Matadi is the chief seaport of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and serves as the capital of the Kongo Central province. It is located on the left bank of the Congo River, situated adjacent to the border with Angola.
The city is positioned 148 km (92 mi) from the river's mouth and 8 km (5.0 mi) below the last navigable point before the rapids make the river impassable for a long stretch upriver. According to 2004 data, Matadi had a population of 245,862.