21 May 2013 Last updated at 07:17 ET

Democratic Republic of Congo profile

Miners standing on a muddy cliff at a gold mine in Chudja, near Bunia, north eastern Congo A contest for DR Congo's vast mineral wealth has fuelled the fighting in the country
  • Full name: Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Population: 69.6 million (UN, 2012)
  • Capital: Kinshasa
  • Area: 2.34 million sq km (905,354 sq miles)
  • Major languages: French, Lingala, Kiswahili, Kikongo, Tshiluba
  • Major religions: Christianity, Islam
  • Life expectancy: 47 years (men), 51 years (women) (UN)
  • Monetary unit: 1 Congolese franc = 100 centimes
  • Main exports: Diamonds, copper, coffee, cobalt, crude oil
  • GNI per capita: US $190 (World Bank, 2011)
  • Internet domain: .cd
  • International dialling code: +243

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