2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha

Age structure

0-14 years: 46.4% (male 864,407/female 853,728) 15-64 years: 50.7% (male 930,390/female 945,545) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 44,430/female 63,814) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products

Airports

32 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

total

4

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

28 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 11

under 914 m

11 (2006)

Area

land

341,500 sq km

total

342,000 sq km

water

500 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Montana

Background

Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis. The Republic of Congo was once one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need to hope for new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term. Geography Congo, Republic of the

Birth rate

42.57 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$1.664 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$2.985 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

4 16 S, 15 17 E

name

Brazzaville

time difference

UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator

Coastline

169 km

Congolese Armed Forces (FAC)

Army, Congolese Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise), Navy, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard (2005)

Constitution

approved by referendum 20 January 2002

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of the Congo

conventional short form

Congo (Brazzaville)

former

Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo

local long form

Republique du Congo

local short form

none

Currency (code)

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code

XAF

Current account balance

$1.215 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

12.93 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$5 billion (2000 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Robert WEISBERG

embassy

NA

mailing address

NA

note

the embassy is temporarily collocated with the US Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (US Embassy Kinshasa, 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa)

telephone

[243] (88) 43608

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011

chief of mission

Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI

telephone

[1] (202) 726-5500

Disputes - international

about 7,000 Congolese refugees fleeing internal civil conflicts since the mid-1990s still reside in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area

Economic aid - recipient

$159.1 million (1995)

Economy - overview

The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings through oil-backed loans that have contributed to a growing debt burden and chronic revenue shortfalls. Economic reform efforts have been undertaken with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. However, the reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. Economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. Recovery of oil prices has boosted the economy's GDP and near-term prospects. In March 2006, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) treatment for Congo.

Electricity - consumption

5.127 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

1.25 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

9 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

6.847 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

0.3%

hydro

99.7%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Berongou 903 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

Ethnic groups

Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 513.168 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October 1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected president; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO 89.4%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU 2.7%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held in 2009)

head of government

President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October 1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$5.996 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds

Exports - partners

China 38.4%, US 28.6%, Taiwan 11.6%, South Korea 7.1% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 726-1860

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Congo, Republic of the

Flag description

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia Economy Congo, Republic of the

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

6.2%

industry

55.3%

services

38.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,300 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.093 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.958 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

1 00 S, 15 00 E

Geography - note

about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them People Congo, Republic of the

Government type

republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

4.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

9,700 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

90,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

IDPs

48,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992; most IDPs are ethnic Lari) (2006) This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$1.964 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

France 23.2%, China 10.2%, US 7.3%, India 7.2%, Italy 6.7%, Belgium 4.6% (2005)

Independence

15 August 1960 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

0% (2002 est.)

Industries

petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes

Infant mortality rate

female

79.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

91 deaths/1,000 live births

total

85.29 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.6% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW (signatory), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.cg

Internet hosts

46 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

36,000 (2005) Transportation Congo, Republic of the

Investment (gross fixed)

27.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Labor force

NA

Land boundaries

border countries

Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon 1,903 km

total

5,504 km

Land use

arable land

1.45%

other

98.4% (2005)

permanent crops

0.15%

Languages

French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)

Legal system

based on French civil law system and customary law

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (66 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the National Assembly (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FDP 56, other 10; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FDP 83, UDR 6, UPADS 3, other 45

elections

Senate - last held 11 July 2002 (next to be held July 2007); National Assembly - last held 27 May and 26 June 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

53.98 years (2006 est.)

male

51.65 years

total population

52.8 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

78.4% (2003 est.) Government Congo, Republic of the

male

89.6%

total population

83.8%

Location

Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria (2007)

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

685,388 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

688,628

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

394,745 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

406,016

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

38,082 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

38,464

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea

200 nm

Median age

female

16.9 years (2006 est.)

male

16.4 years

total

16.6 years

Merchant marine

registered in other countries

1 (Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1) (2006)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$85.22 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.4% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Congo, Republic of the

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

Nationality

adjective

Congolese or Congo

noun

Congolese (singular and plural)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural hazards

seasonal flooding

Natural resources

petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower

Net migration rate

-3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

6,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

267,100 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

93.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Pipelines

gas 89 km; liquid petroleum gas 4 km; oil 744 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

the most important of the many parties are the Democratic and Patriotic Forces or FDP [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president] (an alliance of Convention for Alternative Democracy, Congolese Labor Party or PCT, Liberal Republican Party, National Union for Democracy and Progress, Patriotic Union for the National Reconstruction, and Union for the National Renewal); Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]; Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR [Raymond Damasge NGOLLO]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR; Union of Democratic Forces or UFD [Sebastian EBAO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC; General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC; Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women or URFC; Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSC

Population

3,702,314

note

estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

2.6% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Brazzaville, Djeno, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire Military Congo, Republic of the

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)

Radios

341,000 (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

894 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

total

894 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

56,380 (Democratic Republic of Congo), 6,478 (Rwanda)

Religions

Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$547 million (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

864 km

total

17,289 km

unpaved

16,425 km (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable

general assessment

services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order

international

country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

13,800 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

490,000 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2002)

Televisions

33,000 (1997)

Terrain

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Total fertility rate

6.07 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

4,385 km (on Congo and Oubanqui rivers) (2005)