2010 Edition

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 new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.

Area

land

341,500 sq km

total

342,000 sq km

water

500 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Montana

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

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

8 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.03 cu km/yr (59%/29%/12%)

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

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2003)

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%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea

200 nm

Natural hazards

seasonal flooding

Natural resources

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

Terrain

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Total renewable water resources

832 cu km (1987)

Age structure

0-14 years: 45.9% (male 927,599/female 915,540) 15-64 years: 51.2% (male 1,021,975/female 1,034,119) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 46,687/female 66,889) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

41.01 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

11.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

1.9% of GDP (2005)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.5% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

6,400 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

79,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

72.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

83.39 deaths/1,000 live births

total

77.93 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

55.84 years (2010 est.)

male

53.27 years

total population

54.54 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

78.4% (2003 est.)

male

89.6%

total population

83.8%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)

water contact disease

schistosomiasis (2009)

Median age

female

17.2 years (2010 est.)

male

16.7 years

total

16.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Congolese or Congo

noun

Congolese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-1.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

4,125,916 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.807% (2010 est.)

Religions

Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

9 years (2003)

male

10 years

total

9 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.77 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

61% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

4 15 S, 15 17 E

name

Brazzaville

time difference

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Allan EASTHAM

embassy

Boulevard de la Revolution, BDEAC Building, 4th Floor, Brazzaville; note - a new embassy is expected to open in 2009

mailing address

B.P. 1015, Brazzaville

telephone

[242] 281-1481, 281-3368; note - until the new embassy in Brazzaville becomes operational, some duties will still be handled in the US embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011

chief of mission

Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI

FAX

[1] (202) 726-1860

telephone

[1] (202) 726-5500

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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 78.6%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU 7.5%, Nicephore Fylla de SAINT-EUDES 7%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 July 2009 (next to be held in 2016)

head of government

President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 25 October 1997); note - the position of prime minister was abolished in September 2009

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; green symbolizes agriculture and forests, yellow the friendship and nobility of the people, red is unexplained but has been associated with the struggle for independence note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type

republic

Independence

15 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Legal system

based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (72 seats; members elected by indirect vote to serve five-year terms) and the National Assembly (137 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RMP 33, FDU 23, UPADS 2, independents 7, other 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 46, MCDDI 11, UPADS 11, MAR 5, MSD 5, independents 37, other 22

elections

Senate - last held on 5 August 2008 (next to be held in 2013); National Assembly - last held on 24 June and 5 August 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE note: originally adopted 1959, restored 1991

name

"La Congolaise" (The Congolese)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

Political parties and leaders

Action Movement for Renewal or MAR; Congolese Labour Party or PCT; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Movement for Solidarity and Development or MSD; Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR [Raymond Damasge NGOLLO]; Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]; Rally of the Presidential Majority or RMP; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR; United Democratic Forces or FDU [Sebastian EBAO]; many less important parties

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009) 4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA% (31 December 2009 est.) NA% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$569 million (2010 est.) -$1.195 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$5 billion (2000 est.)

Economy - overview

The economy is a mixture of subsistence agriculture, an industrial sector based largely on oil and support services, and government spending. 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. Characterized by budget problems and overstaffing, 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. The drop in oil prices during the global crisis reduced oil revenue by about 30%, but the subsequent 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, receiving $1.9 billion in debt relief under the program in 2010.

Electricity - consumption

471 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

449 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

400 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs per US dollar - 507.71 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 483.6 (2007), 522.59 (2006)

Exports

$9.2 billion (2010 est.) $7.425 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 40.08%, China 30.18%, France 8.17%, Taiwan 6.4%, India 4.2% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

4.4%

industry

63.7%

services

32% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,200 (2010 est.) $3,900 (2009 est.) $3,800 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

10.5% (2010 est.) 7.6% (2009 est.) 5.6% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$11.88 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$17.45 billion (2010 est.) $15.79 billion (2009 est.) $14.67 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 37.1% (2005)

Imports

$3.607 billion (2010 est.) $3.259 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

France 20.64%, China 14.54%, Italy 9.56%, US 9.02%, India 5.55%, Belgium 4.51% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

12% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.2% (2010 est.) 4.3% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

41.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.514 million (2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

180 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

180 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

10,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

241,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

2,136 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

274,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

1.6 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.123 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.806 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.746 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.178 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.58 billion (31 December 2009) $1.889 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of narrow money

$2.403 billion (31 December 2010 est) $1.887 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Broadcast media

1 state-owned TV and 3 state-owned radio stations; several privately-owned TV and radio stations; satellite TV service is available; rebroadcasts of several international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code

.cg

Internet hosts

42 (2010)

Internet users

245,200 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line infrastructure inadequate providing less than 1 connection per 100 persons; in the absence of an adequate fixed line infrastructure, mobile-cellular subscribership has surged and now exceeds 50 per 100 persons

general assessment

primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable with 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) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

24,300 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.171 million (2009)

Airports

25 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

6 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine

registered in other countries

1 (Democratic Republic of the Congo 1) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 7 km; oil 211 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Brazzaville, Djeno, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire

Railways

narrow gauge

795 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

total

795 km

Roadways

paved

864 km

total

17,289 km

unpaved

16,425 km (2004)

Waterways

1,120 km (commercially navigable on Congo and Oubanqui rivers above Brazzaville; there are many ferries across the river to Kinshasa; the Congo south of Brazzaville-Kinshasa to the coast is not navigable because of rapids, thereby necessitating a rail connection to Pointe Noire; other rivers are used for local traffic only) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 898,850 females age 16-49: 886,063 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 557,764 females age 16-49: 546,755 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

47,874 (2010 est.)

male

48,365

Military branches

Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army (Armee de Terre), Navy, Congolese Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise), Gendarmerie, Special Presidential Security Guard (GSSP) (2009)

Military expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2009)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; women allowed to serve (2007)

Disputes - international

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

48,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992; most IDPs are ethnic Lari) (2007)

refugees (country of origin)

46,341 (Democratic Republic of Congo); 6,564 (Rwanda)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Republic of the Congo is a source and destination country for children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; girls are trafficked from rural areas within the country for commercial sexual exploitation, forced street vending, and domestic servitude; children are trafficked from other African countries for domestic servitude, forced market vending, and forced labor in the fishing industry

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - Republic of the Congo is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007; struggling to recover from six years of civil conflict that ended in 2003, the Republic of the Congo's capacity to address trafficking is handicapped; the government neither monitors its borders for trafficking activity nor provides specialized anti-trafficking training for law enforcement officials; the government does not encourage victims to assist in trafficking investigations or prosecutions, and has not taken measures to reduce demand for commercial sex acts in the Republic of the Congo (2008) page last updated on January 12, 2011 ======================================================================