2014 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 is 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

342,000 sq km 341,500 sq km 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

Atlantic Ocean 0 m Mount Berongou 903 m

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

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 none of the selected 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)

0.05 cu km/yr (69%/26%/4%) 13.99 cu m/yr (2005)

per capita

13.99 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.05 cu km/yr (69%/26%/4%)

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

5,008 km Angola 231 km, Cameroon 494 km, Central African Republic 487 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,229 km, Gabon 2,567 km

border countries

Angola 231 km, Cameroon 494 km, Central African Republic 487 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,229 km, Gabon 2,567 km

total

5,008 km

Land use

1.46% 0.18% 98.36% (2011)

arable land

1.46%

other

98.36% (2011)

permanent crops

0.18%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

200 nm

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 (2011)

Age structure

41.1% (male 966,852/female 950,411) 17.7% (male 411,263/female 413,594) 34.2% (male 808,181/female 787,554) 4% (male 90,795/female 94,837) 2.7% (male 60,400/female 78,559) (2014 est.)

0-14 years

41.1% (male 966,852/female 950,411)

15-24 years

17.7% (male 411,263/female 413,594)

25-54 years

34.2% (male 808,181/female 787,554)

55-64 years

4% (male 90,795/female 94,837)

65 years and over

2.7% (male 60,400/female 78,559) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

36.59 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

252,171 25 % (2005 est.)

percentage

25 % (2005 est.)

total number

252,171

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.8% (2005)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

44.7% (2011/12)

Death rate

10.17 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios

85 % 78.7 % 6.3 % 16 (2014 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

6.3 %

potential support ratio

16 (2014 est.)

total dependency ratio

85 %

youth dependency ratio

78.7 %

Drinking water source

urban: 95.7% of population rural: 38.8% of population total: 75.3% of population urban: 4.3% of population rural: 61.2% of population total: 24.7% of population (2012 est.)

rural

61.2% of population

total

24.7% of population (2012 est.)

urban

4.3% of population

Education expenditures

6.2% of GDP (2010)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

2.5% of GDP (2011)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.8% (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

5,200 (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

74,500 (2012 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.6 beds/1,000 population (2005)

Infant mortality rate

59.34 deaths/1,000 live births 64.49 deaths/1,000 live births 54.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

female

54.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

total

59.34 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

58.52 years 57.38 years 59.7 years (2014 est.)

female

59.7 years (2014 est.)

total population

58.52 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 83.8% 89.6% 78.4% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

78.4% (2003 est.)

male

89.6%

total population

83.8%

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and dengue fever rabies schistosomiasis (2013)

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 dengue fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis (2013)

Major urban areas - population

BRAZZAVILLE (capital) 1.611 million; Pointe-Noire 834,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

560 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

19.8 years 19.7 years 20 years (2014 est.)

female

20 years (2014 est.)

male

19.7 years

total

19.8 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.8 median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2011-12 est.)

Nationality

Congolese (singular and plural) Congolese or Congo

adjective

Congolese or Congo

noun

Congolese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-7.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

4.7% (2008)

Physicians density

0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

4,662,446 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 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

1.94% (2014 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 33.1%, Awakening Churches/Christian Revival 22.3%, Protestant 19.9%, Salutiste 2.2%, Muslim 1.6%, Kimbanguiste 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 19.6% of population rural: 5.6% of population total: 14.6% of population urban: 80.4% of population rural: 94.4% of population total: 85.4% of population (2012 est.)

rural

94.4% of population

total

85.4% of population (2012 est.)

urban

80.4% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

11 years 11 years 11 years (2012)

female

11 years (2012)

male

11 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.69 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.99 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.03 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.69 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.73 children born/woman (2014 est.)

Urbanization

63.7% of total population (2011) 2.84% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.84% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

63.7% of total population (2011)

Administrative divisions

12 departments (departments, singular - department); Bouenza, Brazzaville, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha

Capital

Brazzaville 4 15 S, 15 17 E UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

4 15 S, 15 17 E

name

Brazzaville

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

previous 1992; latest approved by referendum 20 January 2002 (2002)

Country name

Republic of the Congo Congo (Brazzaville) Republique du Congo none Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo

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

Ambassador Stephanie S. Sullivan (since 12 August 2013) 70-83 Section D, Maya-Maya Boulevard, Brazzaville; B.P. 1015, Brazzaville [242] 06 612-200

chief of mission

Ambassador Stephanie S. Sullivan (since 12 August 2013)

embassy

70-83 Section D, Maya-Maya Boulevard, Brazzaville;

mailing address

B.P. 1015, Brazzaville

telephone

[242] 06 612-200

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI (since 31 July 2001) 1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 726-5500 [1] (202) 726-1860

chancery

1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI (since 31 July 2001)

FAX

[1] (202) 726-1860

telephone

[1] (202) 726-5500

Executive branch

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 chief of state and head of government President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 25 October 1997); note - the position of prime minister was abolished in September 2009 Council of Ministers appointed by the president 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) 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%, other 6.9%

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 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%, other 6.9%

