Congo, Republic of the

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)

Radios

341,000 (1997)

Telephone system

services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out-of-order domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

21,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

1 (1999)

Televisions

33,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $870 million expenditures: $970 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Currency

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external

$5 billion (1997)

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. Moreover, the government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing to the government's shortage of revenues. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc Zone currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994 but inflation has subsided since. Economic reform efforts continued with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. 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. However, economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices in 1998, which worsened the Republic of the Congo's budget deficit. A second blow was the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998. Even with high world oil prices, Congo is unlikely to realize growth of more than 5% in 2000-01.

Electricity - consumption

588 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

120 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

503 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 0.6% hydro: 99.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995)

Exports

$1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

petroleum 50%, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds

Exports - partners

US 23%, Benelux 14%, Germany, Italy, Taiwan, China (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $4.15 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 10% industry: 59% services: 31% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,530 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$770 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities

petroleum products, capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

France 23%, US 9%, Belgium 8%, UK 7%, Italy (1997 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

petroleum extraction, cement kilning, lumbering, brewing, sugar milling, palm oil, soap, cigarette making

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (1999 est.)

Labor force

NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total: 342,000 sq km land: 341,500 sq km water: 500 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Montana

Climate

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

Coastline

169 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Berongou 903 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

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

10 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 5,504 km 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

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 29% forests and woodland: 62% other: 9% (1993 est.)

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, natural gas, hydropower

Terrain

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Brazzaville

Constitution

new constitution approved by referendum March 1992 but is now being redrafted by President SASSOU-NGUESSO

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of the Congo conventional short form: none local long form: Republique du Congo local short form: none former: Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo

Data code

CF

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador David H. KAEUPER embassy: NA mailing address: NA telephone: [242] 81-14-73 (temporary) FAX: [242] 88-40524 (temporary) 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)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Serge MOMBOULI chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500 FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860

Executive branch

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 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 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 August 1992 (next was to be held 27 July 1997 but will be delayed for several years pending the drafting of a new constitution) election results: Pascal LISSOUBA elected president in 1992; percent of vote - Pascal LISSOUBA 61.3%, Bernard KOLELAS 38.7%; note - LISSOUBA was deposed in 1997, replaced by Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO

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

Government type

republic

Independence

15 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Legal system

based on French civil law system and customary law

Legislative branch

unicameral National Transitional Council (75 seats, members elected by reconciliation forum of 1,420 delegates on NA January 1998); note - the National Transitional Council replaced the bicameral Parliament elections: National Transitional Council - last held NA January 1998 (next to be held NA 2001); note - at that election the National Transitional Council is to be replaced by a bicameral assembly election results: National Transitional Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

National holiday

Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)

Political parties and leaders

the most important of the many parties are the Congolese Labor Party or PCT [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president]; Association for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 installed in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President SASSOU-NGUESSO.

Military branches

Army, Air Force, Navy, Gendarmerie

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$110 million (FY93)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.8% (FY93)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 668,163 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 339,687 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 30,775 (2000 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 42% (male 605,546; female 596,971) 15-64 years: 54% (male 748,217; female 785,278) 65 years and over: 4% (male 38,170; female 56,779) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

38.61 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

16.35 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans NA%; note - Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before the 1997 civil war; may be half of that in 1998, following the widespread destruction of foreign businesses in 1997

Infant mortality rate

101.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 47.43 years male: 44.49 years female: 50.47 years (2000 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74.9% male: 83.1% female: 67.2% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese or Congo

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

2,830,961 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 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.23% (2000 est.)

Religions

Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.06 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

most of the Congo river boundary with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the river or its islands, except in the Stanley Pool/Pool Malebo area) [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports

36 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 32 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)

Highways

total: 12,800 km paved: 1,242 km unpaved: 11,558 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 25 km

Ports and harbors

Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire

Railways

total: 795 km (includes 285 km private track) narrow gauge: 795 km 1.067-m gauge (1995 est.)

Waterways

the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) rivers provide 1,120 km of commercially navigable water transport; other rivers are used for local traffic only