The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a large republic in Central Africa that attained independence from Belgium in 1960. With a population of more than 77 million and an area of 2.3 million square km, it is the 20th most populous and 11th largest country in the world. It is bordered by Angola in the southwest, Burundi and Rwanda in the east, the Central African Republic in the north, the Republic of Congo in the west, Zambia in the south, Tanzania in the east, and South Sudan in the northeast.


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General Information
Official Name: 
Republic of the Congo, République du Congo, formerly the Republic of Zaire & République du Zaïre
Capitol: 
Kinshasa
Population: 
79,301,000
Languages: 
French, Lingala, Kikongo, Swahili, Tshiluba
Geographic Region: 
Africa
Middle Africa
Geographic Size (km sq): 
2,344,858
Year of UN Membership: 
1960
Year of Present State Formation: 
1960
Current UN Representative: 
Ignace Gata Mavita wa Lufuta
Online Profiles
CIA World Factbook Country Profile: Democratic Republic of the Congo
BBC Country Profile: Democratic Republic of the Congo
U.S. Department of State Country Profile: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Law Library of Congress Country Profile: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Canada Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade County Profile: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Australia Department of Foreign Affairs Countries, Economies and Regions: Democratic Republic of the Congo
National Geographic Country Profile: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Lonely Planet Country Profile: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Key Statistics & Indicators
Gross Domestic Product (GDP, Nominal): 
$32.998 Billion
Per Capita Income (PPP Adjusted): 
$694 (CID)
GDP Growth: 
6.20 (%)
Human Development Index (HDI): 
0.34
Economic Grouping: 
Developing Country
Least Developed Country
History
BBC Timeline of The DRC
Chronology of Important Events: Zaire
Encyclopædia Britannica: The Democratic Republic of the Congo
International Relations
UN Voting Blocs & Caucuses: 
Group of 77 (G-77)
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
African Group
Major International & Regional Organizations: 
ACP: African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States
AfDB: African Development Bank
AU: African Union
CEPGL: Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries
COMESA: Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
EITI: Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative
G-24
ICRM: International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
IFRCS: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
IHO: International Hydrographic Organization
Interpol: International Criminal Police Organization
IOC: International Olympic Committee
IOM: International Organization for Migration
IPU: Inter-Parliamentary Union
ISO: International Organization for Standardization
ITSO: International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
ITUC: International Trade Union Confederation
OIF: Organisation internationale de la Francophonie
PCA: Permanent Court of Arbitration
SADC: Southern African Development Community
WCO: World Customs Organization
WFTU: World Federation of Trade Unions
UN Specialized Agencies & Organizations: 
CD: Conference on Disarmament
CTBTO: Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency
IBRD: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization
ICSID: International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
IDA: International Development Association
IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural Development
IFC: International Finance Corporation
ILO: International Labor Organization
IMF: International Monetary Fund
IMO: International Maritime Organization
ITU: International Telecommunications Union
MIGA: Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
OPCW: Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UNWTO: United Nations World Tourism Organization
UPU: Universal Postal Union
WBG: World Bank Group
WHO: World Health Organization
WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO: World Meteorological Organization
WTO: World Trade Organization
Bilateral Relations
Security Council: 
U.S. Department of State Fact Sheets: US-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations
U.K. Gov.UK Worldwide Activities: UK-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development: France-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations
P.R. of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations
Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs: News, Statements, Speeches and Documents
Asia (E/S/SE): 
Japan-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Korea-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs
India-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: Government of India Ministry of External Affairs Briefs
Vietnam-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: Viet Nam Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Africa & Middle East: 
Turkey-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Armenia-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Egypt-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: Arab Republic of Egypt Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Africa-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: South Africa International Relations & Cooperation
European Union: 
EU-Democratic Republic of the Congo Relations: E.U. External Action, European Union Around the Globe
Germany-Democratic Republic of the Congo Relations: Federal Foreign Office of Germany
Netherlands-Democratic Republic of the Congo Relations: Government of the Netherlands International Relations
Finland-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Greece-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: Hellenic Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Western (Non-EU): 
Canada-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: Government of Canada International Gateway, Offices & Embassies
Australia-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Country Briefs
New Zealand-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Switzerland-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: Swiss Confederation Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Monaco-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: Principauté de Monaco, Monaco Worldwide
Latin America & Caribbean : 
Cuba-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: Cuba MinRex, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba
Brazil-Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Relations: Brasil Ministério das Relações Exteriores (in Portuguese)
United Nations Data
United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo
Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
2014 UNHCR country operations profile – Democratic Republic of the Congo
UNDP Case Study: Democratic Republic of the Congo
UNEP Overview: Democratic Republic of the Congo
UN Development Policy and Analysis Division (DESA) least developed country profiles: Democratic Republic of the Congo
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) least developed country profiles: Democratic Republic of the Congo
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) least developed country profiles: Democratic Republic of the Congo
News Sources
BBC News Country Media Profile: Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Guardian World News Stories: Democratic Republic of the Congo
New York Times Countries & Regions News: Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Economist Topics Index: Democratic Republic of the Congo
World News Report: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Topix Real Time News and Updates: Democratic Republic of the Congo
ABYZ Newspapers and Media Guide: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Government Sources
Office of the President of the DRC
Embassy of the US in Kinshasa, Congo
UN Mission
Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United Nations
866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 511
New York, NY 10017
(212) 319-8061
(212) 319-8232
acpresse@gmail.com

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