Congo DR Country Code (+243): Complete Calling Guide 2026
Complete guide to calling Democratic Republic of Congo with country code +243. Learn Kinshasa mobile carriers, calling costs, time zones, and the difference between Congo DR and Republic of Congo.
The Congo DR country code is +243. To call the Democratic Republic of the Congo from the United States, dial 011-243 from a landline or +243 from a mobile phone, followed by the area code and local number. Kinshasa, Africa's third-largest city with over 17 million people, uses area code 81/82 for Vodacom mobile.
This guide covers everything you need to call Congo DR: mobile carriers (Vodacom, Airtel, Orange, Africell), dialing examples, calling costs, and time zone details. The DRC is home to the world's deepest river, the okapi (found nowhere else), 70% of the planet's cobalt, Africa's second-largest rainforest, and 242 living languages.
Congo DR +243 Quick Reference
| Country Code: +243 | Capital: Kinshasa |
| US Exit Code: 011 | Currency: Congolese Franc (CDF) |
| Trunk Prefix: 0 (drop internationally) | Time Zones: WAT (UTC+1) / CAT (UTC+2) |
| Mobile Format: +243 + 9 digits | Landline Format: +243 + area code + number |
| Population: ~115 million | Languages: French, Lingala, Swahili, Kikongo, Tshiluba |
How to Call Congo DR from the US
Vodacom Mobile (Kinshasa): +243 + 81 + 7 digits → Example: 011-243-81-234-5678
Airtel Mobile: +243 + 97/99 + 7 digits → Example: +243 97 123 4567
Orange Mobile: +243 + 84/85 + 7 digits → Example: +243 84 987 6543
Important: Drop the leading 0. Inside Congo DR, locals dial 081-XXX-XXXX. Internationally, replace the 0 with +243: +243 81 XXX XXXX.
Congo DR Mobile Carriers
| Carrier | Market Share | Prefixes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vodacom Congo | ~35% | 081, 082 | Subsidiary of Vodafone/Vodacom Group |
| Airtel Congo | ~30% | 097, 099 | Subsidiary of Bharti Airtel (India) |
| Orange Congo | ~25% | 084, 085 | Subsidiary of Orange S.A. (France) |
| Africell Congo | ~10% | 090, 091 | Lebanese-owned, fastest growing |
Congo DR has approximately 49 million mobile subscribers. Mobile money (M-Pesa, Airtel Money) is the primary financial channel.
Cost of Calling Congo DR from the US
| Method | Landline | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T (no plan) | $3.65/min | $3.65/min |
| T-Mobile (no plan) | ~$3.99/min | ~$3.99/min |
| Verizon (no plan) | ~$4.99/min | ~$4.99/min |
| BubblyPhone (VoIP) | From $0.25/min | From $0.30/min |
Congo DR Time Zones
Congo DR spans two time zones: Kinshasa uses West Africa Time (WAT, UTC+1). Lubumbashi and eastern provinces use Central Africa Time (CAT, UTC+2). Neither observes daylight saving time.
The Congo River: World's Deepest
The Congo River is the world's deepest river, plunging over 220 meters (720 feet). It's Africa's most powerful by discharge (41,000 cubic meters/second) and the second-longest in Africa at 4,700 km. Its basin contains the world's second-largest tropical rainforest, absorbing ~1.5 billion tonnes of CO2 per year. Kinshasa and Brazzaville face each other across the river — the closest national capitals on Earth, just 1.6 km apart.
70% of the World's Cobalt
The DRC produces approximately 70% of the world's cobalt — essential for lithium-ion batteries in smartphones, EVs, and laptops. The copper-cobalt belt in Katanga Province is the world's richest. The DRC's total mineral wealth is estimated at $24 trillion.
The Okapi: Congo's Hidden Giraffe
The okapi — with a chocolate-brown body, white-striped legs, and blue-black tongue — is the giraffe's only living relative and exists in the wild only in the DRC. Unknown to Western science until 1901, approximately 10,000-35,000 remain. It's the DRC's national symbol and appears on the Congolese franc.
Congolese Rumba: Africa's Musical Gift
Congolese rumba — recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2021 — is arguably the most influential music genre from Africa. Born in Kinshasa and Brazzaville in the 1940s. Legends like Franco Luambo, Tabu Ley Rochereau, Papa Wemba, and Koffi Olomide spread the sound continent-wide.
Congo DR (+243) vs. Republic of Congo (+242)
Two countries called Congo with different codes: DRC (+243) — capital Kinshasa, ~115 million people, formerly Zaire. Republic of Congo (+242) — capital Brazzaville, ~6 million people. Their capitals are the closest national capitals in the world, separated only by the Congo River.
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