2003 Edition

Age structure

0-14 years: 48.3% (male 13,734,706; female 13,624,579) 15-64 years: 49.2% (male 13,648,155; female 14,203,077) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 583,366; female 831,156) (2003 est.)

Area

land

2,267,600 sq km

total

2,345,410 sq km

water

77,810 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US

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, but sporadic fighting continued. KABILA was assassinated on 16 January 2001 and his son Joseph KABILA was named head of state ten days later. In October 2002, the new president was successful in getting occupying Rwandan forces to withdraw from eastern Congo; two months later, an agreement was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and set up a government of national unity. Geography Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Birth rate

45.12 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

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

Country name

abbreviation

DROC

conventional long form

Democratic Republic of the Congo

conventional short form

none

former

Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire

local long form

Republique Democratique du Congo

local short form

none

Death rate

14.87 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 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

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

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 People Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Government type

dictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition to representative

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

4.9% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

120,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.3 million (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

87.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

105.15 deaths/1,000 live births

total

96.56 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

110 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

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 459 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km

total

10,730 km

Land use

arable land

2.96%

other

96.52% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.52%

Languages

French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba

Life expectancy at birth

female

51.09 years (2003 est.)

male

46.83 years

total population

48.93 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba

female

55.1% (2003 est.) Government Congo, Democratic Republic of the

male

76.2%

total population

65.5%

Location

Central Africa, northeast of Angola

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

boundaries with neighbors

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

16.1 years (2002)

male

15.4 years

total

15.8 years

Nationality

adjective

Congolese or Congo

noun

Congolese (singular and plural)

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

Net migration rate

-1.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population

note

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 internally displaced and caused 300,000 Congolese refugees to flee to surrounding countries (2003 est.)

Population

56,625,039

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 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

2.9% (2003 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

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

Terrain

vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east

Total fertility rate

6.69 children born/woman (2003 est.)

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

Agriculture - products

coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products

Airports

229 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16

total

24

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

205 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 95

under 914 m

91 (2002)

Budget

expenditures

$244 million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (1996 est.)

revenues

$269 million

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

Currency

Congolese franc (CDF)

Currency code

CDF

Debt - external

$12.9 billion (2000 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Aubrey HOOKS

embassy

310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa

mailing address

Unit 31550, APO AE 09828

telephone

[243] (88) 43608

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Faida MITIFU

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, Lendu, Hema 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 - heads of the Great Lakes states pledge to end conflict, but localized violence continues despite UN peacekeeping efforts; 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)

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, has increased external debt, and has resulted in the deaths from war, famine, and disease of perhaps 3.5 million people. 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, inflation, and lack of openness in government economic policy and financial operations. Conditions improved in late 2002 with the withdrawal of a large portion of the invading foreign troops. 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. Much economic activity lies outside the GDP data.

Electricity - consumption

3.839 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

1.097 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

60 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

5.243 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

1.8%

hydro

98.2%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Congolese francs per US dollar - 346.49 (2002), 206.62 (2001), 21.82 (2000), 4.02 (1999), 1.61 (1998)

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

Exports

$1.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

diamonds, copper, crude oil, coffee, cobalt

Exports - partners

Belgium 64.4%, US 13.4%, Zimbabwe 6.7%, Finland 4.9% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 234-2609

[243] (88) 43467

chancery

1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone

[1] (202) 234-7690, 7691

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Congo, Democratic Republic of the

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 Economy Congo, Democratic Republic of the

GDP

purchasing power parity - $34 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

55%

industry

11%

services

34% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.5% (2002 est.)

Heliports

1 (2002) Military Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Highways

paved

NA km

total

157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways)

unpaved

NA km (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leaves the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$890 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners

Belgium 14.6%, South Africa 14.2%, Nigeria 10.3%, France 9.5%, Germany 7.3%, Netherlands 5.3%, Kenya 5.2% (2002)

Independence

30 June 1960 (from Belgium)

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)

16% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.cd

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2001)

Internet users

6,000 (2002) Transportation Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Labor force

14.51 million (1993 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

NA

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

Merchant marine

none (2002 est.)

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Security Battalion

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$250 million (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

4.6% (FY97) Transnational Issues Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

12,292,933 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

6,267,752 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 June (1960)

Natural gas - proved reserves

104.8 billion cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption

14,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

1.538 billion bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 54 km; oil 71 km (2003)

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

Population below poverty line

NA%

Ports and harbors

Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios

18.03 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

3,621 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge (2002)

total

4,772 km

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Telephone system

domestic

barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations

general assessment

poor

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

20,000 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

15,000 (2000)

Television broadcast stations

4 (2001)

Televisions

6.478 million (1997)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

15,000 km (including the Congo and its tributaries, and unconnected lakes)