Kwilu Province

{{short description|Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Kwilu

| official_name = Province du Kwilu

| native_name = Province du Kwilu (French)
Kizunga Kikwit (Kikongo)

| type = Province

| image_skyline = View_from_the_rural_town_of_Masi_Manimba,_DRC_(7609936324).jpg

| image_caption = The Congolian forest–savanna mosaic

| image_flag =

| image_seal = Emblem of Kwilu Province.png

| image_map = Democratic Republic of the Congo (26 provinces) - Kwilu.svg

| mapsize =

| coordinates = {{coord|5|2|S|18|49|E|type:adm1st_region:CG|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flag|DR Congo}}

| established_title = Established

| established_date = {{start date|2015}}

| named_for = Kwilu River

| seat_type = Capital

| seat = Bandundu

| seat1_type = Largest city

| seat1 = Kikwit

| blank_name_sec1 = Official language

| blank_info_sec1 = French

| blank1_name_sec1 = National language

| blank1_info_sec1 = Kikongo ya leta

| area_total_km2 = 78219

| leader_title = Governor

| leader_name = Félicien Kiway (acting){{cite news |last1=Mesa |first1=Jonathan |title=Kwilu : le gouverneur Itsundala cède sa place et présente son bilan |url=https://actualite.cd/2024/03/04/kwilu-le-gouverneur-itsundala-cede-sa-place-et-presente-son-bilan |access-date=3 April 2025 |work=Actualite.cd |date=4 March 2024 |location=Bandundu |language=fr}}

| population_total = 6,682,300

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_density_km2 = auto

| population_demonym =

| demographics_type1 = Ethnic groups

| demographics1_title1 = Native

| timezone = WAT

| utc_offset = +1

| registration_plate_type = License Plate Code

| registration_plate = {{flagicon|Democratic Republic of the Congo}} CGO / 12

| website = https://kwiluprovince.com/

| demographics1_info1 = BaYanzi, BaSuku, Dzing, Kwese, BaSonde, AMbuun, BaPende, BaLunda

}}

Kwilu is a province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is one of the 21 provinces created in the 2015 repartitioning. Kwilu, Kwango, and Mai-Ndombe provinces are the result of the dismemberment of the former Bandundu province.{{cite news |title=RDC: démembrement effectif du Bandundu |url=https://www.radiookapi.net/actualite/2015/07/19/rdc-demembrement-effectif-du-bandundu |access-date=4 June 2020 |work=Radio Okapi |date=19 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720153014/http://radiookapi.net/actualite/2015/07/19/rdc-demembrement-effectif-du-bandundu/ |archive-date=20 July 2015 |url-status=live |language=fr}} Kwilu was formed from the Kwilu district and the independently administered cities of Bandundu and Kikwit. Bandundu is the provincial capital.{{cite journal |title= Loi organique nº 15/006 du 25 mars 2015 portant fixation des limites des provinces et celles de la ville de Kinshasa |journal=Journal officiel de la République Démocratique du Congo |date=28 Mar 2015 |volume=56 |edition=Special |url=http://www.leganet.cd/Legislation/JO/2015/Numeros/JOS.28.03.2015.pdf#page=21 |access-date=17 April 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200417184917/http://www.leganet.cd/Legislation/JO/2015/Numeros/JOS.28.03.2015.pdf |archive-date=17 April 2020 |url-status=live |format=PDF|language=fr |at=Article 15, col. 39}} The 2020 population was estimated to be 6,682,300.{{Cite web |title=Congo (Dem. Rep.): Provinces, Major Cities & Towns – Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/drcongo/cities/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}

The province takes its name from the Kwilu River, which crosses it from the southeast to the northwest.