ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tʊ ɐ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd twˈɛnti wˈʌn sˈɜːveɪ, fɹˈɛntʃ wʌzðə mˈoʊst spˈoʊkən lˈæŋɡwɪdʒ ɪnðə kˈʌntɹi: ɐ tˈoʊɾəl ʌv sˈɛvənti fˈoːɹ pɚsˈɛnt ʌv kɑːŋɡoʊlˈiːz sˈɛvənti nˈaɪn pɚsˈɛnt ʌv mˈɛn, ænd sˈɪksti ˈeɪt pɚsˈɛnt ʌv wˈɪmɪn ɹᵻpˈoːɹɾᵻd jˈuːzɪŋ fɹˈɛntʃ æz ɐ lˈæŋɡwɪdʒ ʌv kəmjˌuːnɪkˈeɪʃən.
According to a 2021 survey, French was the most spoken language in the country: a total of 74% of Congolese (79% of men, and 68% of women) reported using French as a language of communication.