People and Society of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Nationality

Congolese (singular and plural)

Ethnic Groups

Over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population

Population

102,262,808

Population in Major Urban Areas

KINSHASA (capital) 8.798 million; Lubumbashi 1.556 million; Mbuji-Mayi 1.504 million; Kananga 888,000; Kisangani 820,000

Medical facilities are severely limited, and medical materials are in short supply. It is wise to carry properly labeled prescription drugs and other medications; an adequate supply of prescription or over-the-counter drugs in local stores or pharmacies is generally not available. Payment for any medical services is expected in cash, in advance of treatment. Malaria is common throughout the DRC and malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended. It is advisable to consult your primary care provider, prior to travel, concerning proper prophylaxis. Outbreaks of polio, cholera, typhoid, yellow fever, the Ebola virus, measles, influenza, and hemorrhagic fever also occur. Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in the DRC. Travelers are encouraged to obtain tuberculosis testing pre-travel and repeat 8-12 weeks after return. Travelers should take appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Many insect-borne illnesses are present. Follow insect precautions at all times, including using insect repellant and mosquito nets when possible. A yellow fever vaccine is required for entry into the country. Travelers are encouraged to avoid contact with non-chlorinated fresh water to prevent schistosomiasis. There is a high risk of traveler’s diarrhea and cholera throughout the country. This can be mitigated by using good judgment when choosing what food to eat and water to drink. When in restaurants, it is best to ask for bottled water and avoid ice.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains among the lowest in the world, reflecting the country's ongoing challenges with poverty, conflict, disease, and limited access to healthcare infrastructure. As of the most recent estimates, the average life expectancy at birth stands at approximately 61 years overall, with women living slightly longer than men — roughly 62 to 63 years for females compared to about 59 to 60 years for males. These figures represent a gradual improvement over past decades, yet the DRC continues to face severe public health burdens that constrain further progress. Malaria remains one of the leading causes of death, particularly among children under five years of age. The country also bears one of the world's highest rates of maternal mortality, with many births occurring outside formal medical facilities due to geographic isolation and a severe shortage of trained healthcare workers. Infectious diseases including tuberculosis, cholera, and measles contribute significantly to mortality, while recurring outbreaks of Ebola in eastern regions have periodically disrupted healthcare delivery and drawn sustained international attention. Chronic malnutrition, which affects a substantial portion of the population — especially children — further undermines overall health outcomes and depresses life expectancy figures. Armed conflict in the eastern provinces has displaced millions of people and destroyed health infrastructure, leaving large populations without access to even basic medical care. The combination of displacement, food insecurity, and disrupted vaccination programs creates conditions in which preventable deaths remain widespread. The ongoing humanitarian crisis in North and South Kivu provinces has been particularly severe, compounding long-standing structural health challenges. Healthcare spending per capita in the DRC is extremely low, and the public health system relies heavily on international aid organizations to fill critical gaps in service delivery. The country continues to rank near the bottom globally on key health indicators, including child mortality and maternal health outcomes. Despite these difficulties, gradual improvements in child survival rates, vaccination coverage, and access to antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive individuals have contributed to a modest upward trend in life expectancy observed over the past two decades. Continued investment in healthcare infrastructure, conflict resolution, and poverty reduction programs will be essential to achieving meaningful and sustained improvements in life expectancy for the Congolese population in the coming years.

Infant Mortality Rate

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world, reflecting the country's deep-rooted challenges in public health infrastructure, access to medical care, and poverty. As of recent estimates, the infant mortality rate stands at approximately 59 to 65 deaths per 1,000 live births, meaning that roughly 6 out of every 100 infants born in the country do not survive to their first birthday. This figure is significantly higher than the global average of around 27 deaths per 1,000 live births. Several interconnected factors drive this persistently elevated rate. Malaria remains one of the leading killers of infants in the country, along with pneumonia, diarrheal diseases, and malnutrition. The DRC accounts for a disproportionately large share of global malaria deaths each year, and children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable. Neonatal causes — including complications during birth, prematurity, and infections in the first days of life — also contribute substantially to the toll. Access to skilled healthcare workers during delivery remains limited in many regions, particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas. A significant portion of births in the country take place outside of formal health facilities, increasing the risk of preventable complications for both mother and infant. Vaccination coverage, while improving in some provinces, remains inconsistent across the country's vast and difficult-to-reach terrain. Ongoing armed conflict in eastern provinces such as North Kivu and Ituri has displaced millions of people, disrupting health services and contributing to acute malnutrition and disease outbreaks, all of which compound infant mortality risks. Despite these challenges, there has been measurable progress over the past two decades. The infant mortality rate has declined from over 100 deaths per 1,000 live births recorded in the early 2000s, reflecting incremental gains through vaccination campaigns, community health worker programs, and international health initiatives. UNICEF and the World Health Organization continue to support programs targeting maternal and newborn health across the country, with the goal of further reducing preventable infant deaths.