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 uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type

republic

Independence

15 August 1960 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges) note - the High Court of Justice, outside the judicial authority, tries cases involving treason by the president of the republic judges elected by parliament and serve until retirement age courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges)

judge selection and term of office

judges elected by parliament and serve until retirement age

subordinate courts

courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (72 seats; members elected by indirect vote to serve five-year terms) and the National Assembly (139 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) Senate - last held on 5 August 2008 (next to be held in July 2014); National Assembly - last held on 15 July and 5 August 2012 (next to be held in 2018) 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 (and allies) 117, UPADS 7, independents 12, vacant 3

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 (and allies) 117, UPADS 7, independents 12, vacant 3

elections

Senate - last held on 5 August 2008 (next to be held in July 2014); National Assembly - last held on 15 July and 5 August 2012 (next to be held in 2018)

National anthem

"La Congolaise" (The Congolese) Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE originally adopted 1959, restored 1991

lyrics/music

Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE

name

"La Congolaise" (The Congolese)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

National symbol(s)

lion; elephant

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

Budget

$6.608 billion $4.618 billion (2013 est.)

expenditures

$4.618 billion (2013 est.)

revenues

$6.608 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

14% of GDP (2013 est.)

Central bank discount rate

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.8% (31 December 2013 est.) 14.8% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

$638.2 million (2013 est.) $187.9 million (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$3.274 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $2.999 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Economy - overview

The economy is a mixture of subsistence hunting and 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. Natural gas is increasingly being converted to electricity rather than being flared, greatly improving energy prospects. New mining projects, particularly iron ore, that entered production in late 2013 may add as much as $1 billion to annual government revenue. Economic reform efforts have been undertaken with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF, including recently concluded Article IV consultations. The current administration 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 boosted the economy's GDP from 2009-13. Officially the country became a net external creditor as of 2011, with external debt representing only about 16% of GDP and debt servicing less than 3% of government revenue.

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 500.7 (2013 est.) 510.53 (2012 est.) 495.28 (2010 est.) 472.19 (2009) 447.81 (2008)

Exports

$9.912 billion (2013 est.) $10.53 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

China 39%, US 13%, France 9.5%, Australia 8.8%, Netherlands 6.8%, Spain 5.3%, India 5.2% (2012)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

24.8% 11.1% 55.4% 0.9% 91.8% -84.1% (2013 est.)

exports of goods and services

91.8%

government consumption

11.1%

household consumption

24.8%

imports of goods and services

-84.1%

investment in fixed capital

55.4%

investment in inventories

0.9%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

3.3% 73.9% 22.9% (2013 est.)

agriculture

3.3%

industry

73.9%

services

22.9% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,800 (2013 est.) $4,700 (2012 est.) $4,600 (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.8% (2013 est.) 3.8% (2012 est.) 3.4% (2011 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$14.25 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$20.26 billion (2013 est.) $19.15 billion (2012 est.) $18.44 billion (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

Gross national saving

61.4% of GDP (2013 est.) 56.2% of GDP (2012 est.) 61.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.1% 37.1% (2005)

highest 10%

37.1% (2005)

lowest 10%

2.1%

Imports

$4.297 billion (2013 est.) $4.45 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

France 19.5%, China 13.5%, Brazil 9.1%, US 6.1%, India 5.8%, Italy 4.8%, Belgium 4.4% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2013 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.7% (2013 est.) 3.9% (2012 est.)

Labor force

2.89 million (2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

46.5% (2011 est.)

Public debt

32.1% of GDP (2013 est.) 31.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$5.239 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $5.568 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$5.119 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $4.795 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$-1.053 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $-1.448 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$4.678 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $4.403 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

46.4% of GDP (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate

53% (2012 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

6.858 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

290,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - production

291,900 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

1.6 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)

Electricity - consumption

588 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

51.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

48.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

495 million kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

559,000 kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

559 million kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

930 million cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

39 million cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

946 million cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

10,710 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

4,288 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

4,156 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

13,820 bbl/day (2010 est.)

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

45 (2012)

Internet users

245,200 (2009)

Telephone system

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 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 to 90 per 100 persons country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

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 to 90 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) (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

14,900 (2012)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.283 million (2012)

Airports

27 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

5 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

5 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

over 3,047 m

2

total

8

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

8

914 to 1,523 m

9

total

19

Merchant marine

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

registered in other countries

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

Pipelines

gas 232 km; liquid petroleum gas 4 km; oil 982 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

Pointe-Noire Brazzaville (Congo); Impfondo (Oubangi); Ouesso (Sangha); Oyo (Alima) Djeno

major seaport(s)

Pointe-Noire

oil/gas terminal(s)

Djeno

river port(s)

Brazzaville (Congo); Impfondo (Oubangi); Ouesso (Sangha); Oyo (Alima)

Railways

886 km 886 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

total

886 km

Roadways

17,289 km 864 km 16,425 km (2004)

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) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

928,664 914,265 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

914,265 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

928,664

Manpower fit for military service

577,944 566,587 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

566,587 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

577,944

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

50,000 49,641 (2010 est.)

female

49,641 (2010 est.)

male

50,000

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) (2013)

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) (2013)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; women can serve in the Armed Forces (2012)

Disputes - international

the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is undefined except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area

Refugees and internally displaced persons

31,936 (Democratic Republic of Congo); 8,496 (Rwanda) (2013); 16,750 (Central African Republic) (2014) 7,800 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2009)

IDPs

7,800 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2009)

refugees (country of origin)

31,936 (Democratic Republic of Congo); 8,496 (Rwanda) (2013); 16,750 (Central African Republic) (2014)