DR Congo
- Capital:
- Kinshasa
- Continent:
- Africa
- Region(s):
- Middle Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
- Largest Cities:
- Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Mbuji-Mayi
- Abbreviation:
- COD
* As of 6/9/2025
1 birth
Every 6.9 seconds
1 death
Every 33.6 seconds
1 emigrant
Every 19.2 minutes
1 person
Every 8.8 seconds
80% of the people in DR Congo are Bantu, but there are more than 250 ethnic groups in the country. Other groups include the Central Sudanic/Ubangian, Milotic and Pygmy peoples.
The official language of the nation is French, but Lingala, Kingwana, Kikongo, and Tshiluba are also common. Both French and English are taught in secondary and high schools.
The median age of DR Congo is 18.8 years with nearly half of the population under 15 years old.
80-95% of the population is Christian, making the Congo the most Christian nation in Africa. Indigenous beliefs account for 2-10% of the population, followed by Islam at 1.5-10%.
The Second Congo War that started in 1998 (also called the African world war) was the deadliest conflict on earth since the Chinese Civil War. 90% of soldiers died from malaria and disease and displaced a huge percentage of the population. 47% of the deaths were children under 5, and DR Congo is still trying to recover. DR Congo’s population grew from only 39 million in 1992 to 66 million in 2009, despite its ongoing war.