Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo state, which is located in the central southern part of the African continent, was separated in its 11 provinces. While 10 of these administrative regions had regional status, the capital was the Capital Region of Kinshasa. Considering the administrative and cultural conditions, the number of provinces established was decided to be increased to 26 according to a law adopted in 2005. However, in the year until 2011, it was announced that the process of increasing the region was completely eliminated and such a transaction would not be carried out with the announcement made by the President Joseph Kabila.

However, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which was aimed to increase the number of provinces to 26 in the following years, has done so. Currently, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is devoted to 26 provinces. These provinces are the highest administrative units.

A color-coded map with numbered regions, a legend for region names, and a compass rose in the top left.
Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Map

Twenty-Six Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is divided into 26 provinces. These provinces first appeared in 2005 with a constitution and were first introduced in 2015. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, provinces are the highest administrative units in the country.

Kasaï-Oriental

Kasaï-Oriental is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The area of Kasaï-Oriental is 9,545 square kilometers, and according to 2015 data, the population of the province is 5,475,398. The population density is 570 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Mbuji-Mayi. Mbuji-Mayi is also the largest city in the province.

Tshopo

Tshopo is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Province is located in the northeast of the country. The surface area of Tshopo is 199,567 square kilometers, and according to 2005 data, the population of the province is 2,614,630. The population density is 13 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Kisangani. The district is situated on the Tshopo River.

Ituri

Ituri is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Province is located in the northeast of the country. Ituri has a surface area of 65,658 square kilometers, and according to 2005 data, the population of the province is 4,241,236. The population density is 65 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Bunia. Ituri Rainforest is located in this region. At the same time, the region is the border with Uganda and South Sudan.

Kongo-Central

It is one of the 26 provinces of the Congo-Central Democratic Republic of the Congo. The province is the most western part of the country. Congo-Central has a surface area of 53,920 square kilometers, and according to 2010 data, the population of the province is 4,522,942. The population density is 84 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Matadi. Congo Central is the only province in the country with an ocean coastline and has a narrow façade on the Atlantic Ocean.

Mai-Ndombe

Mai-Ndombe is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the west of the country. Mai-Ndombe has an area of 127,465 square kilometers, and according to 2005 data, the population of the province is 1,768,327. The population density is 14 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Inongo. The province was created in 2015 with the merger of the Plateaux District, the Mai-Ndombe District and the city of Bandundu.

Kwilu

Kwilu is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the west of the country. The surface area of Kwilu is 78,219 square kilometers and according to 2005 data, the population of the province is 5,174,718. The population density is 66 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Kikwit. The province takes its name from the Kwilu River, which runs from south to north.

Kwango

Kwango is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the southwest of the country. Kwango has a surface area of 89,974 square kilometers and according to 2005 data, the population of the province is 1,994,036. The population density is 22 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Kenge. Kwango forms the border with Angola in the south.

Equateur

Equateur is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the west of the country. Equateur has a surface area of 103,902 square kilometers and according to 2005 data, the population of the province is 1,626,606. The population density is 16 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Mbandaka. Equateur province, created in 1917, is one of the oldest provinces in the country. At the same time, the province had a much smaller surface area than it was in 1917.

Sud-Ubangi

Sud-Ubangi is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the northwest of the country. The surface area of Sud-Ubangi is 51,648 square kilometers, and according to 2005 data, the population of the province is 2,744,345. The population density is 53 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Gemena. From 1966 to 2015, Sud-Ubangi was governed as a district of the Équateur Province.

Nord-Ubangi

Nord-Ubangi is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The province is located in the northwest of the country. The surface area of Nord-Ubangi is 56,644 square kilometers, and according to 2005 data, the population of the province is 1,482,076. The population density is 26 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Gbadolite. From 1966 to 2015, Nord-Ubangi was governed as part of the Équateur province.

Mongala

Mongala is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Province is located in the central and north of the country. Mongala has an area of 58,141 square kilometers, and according to 2005 data, the population of the province is 1,793,564. The population density is 31 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Lisala. Congo River passes through this province. At the same time, the region was established in 2015. Before this year, this province was governed as a part of the province.

Tshuapa

Tshuapa is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is in the middle of the country. The surface area of Tshuapa is 132,940 square kilometers, and according to 2005 data, the population of the province is 1,316,855. The population density is 9.9 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Boende. The city has its name from the Tshuapa River. It also passes through the area at Congo River.

Bas-Uele

Bas-Uele is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the province north of the country. Bas-Uele has an area of 148,331 square kilometers, and according to 2005 data, the population of the province is 1,093,845. The population density is 7.4 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Buta. From 1966 to 2015, Bas-Uele was governed as part of the Orientale State.

Haut-Uele

Haut-Uele is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the province in the northeast of the country. Haut-Uele has a surface area of 89,683 square kilometers and according to 2005 data, the population of the province is 1,920,867. The population density is 21 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Isiro. Before 2015, Haut-Uele was governed as part of the Orientale Province. The city takes its name from the Uele River, meaning “Upper Uele” in French.

Nord-Kivu

Nord-Kivu is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the province east of the country. The surface area of Nord-Kivu is 59,483 square kilometers, and according to 2010 data, the population of the province is 5,767,945. The population density is 97 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Goma. It is a province surrounding the Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nord-Kivu is bordered by Uganda and Rwanda in the east.

Maniema

Maniema is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the province east of the country. The area of Maniema is 132,520 square kilometers, and according to 2010 data, the population of the province is 2,049,300. The population density is 15 / square kilometers, and the province’s capital is Kindu. Mining is the main sector of the province and diamond, copper, gold, and cobalt are the main mineral resources.

Lualaba

Lualaba is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the province in the middle and east of the country. The surface area of Lualaba is 121,308 square kilometers, and according to 2006 data, the population of the province is 1,677,288. The population density is 14 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Kolwezi. The region was first created in 1963 and then managed under different provinces. In 2015, Lualaba won the province status again.

Haut-Lomami

Haut-Lomami is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is in the southeast of the country. The surface area of Haut-Lomami is 108,204 square kilometers, and according to 2005 data, the population of the province is 2,540,127. The population density is 23 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Kamina. From 1966 to 2015, Haut-Lomami was governed as part of the state of Katanga.

Tanganyika

Tanganyika is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the province east of the country. Tanganyika has an area of 134,940 square kilometers, and according to 2015 data, the population of the province is 3,035,852. The population density is 22 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Kalemie. The territory of the province, created in 2015, corresponds to the historic Nord-Katanga province, which existed in the early period of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Haut-Katanga

Haut-Katanga is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is in the southeast of the country. The area of Haut-Katanga is 132,425 square kilometers, and according to 2006 data, the province’s population is 3,960,945. The population density is 30 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Lubumbashi. The territory of the province, created in 2015, corresponds to the historic Katanga-Oriental province, which existed in the early period of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Sankuru

Sankuru is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a province in the middle of the country. Sankuru’s surface area is 105,000 square kilometers and according to 2005 data, the population of the province is 1,374,239. The population density is 13 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Lusambo. Sankuru was used as a province from 1962 to 1966. However, from 1966 to 2015, Sankuru was governed as part of the Kasaï-Oriental province.

Lomami

Lomami is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a province in the middle of the country. Lomami has an area of 56,426 square kilometers, and according to 2015 data, the province has 2,048,839 inhabitants. The population density is 36 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is in the Cabinet. The city is part of Kasai-Oriental before 2015.

Kasaï-Central

Kasaï-Central is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a province in the south of the country. Kasaï-Central has an area of 59,111 square kilometers, and according to 2006 data, the population of the province is 2,976,806. The population density is 50 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Kananga. The territory of the new province, which was established in 2015, corresponds to the historic Luluabourg Province, which existed in the early stages of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Kasaï

Kasaï is one of the 26 provinces of the Republic of the Congo. It is a province in the south and the middle of the country. The surface area of Kasaï is 95,631 square kilometers, and according to 2005 data, the population of the province is 3,199,891. The population density is 33 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Luebo. The territory of the new province, which was established in 2015, corresponds to the historic Unité-Kasaïenne State, which existed in the early stages of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Sud-Kivu

Sud-Kivu is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a province in the east of the country. The surface area of Sud-Kivu is 65,070 square kilometers and according to 2015 data, the population of the province is 5,772,000. The population density is 89 / square kilometers, and the capital of the province is Bukavu. The province is bordered by Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania.

Kinshasa

Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the African continent. Kinshasa is also one of the eleven regions of the country and has Capital Territory status. The city is established on the shore of the Congo River, which determines the border with the Republic of Congo.

The most populous city of the Democratic Republic of Congo is the city of Kinshasa, which is the capital of the country, and 13% of the country’s population lives here. As in many other major cities in Kinshasa, suburban and satellite cities have been formed outside of the city center, which has increased the population density. The city population is 9,463,749 according to 2012 data.

Democratic Republic of the Congo / Maps, Geography, Facts

The capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Kinshasa. With its population, it is the fourth most populous country in Africa. The official language is French.

The old name is Zaire. It is surrounded by the Congo in the west, Central African Republic and Sudan in the north, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania in the east, and Angola and Zambia in the south.

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Where is the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Geography

Much of the country is in the Congo (Zaire) river basin. Low springs cover the northern middle part of the country. This land is surrounded by mountainous terraces from the west. There is broad grassland in the northwest. A small piece of country borders looks at the Atlantic Ocean. The highest mountains are located along the north-south line, known as the Great Rift Valley, on the border of the Congo-Uganda.

At the same time, there are the largest lakes of the country (Albert, Edward, Kivu, and Tanganyika lakes). The two major mountain ranges in the region are the Ruwenzori and Virunga ranges. Mount Margherica, the highest point of the country, is 5,119 meters high. The Virunga Mountains still have eight large volcanoes, some of which are still active. Victory (Congo), the largest river of the country, has a stable water level and 2,736 kilometers is accessible all year round. The total length is 4,348 km.

Governance

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a republic governed by a one-party system. The only party in the country, Mouvement Populaire de la Révolution (MPR), founded by President Mobutu. The executive committee of the MPR and the government were merged in 1972 and the National Executive Council was brought to the scene. The legislative body is the National Assembly. There are 9 administrative regions in the country. The country belongs to the organizations of the United Nations and the African Union.

Climate

The temperature in The Democratic Republic of the Congo is constantly high. However, the precipitation varies greatly depending on the height. The average annual temperature in the whole country is close to 27 degrees. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is divided into two by the equator. It is rainy all year along the equator and the annual precipitation average is around 1,500 millimeters.

Religion

 80% of the population throughout the country belongs to the Christian religion.

Industry and Tourism

The backbone of the economy is mining. Mines constitute 85% of the country’s exports. 75% of the working population work in agriculture. The main crops grown in the country are coffee, cotton, rice, sugarcane, banana, large coconut, cassava, hint (mono), tea and cocoa. Fishing, hunting, goat and poultry are in good condition. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the developing countries. Moreover, there are textile soap, shoemaking, building materials, cigarette, paint, varnish, automobile and bicycle materials and plastic factories in the country.

The country, which is a country rich in natural and wildlife, has four national parks and natural habitat in Africa’s largest rainforests and the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List.

Art

At the Academy of Fine Arts, where African artists are prominent, there are art galleries in the school, as well as authentic African art. Moreover, you can find here special wood sculptures, masks, souvenirs.

  • Population: 85,715,472
  • Population Density: 38 per Km2
  • Land Area: 2,267,050 Km2