Mbuji-Mayi is a city located in the south-central region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It serves as the capital of the Kasai-Oriental Province.
The city is considered to be the second largest urban center in the country, following the capital, Kinshasa. While its exact population is not officially confirmed, estimates vary significantly; a 2010 CIA World Factbook estimate placed the population at 1,480,000, while a 2008 United Nations estimate suggested it could be as high as 3,500,000. It is ranked ahead of other major cities such as Lubumbashi, Kisangani, and Kananga.