The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the second-largest country in Africa, only behind Algeria, and the 11th largest in the world.
With a land area of 905,000 square miles (2.34 million square kilometers), it’s often compared to Europe in size and has a population of over 99 million.
In total, the DRC covers a territory larger than Spain, France, Germany, and Ukraine combined.
However, despite its size, much of the country’s population lives in cities like Kinshasa.
Kinshasa is the capital of the DRC and home to over 17 million people – nearly as many as New York City.
READ MORE: Maps of world ‘completely misleading’ as true size of Europe and China shown
The DRC’s size is even more impressive when considering that its territory includes one of the world’s largest rainforests, which covers about two-thirds of the country.
The jungle is the second biggest in the world only behind the Amazon. Much of this terrain is undeveloped with many people choosing not to live in rural areas.
The country’s geography has contributed to many of its challenges. Since gaining independence from Belgium in 1960, the DRC has seen political instability, corruption, and ongoing conflict, particularly in the eastern regions.
Rebel groups control parts of the country, fighting for control over valuable resources such as copper, cobalt, and diamonds.
This constant unrest has made large parts of the DRC dangerous and difficult to govern.
Despite this, the DRC has enormous potential. It is one of the most resource-rich nations in the world, and its rainforests are critical for biodiversity and as a global carbon sink.
However, the country’s development is heavily affected by a lack of infrastructure, ongoing violence, and widespread poverty.
Even with its natural resources, the country’s economy remains underdeveloped.
Source link : https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1959293/africa-democratic-republic-of-congo-true-size
Author :
Publish date : 2024-10-09 09:37:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.