2002 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2002 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Background
Since 1997 the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC; formerly called Zaire) has been rent by ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow in 1994 of refugees from the fighting in Rwanda and Burundi. The government of former president MOBUTU Sese Seko was toppled by a rebellion led by Laurent KABILA in May 1997; his regime was subsequently challenged by a Rwanda- and Uganda-backed rebellion in August 1998. Troops from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened to support the Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed on 10 July 1999 by the DROC, Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda, Namibia, Rwanda, and Congolese armed rebel groups RCD-G and MLC, but sporadic fighting continued. KABILA was assassinated on 16 January 2001 and his son Joseph KABILA was named head of state on 26 January 2001. Despite taking a radically different approach than his father, the new president has been equally unsuccessful in ending the war.
Geography
Area
total: 2,345,410 sq km water: 77,810 sq km land: 2,267,600 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
Climate
tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season April to October, dry season December to February; south of Equator - wet season November to March, dry season April to October
Coastline
37 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m
Environment - current issues
poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - a mineral used in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing environmental damage
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geographic coordinates
0 00 N, 25 00 E
Geography - note
straddles Equator; has very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands
Irrigated land
110 sq km (1998 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 10,744 km border countries: Angola 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of Angola's discontiguous Cabinda Province), Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km, Tanzania 473 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km
Land use
arable land: 3% permanent crops: 1% other: 96% (1998 est.)
Location
Central Africa, northeast of Angola
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors territorial sea: 12 NM
Natural hazards
periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in the east, in the Great Rift Valley, there are active volcanoes
Natural resources
cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower, timber
Terrain
vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east
People and Society
Age structure
48.2% (male 13,369,493; female 13,256,174) 15-64 years: (male 581,568; female 813,944) (2002 est.)
Birth rate
45.55 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate
14.93 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Ethnic groups
over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
5.07% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
95,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
1.1 million (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate
98.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Languages
French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba
Life expectancy at birth
51.13 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 6.77 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba total population: 77.3% male: 86.6% female: 67.7% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese or Congo
Net migration rate
-2.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: one million refugees fled into Zaire (now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo or DROC) in 1994 as a result of the ethnic fighting in Rwanda; fighting in the DROC between rebels and government forces in October 1996 caused 875,000 refugees to return to Rwanda in late 1996 and early 1997 and additional refugees have returned in subsequent years; fighting between the Congolese government and Uganda- and Rwanda-backed Congolese rebels spawned a regional war in DROC in August 1998, which left 1.8 million Congolese displaced in DROC and caused 300,000 Congolese refugees to flee to surrounding countries (2002 est.)
Population
55,225,478 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 2002 est.)
Population growth rate
2.79% (2002 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs 10%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and one city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu
Capital
Kinshasa
Constitution
24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978, amended April 1990; transitional constitution promulgated in April 1994; in November 1998, a draft constitution was approved by former President Laurent KABILA but it was not ratified by a national referendum; one outcome of the ongoing inter-Congolese dialogue is to be a new constitution
Country name
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo conventional short form: none local short form: none former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire local long form: Government type: dictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition to representative government
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Aubrey HOOKS embassy: 310 Avenue des Unit 31550, APO AE 09828 telephone:
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691 chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Executive branch
chief of state: President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001); note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent Desire KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the presidency; the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: assassination of his father, Laurent Desire KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the presidency; the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: National Executive Council, appointed by the president elections: before Laurent Desire KABILA seized power on 16 May 1997, the president was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 29 July 1984 (next was scheduled to be held in May 1997); formerly, there was also a prime minister who was elected by the High Council of the Republic; note - elections were not held in 1991 as called for by the constitution note: November 1965 until forced into exile on 16 May 1997 when his government was overthrown militarily by Laurent Desire KABILA; KABILA immediately assumed governing authority and pledged to hold elections by April 1999, but, in December 1998, announced that elections would be postponed until all foreign military forces attempting to topple the government had withdrawn from the country; KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and was succeeded by his son Joseph KABILA election results: results of the last election were: MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984 without opposition
Flag description
light blue with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center and a columnar arrangement of six small yellow five-pointed stars along the hoist side
Independence
30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
International organization participation
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Legal system
based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
a 300-member Transitional Constituent Assembly established in August 2000 elections: NA; members of the Transitional Constituent Assembly were appointed by former President Laurent Desire KABILA
National holiday
Independence Day, 30 June (1960)
Political parties and leaders
Democratic Social Christian Party or PDSC [Andre BO-BOLIKO]; Forces for Renovation for Union and Solidarity or FONUS [Joseph OLENGHANKOY]; National Congolese Lumumbist Movement or MNC [Francois LUMUMBA]; Popular Movement of the Revolution or MPR [three factions: MPR-Fait Prive (Catherine NZUZI wa Mbombo); MPR/Vunduawe (Felix VUNDUAWE); MPR/Mananga (MANANGA Dintoka Mpholo)]; Unified Lumumbast Party or PALU [Antoine GIZENGA]; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba]; Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans or UFERI [two factions: UFERI (Lokambo OMOKOKO); UFERI/OR (Adolph Kishwe MAYA)]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Economy
Agriculture - products
coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products
Budget
revenues: $269 million expenditures: $244 million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (1996 est.)
Currency
Congolese franc (CDF)
Currency code
CDF
Debt - external
$12.9 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient
$195.3 million (1995)
Economy - overview
The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation endowed with vast potential wealth - has declined drastically since the mid-1980s. The war, which began in August 1998, has dramatically reduced national output and government revenue and has increased external debt. Foreign businesses have curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating environment. The war has intensified the impact of such basic problems as an uncertain legal framework, corruption, raging inflation, and lack of openness in government economic policy and financial operations. A number of IMF and World Bank missions have met with the government to help it develop a coherent economic plan, and President KABILA has begun implementing reforms.
Electricity - consumption
4.55 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports
404 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports
55 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production
5.268 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 2.05% hydro: 97.95% other: 0% (1999) nuclear: 0%
Exchange rates
Congolese francs per US dollar - 305 (January 2002), 21.82 (2000), 4.02 (1999), 1.61 (1998), 1.31 (1997) note: on 30 June 1998 the Congolese franc was introduced, replacing the new zaire
Exports
$750 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities
diamonds, copper, coffee, cobalt, crude oil
Exports - partners
Benelux 62%, US 18%, South Africa, Finland, Italy (1999)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity - $32 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 54% industry: 9% services: 37% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $590 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
-4% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$1.024 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities
foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners
South Africa 28%, Benelux 14%, Nigeria 9%, Kenya 7%, China (1999)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
358% (2001 est.)
Labor force
14.51 million (1993 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture 65%, industry 16%, services 19% (1991 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Internet country code
.cd
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2 (2000)
Internet users
1,500 (1999)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios
18.03 million (1997)
Telephone system
general assessment: poor domestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use
21,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular
15,000 (2000)
Television broadcast stations
4 (2001)
Televisions
6.478 million (1997)
Transportation
Airports
232 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 24 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2001) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 208 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 96 under 914 m: 92 (2001)
Heliports
1 (2001)
Highways
total: 157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways)(1996) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Merchant marine
none (2002 est.)
Pipelines
petroleum products 390 km
Ports and harbors
Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka
Railways
total: 5,138 km narrow gauge: 3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge note: severely reduced route-distance in use because of damage to facilities by civil strife (2000 est.)
Waterways
15,000 km (including the Congo and its tributaries, and unconnected lakes)
Military and Security
Military branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Security Battalion
Military expenditures - dollar figure
$250 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
4.6% (FY97)
Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 11,996,175 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 6,110,595 (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the grip of a civil war that has drawn in military forces from neighboring states, with Uganda and Rwanda supporting the rebel movements that occupy much of the eastern portion of the state; Tutsi, Hutu, and other conflicting ethnic groups, political rebels, and various government forces continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda; most of the Congo River boundary with the Republic of the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the river or its islands, except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area)
Illicit drugs
illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption This page was last updated on 1 January 2002 China