Congo
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GEOGRAPHY
Location
Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
Area
- Total area: 342,000 sq km
- Land area: 341,500 sq km
- Comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana
Land Boundaries
Total 5,504 km, Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km, Gabon 1,903 km, Democratic Republic Congo 2,410 km
Coastline
169 km
Maritime Claims
International Disputes
Long segment of boundary with Democratic Republic Congo along the Congo River is indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has been made)
Climate
Tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
Terrain
Coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
Natural Resources
- Petroleum
- Timber
- Potash
- Lead
- Zinc
- Uranium
- Copper
- Phosphates
- Natural gas
Land Use
- Arable land: 2%
- Permanent crops: 0%
- Meadows and pastures: 29%
- Forest and woodland: 62%
- Other: 7%
Irrigated Land
40 sq km (1989)
Environment
- Current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation
- Natural hazards: seasonal flooding
- International agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94
Note: About 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire, or along the railroad between them
PEOPLE
Population
2,527,841 (July 1996 est.)
2,504,996 (July 1995 est.)
Age Structure
0-14 Years
43% (male 550,971; female 545,096) (July 1996 est.)
44% (male 548,840; female 543,324) (July 1995 est.)
15-64 Years
53% (male 657,035; female 688,441) (July 1996 est.)
53% (male 645,045; female 682,927) (July 1995 est.)
65 Years and Over
4% (male 34,973; female 51,325) (July 1996 est.)
3% (male 34,981; female 49,879) (July 1995 est.)
Population Growth Rate
2.19% (1996 est.)
2.32% (1995 est.)
Birth Rate
39.19 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
39.86 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death Rate
17.35 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
16.7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net Migration Rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
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:
0.68 male(s)/female
all ages:
0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate
108.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
109.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth
- Total population: 45.77 years 91996 est.), 47.09 years (1995 est.)
- Male: 44.21 years (1996 est.), 45.23 years 91995 est.)
- Female: 47.37 years (1996 est.), 49 years (1995 est.)
Total Fertility Rate
5.15 children born/woman (1996 est.)
5.23 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality
- Noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
- Adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic Divisions
- South: Kongo 48%
- North: Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%
- Center: Teke 17%, Europeans 8,500 (mostly French)
Religions
Languages
French (official), African languages (Lingala and Kikongo are the most widely used)
Literacy
Age 15 and over that can read and write (1995 est.)
- Total population: 74.9%
- Male: 83.1%
- Female: 67.2%
Labor Force
79,100 wage earners
By occupation:
- Agriculture 75%
- Commerce, industry, and government 25%
GOVERNMENT
Names
- Conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
- Conventional short form: Congo
- Local long form: Republique Populaire du Congo
- Local short form: Congo (Pronunciation)
- Former: Congo/Brazzaville
Digraph
CF
Type
Republic
Capital
Brazzaville
Administrative Divisions
9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha
Independence
15 August 1960 (from France)
National Holiday
Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)
Constitution
New constitution approved by referendum March 1992
Legal System
Based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive Branch
- Chief of state: President Pascal LISSOUBA (since August 1992); election last held August 1992 (next to be held August 1997); results - President Pascal LISSOUBA won with 61% of the vote
- Head of government: Prime Minister Jacques Joachim YHOMBI-OPANGO (since 23 June 1993)
- Cabinet: Council of Ministers; named by the president
Legislative Branch
Bicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
Election last held 3 October 1993; results - percentage vote by party NA; seats - (125 total) UPADS 64, URD/PCT 58, others 3
Senate
Election last held 26 July 1992 (next to be held July 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total) UPADS 23, MCDDI 14, RDD 8, RDPS 5, PCT 2, others 8
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political Parties and Leaders
Of Congo's many political parties, the most important are Congolese Labor Party (PCT), Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president; Association for Democracy and Development (RDD), Joachim Yhombi OPANGO, president; Association for Democracy and Social Progress (RDPS), Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI), Bernard KOLELAS, leader; Pan-African Union for Social Development (UPADS), Pascal LISSOUBA, leader; Union of Democratic Forces (UFD), David Charles GANAO, leader; Union for Democratic Renewal (URD); Union for Development and Social Progress (UDPS), Jean-Michael BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA, leader
Other Political or Pressure Groups
Union of Congolese Socialist Youth (UJSC); Congolese Trade Union Congress (CSC); Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women (URFC); General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students (UGEEC)
Member of
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
National Anthem
Flag
Red, 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
ECONOMY
Overview
Congo's 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 about 90% of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled Congo to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. Subsequently, falling oil prices cut GDP growth by half. Moreover, the Congolese 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. Recent efforts to implement economic reforms have begun to show progress; the IMF has recommended approval of an Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility agreement in 1996.
National Product
GDP - purchasing power parity - $7.7 billion (1995 est.), $6.7 billion (1993 est.)
National Product Real Growth Rate
3.3% (1995 est.)
-2.1% (1993 est.)
National Product Per Capita
$3,100 (1995 est.)
$2,820 (1994 est.)
Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)
61% (1994 est.)
2.2% (1992 est.)
Unemployment Rate
NA
Budget
- Revenues: $2.18 billion (1994 est.), $765 million (1990 est.)
- Expenditures: $952 million, including capital expenditures of $65 million (1990)
Exports
$1 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
$1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
Commodities:
- Crude oil 90%
- Lumber
- Plywood
- Sugar
- Cocoa
- Coffee
- Diamonds
Partners:
Imports
$600 million (c.i.f., 1995)
$472 million (c.i.f., 1991)
Commodities:
- Intermediate manufactures
- Capital equipment
- Construction materials
- Foodstuffs
- Petroleum Products
Partners:
- France
- U.S.
- Italy
- Japan
- Other EU countries
- Thailand
External Debt
$5 billion (1993)
Industrial Production
Growth rate 8% (1993 est.); accounts for 35% of GDP; includes petroleum, 3.7% (estimated average annual growth rate for 1980-92)
Electricity
- Capacity: 120,000 kW
- Production: 400 million kWh
- Consumption per capita: 201 kWh (1993)
Industries
- Petroleum
- Cement
- Lumbering
- Brewing
- Sugar milling
- Palm oil
- Soap
- Cigarette
Agriculture
Accounts for 12% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); cassava accounts for 90% of food output; other crops - rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables; cash crops include coffee and cocoa; forest products important export earner; imports over 90% of food needs
Economic Aid
- Recipient: U.S. commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $63 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-90), $2.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $15 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $338 million
Currency
1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January 1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)
Note: Beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal Year
Calendar year
TRANSPORTATION
Railroads
- Total: 795 km (includes 285 km that are privately owned)
- Narrow gauge: 795 km 1.067-m gauge (includes 285 km that are privately owned)
Highways
- Total: 12,745 km
- Paved: 1,236 km
- Unpaved: 11,509 km (1992 est.)
Inland Waterways
The Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) Rivers provide 1,120 km of commercially navigable water transport; the rest are used for local traffic only
Pipelines
Crude oil 25 km
Ports
Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire
