Democratic Republic of the Congo Congo Gabon map (China and foreign comparison)

Author: Zhou Min, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-05-01
Features: Congo, located in central-west Africa, is crossed by the equator in its middle. It borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola to the east and south, Central African Republic and Cameroon to the north, and Gabon to the west. It faces the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest, with a coastline of over 150 kilometers. The country covers an area of 342,000 square kilometers. The northeastern region is a plain at an altitude of 300 meters, part of the Congo Basin. The southern and northwestern regions are plateaus with elevations between 500 and 1,000 meters. The southwestern region is a coastal lowland, while the Mayombe Mountains lie between the plateau and the coastal lowland. The Congo River (Zaire River) and parts of its tributaries, such as the Ubangi River, form the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Other tributaries of the Congo River within the country include the Sangha River, Likouala River, etc., while the Kuei River flows directly into the sea. The southern region has a tropical grassland climate, while the central and northern regions have a tropical rainforest climate, with high temperatures and humidity. The population was 2.78 million in 1994. There are over 170 ethnic groups, primarily belonging to the Bantu language family. The southern Congolese ethnic groups, including the Lari, Bagaongo, and Vili, account for about 45% of the population; the northern Mbochi ethnic group makes up 16%; the central Teke ethnic group accounts for 20%; and there are a small number of Pygmies in the northern rainforests. The southern regions speak Congolese and Munukutuba, while the northern regions speak Lingala. The official language is French. More than half of the population adheres to traditional religions, approximately 500,000 follow Catholicism, over 200,000 follow Protestantism, and 40,000 follow Islam.