Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Table of Contents
References & Edit History Facts & Stats
Images
Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo Physical features of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Mount Nyiragongo Congo River basin and drainage network Congo River: fishing Lombi tree Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ethnic composition
For Students
Democratic Republic of the Congo summary
Quizzes
Flags of all countries of the world. Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
The Country Quiz
7:023 Geography: Think of Something Big, globe showing Africa, Europe, and Eurasia
Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz
Flags of the world against blue sky. Countries, International. Globalization, global relations, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Poland, Palestine, Japan. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz
Flags of all nations of the world. Grouping of various country flags on a world map.
Which Country Is Larger? Quiz
Opened passport with visas, stamps, seals, world map. (travel, tourism)
Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz
Related Questions
Read Next
Olduvai Gorge or Olduwai Gorge, Tanzania, Africa (eastern Serengeti Plain) Where fossil remains of more than 60 hominins provides the most continuous known record of human evolution. Mary Leakey and Louis Leakey made discoveries here. Archaeology
7 Amazing Historical Sites in Africa
This is a July 3, 1960 file photo of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the Republic of Congo.
How did Patrice Lumumba die?
Namib desert, Namibia.
8 Amazing Physical Features of Africa
Discover
Chinese pictograph, calligraphy tablet of Huang Tingjian, a famous calligrapher in Ancient Song Dynasty. The background of Chinese cultural elements.
The World’s 5 Most Commonly Used Writing Systems
Ice Sledge Hockey, Hockey Canada Cup, USA (left) vs Canada, 2009. UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver, BC, competition site for Olympic ice hockey and Paralympic ice sledge hockey. Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver Olympics
10 Best Hockey Players of All Time
Artist interpretation of a Space meteoroid impact. Meteor impact. Asteroid, End of the world, danger, destruction, dinosaur extinct, Judgement Day, Planet Earth, Doomsday Predictions, comet
10 Failed Doomsday Predictions
All Saints Day. All Souls Day. Candles in cemetery in Poland on All Saints Day, November 1. All Souls Day, November 2. Christian church, All Hallows, Solemnity of All Saints, Feast of All Saints, purgatory, Roman Catholic church
7 Unique Burial Rituals Across the World
Mona Lisa, oil on wood panel by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1503-06; in the Louvre, Paris, France. 77 x 53 cm.
Why Is the Mona Lisa So Famous?
Candles Burning On Table In Church
What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?
African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.
Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement
print Print
Please select which sections you would like to print:
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Also known as: Congo-Kinshasa, DRC, République Démocratique du Congo, République du Congo, Republic of the Congo
Written by
Bernd Michael Wiese
Lecturer in Geography, University of Cologne. Author of Zaire and others.
Bernd Michael Wiese,
Dennis D. Cordell
Associate Vice Provost for General Education and Professor of History, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. Adjunct Professor of Demography, University of Montreal. Coauthor of Hoe and Wage:...
Dennis D. Cordell•All
Fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: • Article History
The US oversees a peace pledge for east Congo, hoping to ease its access to critical minerals • Apr. 25, 2025, 6:50 PM ET (AP)
Americans linked to Congo coup attempt plead not guilty to US criminal charges • Apr. 25, 2025, 4:50 PM ET (AP)
Bonobos in Congo form girl groups to fend off male aggression, study says • Apr. 24, 2025, 11:01 AM ET (AP)
Death toll from a boat capsizing in Congo earlier this week rises to 148, officials say • Apr. 18, 2025, 4:58 PM ET (AP)

Holidays celebrated in Congo include Commemoration of the Martyrs of Independence, observed on January 4; Labor Day and National Liberation Day, celebrated on May 1 and May 17, respectively; Independence Day, celebrated on June 30; Parents’ Day, celebrated on August 1; Youth Day, observed on October 14; Army Day and the Anniversary of the Second Republic, observed on November 17 and November 24, respectively; and Christmas, celebrated on December 25.