The other major rivers of the country are Nile, Kasai, Lualaba, White Nile, Lomami, Uele, Sankuru, Kwango, and others.

Along the river basin, the climate is hot and humid. The southern highlands are cool and dry. Cold and alpine climate can be found in the Rwenzori Mountains.

Rainy season varies in the north and south of the equator. In the north of the equator, rainfall takes place from April-to-November. In the south of the equator, October-to-May is the rainy season. Rainfall occurs throughout the year along the equator.

The average rainfall of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is around 1,070 mm (42 inches). The dry season varies in the north and south of the equator: In the north of the equator, it’s December-to-February. In the south of the equator, April-to-October is the dry season.

What is the Economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second poorest country in the world despite having vast natural resources and mineral wealth. Around 80% of the total population of DRC lives in extreme poverty, living on less than US$1.25 per day.

At the time of its independence in 1960, it was the 2nd most industrialized country in Africa. However, systematic corruption, political instability, and intermittent conflict have adversely affected the economic growth of DRC. The country was severely impacted by the two Congo Wars in the region involving other African countries and armed militias. This has resulted in widespread deaths, starvation, political instability and lack of infrastructure development. Nominal GDP stood at US$37.64 billion in 2017 (World Bank). It is expected to increase to US$46.12 billion by 2019.

The 2017 estimated exports and imports are $10.98 billion and $10.82 billion respectively. The main export items are diamonds, cobalt, gold, copper, coffee, crude oil, and wood products. It imports food items, fuel, transport equipment, and mining and other machinery.

The country has started modernizing since 2016. Water supply reconstructions, electricity access expansion, strengthening the health system (both child and maternal) and urban/social rehabilitation programs have helped the country move up the HDI list.

What is the Transportation System of the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

• Transportation (especially the ground transport) has not developed significantly. Airways has become one of the main means of transport for many people who travel around the country. Kinshasa’s N’djili Airport and Lubumbashi International Airport are the main international airports of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are 198 airports in the country, out of which 172 have unpaved runways and 26 have paved runways.
• Railway transport is spread over 4,007 km (2,490 miles). The main railway routes are Matadi-Kinshasa Railway, Vicicongo line, Katanga line, Great lakes line (first and second sections), Katanga-Benguela line, Kasai line, and Katanga line.
• Waterways in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is spread over 15,000 km (9321 miles), especially on the Congo River, its tributaries, and lakes.
• There are 152,373 km (94,680 miles) roadways in the country, out of which 3,047 km are paved and 149,326 km unpaved.
• 27 merchant marines are there in DRC. While Banana is the major seaport, other important river/lake ports are Boma, Mbandaka, Kisangani, Kinshasa, Bumba, Matadi, Goma, Bukavu, Kindu, and Kalemie.

What International Organizations is the Democratic Republic of the Congo Part of?

WTO, UN, ACP, WHO, AfDB, IMF, AU, CEMAC, CEPGL, ILO, COMESA, EITI (compliant country), UNESCO, FAO, G-24, G-77, UNHCR, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, UNCTAD, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, OPCW, IDA, IFAD, NAM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Interpol, WMO, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OIF, PCA, SADC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), and WIPO.