Democratic Republic of the Congo: Flag and Facts
The Democratic Republic of the Congo's flag is sky blue with a red diagonal stripe edged in yellow, running from lower left to upper right, and a yellow star in the top-left corner.
- Capital
- Kinshasa
- Region
- Middle Africa
- Population
- 119 million (2025)
- Languages
- French, Kikongo, Lingala, Tshiluba
- Currency
- Congolese franc
- Area
- 2,344,858 km² (905,354 sq mi)
- People
- Congolese
- Calling code
- +243
- Highest point
- Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m
- Independence
- 30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
- National symbols
- leopard
- Borders
- Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
About Democratic Republic of the Congo
Blue means peace and hope, red the blood of martyrs, and yellow the nation's wealth. The star signals unity and a bright future. With 2,344,858 square kilometers, the country is slightly less than a quarter the size of the US, and about 119 million people live there.
Between 2000 B.C. and A.D. 500, migrants from West and Northeastern Africa settled the Congo River Basin and more than 200 ethnic groups now trace their roots here. The Kingdom of Kongo held the river mouth from the 14th to the 19th century, while the Luba and Lunda kingdoms ruled lands to the south and east. In the late 1800s, King Leopold II of Belgium claimed the territory as his own property. Independence from Belgium came on 30 June 1960.
Did you know?
- Kinshasa alone holds about 16.316 million people, according to a 2023 estimate.
- The median age in the DRC is just 16.9 years.
- Pic Marguerite on Mount Stanley reaches 5,110 meters.
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Questions about Democratic Republic of the Congo
What is the national animal of the DRC?
The leopard is the national symbol.
What languages are spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
French is used alongside Kikongo, Lingala, Tshiluba and Swahili.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.