Quick answerLubumbashi is a city in Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 2,584,000 people inside the city limits in 2021. It is best known for the Copper mining, the Central Railway Station and the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral. Its official language is French, and its currency is the Congolese franc.
Lubumbashi is the second-largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with about 2.6 million people in the urban area (2021). It is the capital of Haut-Katanga Province in the south-east and the centre of the country's copper mining.
Key facts
| Country | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 2,584,000 (2021) |
| Elevation | 1208 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Africa/Lubumbashi |
| Language | French |
| Currency | Congolese franc (CDF, FC) |
| Coordinates | 11.66417° S, 27.48278° E |
Overview
Lubumbashi is the second-largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the south-easternmost part of the country near the border with Zambia. It is the capital of Haut-Katanga Province, and the urban area had about 2,584,000 people in 2021. The city lies about 1,208 metres above sea level, and the altitude keeps its climate cooler than the hot lowlands.
The city was founded in 1910 as Élisabethville, named after Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, beside the copper mines of the region. It grew fast as the centre of the Katanga copper industry, and from 1960 to 1963 it was the capital of the secessionist State of Katanga. It was renamed Lubumbashi in 1966, and from 1999 to 2003 it served as the legislative capital of the country, hosting the transitional parliament.
Today Lubumbashi is the centre of mining in the region and the hub of many of the country's largest mining companies. Its landmarks include the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Central Railway Station and the Palace of Justice, and the city is home to the University of Lubumbashi, founded in the 1950s. French is the official language, but the main spoken language in the streets is Swahili.
What Lubumbashi is known for
- Copper mining
- Central Railway Station
- Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral
- University of Lubumbashi
- Belgian Quarter
- Gateway to Zambia
Landmarks
- Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral
- Central Railway Station
- Palace of Justice
- Gouvernorat of Haut-Katanga
- University of Lubumbashi
- Belgian Quarter
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Lubumbashi?
About 2.6 million people live in the Lubumbashi urban area (2,584,000 in 2021). No exact population figure is available for the city, but it is the second-largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, after Kinshasa, and the capital of Haut-Katanga Province in the south-east.
What is Lubumbashi famous for?
Lubumbashi is famous as the centre of copper mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the hub of the country's largest mining companies. It is known for its Central Railway Station, its Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, and its university, and it sits near the border with Zambia in the far south-east.
Where is Lubumbashi located?
Lubumbashi is in the south-easternmost part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, near the border with Zambia. It is the capital of Haut-Katanga Province and lies about 1,208 metres above sea level, which keeps its climate cooler than the lowlands. Its coordinates are 11.66° S, 27.48° E.
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Keep exploring
- Democratic Republic of the Congo — the country Lubumbashi is in
- Kinshasa — another city in Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Mbuji-Mayi — another city in Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Kananga — another city in Democratic Republic of the Congo
- All cities in Democratic Republic of the Congo
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.