Overview
Congo, Dem. Rep.
Straddling the equator in Central Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo covers about 2,344,900 km², making it the largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa, and has about 113 million people. It borders nine countries and has a short Atlantic coastline at the mouth of the Congo River. Kinshasa is the capital. Most of the country lies in the Congo Basin, where tropical rainforest, part of the world’s second-largest rainforest, covers much of the land; forests cover about 54% of the country overall. Mountains and a chain of large lakes, including Lakes Tanganyika and Kivu, line the eastern border. The country gained independence from Belgium in 1960 and is a semi-presidential republic under its 2006 constitution. Félix Tshisekedi has been president since 2019 and was re-elected in 2023. Armed conflict, concentrated in the eastern provinces, has displaced millions of people. French is the official language, and Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili, and Tshiluba are national languages. Christianity is the predominant religion.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a low-income country whose economy depends on mining, mainly of copper and cobalt; it is the world’s largest producer of cobalt. Mining output grew by 10.1% in 2025 despite a ban on cobalt exports from February to October. Agriculture employs about 59% of the workforce, and about 81% of the population lives on less than US$3.00 a day. In 2025, the country’s GDP per capita was approximately US$807, and real GDP grew by 5.8%.
Source: World Bank. (2026). World Development Indicators, from https://data.worldbank.org/country/congo-dem-rep
Institutions
Institutions with at least one Faculty Member Registered with Ivey Publishing
- American University of Kinshasa
- Institut Facultaire Africain Bakhita
- Institut Facultaire des Sciences de Développement de Kamituga
- Institut Supérieur d’Administration et Développement de Rutshuru
- Institut Supérieur de Commerce de Beni
- Institut Supérieur de Commerce de Goma
- Institut Supérieur de Commerce de Kindu
- Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural de Beni
- Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural de Bukavu
- Institut Supérieur de Tourisme de Goma
- Institut Supérieur des Finances et de Commerce
- Institut Supérieur des Techniques de Développement de Mulungu
- Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Butembo
- Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Goma
- Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Bukavu
- Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Nyankunde
- Institut Supérieur d’Informatique et de Gestion de Goma
- Institut Supérieur du Bâtiment et des Travaux Publics de Butembo
- Institut Supérieur Panafricain de Santé Communautaire de Bunia
- Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Bukavu
- Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Kindu
- Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Machumbi
- Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Rutshuru
- Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Walikale
- Institut Supérieur Pédagogique Kalima
- Institut Supérieur Pédagogique Technique Rethy
- Institut Supérieur Sainte Croix de Mulo
- Institut Supérieur Théologique Anglican
- Université Catholique de Bukavu
- Université Catholique du Congo
- Université Catholique du Graben
- Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo
- Université de Kinshasa
- Université de l’Uele
- Université du Cepromad
- Université Évangélique en Afrique
- Université Kongo
- Université Laïque d’Idjwi
- Université Libre de Développement en Afrique Centrale
- Université Libre de Pays des Grands Lacs
- Université Officielle de Bukavu
- Université Officielle de Ruwenzori
- Université Pédagogique Nationale
- Université Protestante au Congo
- Université Simon Kimbangu
- Université William Booth
- University of Goma
- University of Lubumbashi
Source: Ivey Publishing. 39C Accounts by Country. Provided by Adrianna Gleam-Fossaceca, Ivey Publishing, August 11, 2026.
Cases
Ivey-Copyrighted Cases in or involving Congo, Dem. Rep.
Ivey Publishing and the 39 Country Initiative welcome additional case submissions that deepen understanding of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s businesses, institutions, industries, and broader economic and social context.
| Case | Authors | Published / Revised | Product Number | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minespider: Building Responsible Battery Supply Chains with Blockchain | Michael Carrillo, Joel Davis | Mar 6, 2024 | W36086_P | 13 |
| SafeMotos: Scaling up Innovations in African Ride Hailing | Darren Meister, Ramasastry Chandrasekhar | Oct 28, 2020 | 9B20M182_P | 11 |
| Fair Trade Jewellery Co.: Establishing an Ethical Global Value Chain | Anthony Goerzen, Luke Fiske | Aug 5, 2020 | 9B20M139_P | 12 |
| Banro Corporation: Recapitalization for Sustainability in the Congo’s Gold Mining | Wiboon Kittilaksanawong, Kabi Olivier Katabaruka | Mar 9, 2018 | 9B18M031 | 17 |
| Where Have You Been? An Exercise to Assess Your Exposure to the Rest of the World’s Peoples | Paul W. Beamish | Nov 27, 2025 | W48085 | 11 |
Source: Ivey Publishing. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://www.iveypublishing.ca/s/
Workshops
Workshops Provided to Institutions in Congo, Dem. Rep.
No case-teaching workshops have been held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to date. Opportunities remain to extend the 39 Country Initiative’s outreach to institutions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through its online case-teaching activities.