Middle Africa
What tectonic plate is the Democratic Republic of the Congo on?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo sits almost entirely on the African Plate (99.5% of its land), with small fringes on the Somali Plate.
- Plates
- 2
- M6.5+ quakes since 1900
- 3
- Holocene volcanoes
- 3
- Land area
- 2.33 million km²
Plates under the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Share of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's land area on each plate (PB2002 model, Natural Earth outlines).
Plate boundaries
A plate boundary runs through or along the Democratic Republic of the Congo: the Somali-African boundary (divergent, about 0.3 cm/yr).
Earthquakes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Large earthquakes are uncommon in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 3 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country.
| Earthquake | Magnitude | Year | Depth | Plate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 km WSW of Karema, Tanzania | M6.9 | 1910 | 15 km | African |
| 22 km N of Margherita, Uganda | M6.6 | 1966 | 30 km | African |
| 19 km SW of Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M6.5 | 1960 | 14 km | Somali |
Volcanoes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 3 volcanoes active in the last 12,000 years in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Nyamulagira Shield · 3,058 m Last eruption 2026
- Nyiragongo Stratovolcano · 3,470 m Last eruption 2026
- Mugogo Cone · 2,338 m Last eruption 1957
Frequently asked questions
What tectonic plate is the Democratic Republic of the Congo on?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo sits almost entirely on the African Plate (99.5% of its land), with small fringes on the Somali Plate.
Is the Democratic Republic of the Congo on a plate boundary?
A plate boundary runs through or along the Democratic Republic of the Congo: the Somali-African boundary (divergent, about 0.3 cm/yr).
Does the Democratic Republic of the Congo get earthquakes?
Large earthquakes are uncommon in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 3 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country. The largest was the M6.9 39 km WSW of Karema, Tanzania in 1910.
Are there volcanoes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 3 volcanoes active in the last 12,000 years in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.