Climate zones in Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1991 to 2020
Share of Democratic Republic of the Congo's classified land in each Köppen-Geiger zone in 1991 to 2020. Zones under 0.05% are left out. The 2,731,333 map cells used cover 100% of the country's outline (about 2,335,385 km²).
By major group: A (tropical) 97%, C (temperate) 3.4%.
Aw, tropical savannah, is the main climate of Democratic Republic of the Congo, covering 56% of its classified land in 1991 to 2020, with Af (tropical rainforest) next at 24%. In plain terms, tropical savannah means hot all year, with a clear dry season. Under the middle-of-the-road scenario (SSP2-4.5), 8.4% of its land is projected to be in a different zone by 2071 to 2099, with the biggest gain going to Af (tropical rainforest).
How Democratic Republic of the Congo's zones have changed and may change
Each row compares a map with 1991 to 2020. "Share in a different zone" is the share of the country's area whose class is different from 1991 to 2020. Future rows are model projections under an emissions scenario, not forecasts.
| Map | Share in a different zone | Different major group | Biggest gain | Biggest loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 to 1930 (past) | 8.4% | 1.5% | Aw +2.7 percentage points | Am -2.8 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP1-2.6 (low emissions) | 7.4% | 1.7% | Am +0.9 percentage points | Csb -0.6 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 (middle of the road) | 8.4% | 2.8% | Af +1.3 percentage points | Cwa -1.5 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP5-8.5 (high emissions) | 14% | 3.1% | Af +4 percentage points | Aw -2.6 percentage points |
For the past row, the comparison runs the other way: the 1901 to 1930 map against 1991 to 2020.
Zone shares by map
| Zone | 1901 to 1930 | 1991 to 2020 | SSP1-2.6 (2071 to 2099) | SSP2-4.5 (2071 to 2099) | SSP5-8.5 (2071 to 2099) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aw Tropical savannah | 53% | 56% | 56% | 56% | 53% |
| Af Tropical rainforest | 22% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 28% |
| Am Tropical monsoon | 20% | 17% | 18% | 18% | 19% |
| Cwa Humid subtropical with dry winter | 2.2% | 1.5% | 1% | - | - |
| Csb Warm-summer Mediterranean | 1.3% | 1% | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Cfb Temperate oceanic | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Cwb Subtropical highland (dry winter) | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.1% | - | - |
Percentages are of the country's classified land in each map. A dash means under 0.05%.
Cities in Democratic Republic of the Congo and their climate zones
| City | 1991 to 2020 | 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Kinshasa | Aw Tropical savannah | Aw Tropical savannah |
| Lubumbashi | Cwa Humid subtropical with dry winter | Aw Tropical savannah |
| Mbuji-Mayi | Aw Tropical savannah | Aw Tropical savannah |
| Kisangani | Af Tropical rainforest | Af Tropical rainforest |
| Kananga | Aw Tropical savannah | Aw Tropical savannah |
| Bukavu | Aw Tropical savannah | Aw Tropical savannah |
| Kolwezi | Aw Tropical savannah | Aw Tropical savannah |
| Likasi | Aw Tropical savannah | Aw Tropical savannah |
| Tshikapa | Aw Tropical savannah | Aw Tropical savannah |
Zones found in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Data: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0; country outlines from Natural Earth. In 1901 to 1930 the most common zone was Aw. See data sources and licences.