Major Infectious Diseases

Very high

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba

Education Culture

As much as the government would like to express their desire to have every school age child into school and getting basic education, it is quite difficult to realize this dream considering the poverty levels of the rural folk. The cost of educating a single child in the DRC is about US$63 per year, a cost most of the parents do not find reasonable since they do not comprehend the benefits of education. Instead they would rather have their children contribute to the farm work from which the families are able to feed themselves. This attitude has contributed largely to the large number of school drop outs. It is also estimated that a primary schoolteacher earns about US$20 per month.

Learning

Besides the old buildings, the learning facilities and stationery are in many cases unavailable due to the lack of funds. In some parts of the Republic, especially in the eastern parts of the DRC around Kisangani and Goma areas, schools are rare and the greater percentage of school age kids do not go to school. This is partly due to the existence of several rebel groups who recruit child soldiers in their armies since they are much easier to manipulate and command. As much as school uniforms are a mandatory requirement in all schools in the DRC, it is not strange to find schoolchildren going to school with their casual clothing due to the poverty situation especially in the rural areas. In reality, it is not common to find a school going child wearing shoes as this is considered a luxury that most parents cannot afford. Shoes are not considered as part of school uniform in most of the rural areas. Most of the learning is done using chalk and board writing for the teacher and schoolbooks for students although the lower primary school kids may occasionally be subjected to writing on the floors under trees. Electronics and computer technology may be available in towns such as Kinshasa but not in the rural areas since most of the rural schools do not even have electricity. The lower primary school syllabus includes basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics while the upper primary level which begins at the fourth year include subjects such as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, music and the French language which is the official language. Many schools in the rural areas teaching using the local Lingala language especially in the case of younger school kids.

To School

Local government schools may be available within a radius of one to five kilometers or more depending on the area where a child lives. In urban areas, some of the children may be lucky to have means of transport to school depending on the type of schools they attend. It is however important to note that apart from some of the prominent private schools, most of the public schools do not have school transport and children must thus rely on public or private means to get to school if the school happens to be a long distance from their homes. Most of the public schools are quite dilapidated perhaps courtesy of the long wars that have plagued the country due to the struggle for its extensive resources. It is not unusual to find a school that conducts its learning activities in dilapidated bullet ridden buildings due to the conflict.

• Roman Catholic50.0%
• Protestant20.0%
• Kimbanguist10.0%
• Muslim10.0%
• Other10.0%

French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba

Although French is the official language and is used in larger businesses and government, it is spoken by only about 10 percent of the population. Lingala is increasingly used as the national language. Regional languages are: Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba, and Swahili.

• French

Crime Information

In the DRC, poor economic conditions continue to foster crime, especially in urban areas. Most reported criminal incidents in Kinshasa involve crimes of opportunity, which include pick-pocketing and petty theft, often committed by homeless street children called “sheggehs.” Travel in certain areas of Kinshasa, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, and other major cities is generally safe during daylight hours, but travelers are urged to be vigilant against criminal activity that targets non-Congolese, particularly in traffic jams and areas surrounding hotels, supermarkets, restaurants, and nightclubs. Outlying, remote areas are less secure because of high levels of criminal activity and the lack of adequate training, supervision, and salary for security forces. Individuals purporting to be security officials have detained and robbed U.S. citizens and other foreigners in Kinshasa. This type of crime occurs more frequently during the holiday season, including the Christmas and New Year's holidays and prior to the beginning of the school year. Vehicle thefts, burglaries, and armed robberies occur throughout the country with reports of some carjackings in the North Kivu area resulting in deaths. The Embassy recommends that motorists drive with doors locked and windows closed at all times. Do not permit soldiers or police officers to enter your vehicle, and avoid getting into the vehicle of anyone purporting to be a security official. Have color photocopies of your passport and other identity documents that you can give to security or police officials instead of the originals. If confronted, remain courteous and calm and, if threatened, do not resist. Please report any incident to the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa. Laws and regulations are not administered consistently in the DRC. Legal recourse in cases of theft and robbery is limited. Valuable items should be kept at home or in a secure location. If you use public transportation or visit busy areas, be on guard against robbery and pick-pocketing, which are problems in all major cities in the DRC. The “sheggehs,” particularly in Kinshasa, can be aggressive and persistent. Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in the DRC, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In the DRC, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you or if you take pictures of certain buildings. In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in the DRC, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It is very important to know what is legal and what is not wherever you go. While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.