Key facts
Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country located in Middle Africa. There are 9 countries (Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia) that Democratic Republic of the Congo shares its borders with. As for languages, the country’s residents speak French, Lingala, Kongo, Swahili and Luba-Katanga. Traveling across Democratic Republic of the Congo if English is your first (and only) language may be difficult due to language barriers.
In the EF English Competency Index (EF EPI), which assesses the language proficiency of non-native speaking countries, Democratic Republic of the Congo was ranked 110th out of 100 countries in 2021.
The national currency in Democratic Republic of the Congo is Congolese franc (CDF).
Check with your bank before your trip to find out if there are any fees for using your card abroad. Some banks do not charge fees when you use a foreign ATM or pay in foreign currency, but others may charge a fixed cost for each transaction or allow a limited number of free withdrawals. The travel card provided by Wise.com, Revolut or Monose might be an excellent option to cut down on transaction fees.
Ookla® Speedtest The average fixed internet speed in Democratic Republic of the Congo is 55.35 Mbps and mobile is 32.26 Mbs.The global average is 187.01 Mbps and 128.37 Mbps respectively.
ATM Density It may be difficult to locate an ATM in Democratic Republic of the Congo.1.40 ATMs per 100,000 people.The global average is 39.49.
SIM Registration No data available.
Socket types
There are 3 socket types used in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Type C is a popular socket type throughout Europe (except the United Kingdom), Russia, and certain Asian countries. Type D is not very common around the world, so it might be a good idea to check if your electronics need an adapter.
The sockets’ shapes and voltage differ from country to country and a travel plug adapter may be required. Portable devices, such as phones, notebooks or tablets, usually handle the entire range of voltages used across the world (110-240V).
Sources
- EF English Proficiency Index (EF Education First)
- Speedtest Global Index® (Ookla®)
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) (The World Bank Group)
- Registration Policies Per Country (Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki)
Tourism
What hotel chains are present in Democratic Republic of the Congo?
There are no Mariott hotels in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Hilton hotel chain operates in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
There are no IHG hotels in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
There are no Best Western hotels in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
There are no Radisson hotels in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Accor hotel chain operates in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
What fast food chains are present in Democratic Republic of the Congo?
The McDonald’s chain does not operate in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The KFC chain does not operate in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Burger King chain does not operate in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Subway chain does not operate in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Domino’s Pizza chain does not operate in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Starbucks chain does not operate in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Sources
- Country by National Dish (Samson Daniel)
Weather
What is the weather like in Kinshasa?
Weather data for Kinshasa (capital city) by Open-Meteo.com
Transport
Railways There are passenger trains operating between some cities.
Subway Systems There is no subway system in any city.
Taxi Apps Unfortunately neither Uber nor Bolt are available in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Sources
- List of high-speed railway lines (Wikipedia)
- List of metro systems (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- The Global Enabling Trade Report 2016: Road connectivity (World Economic Forum)
Safety
Theft Occurrence Rate No data available.
Road Traffic Casualties 34.90 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019.The global average is 16.74.
Travel Advisory Level (U.S. DoS) No data available.
Emergency phones in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Sources
- Travel Advice for Democratic Republic of the Congo (United Kingdom: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Mortality caused by road traffic injury (The World Bank Group)
- Corruption & Economic Crime (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking ban Smoking is prohibited in all public areas excluding entertainment and restaurants.
Cananbis legality No data available.
Sources
- List of smoking bans (Wikipedia)
- Legality of cannabis (Wikipedia)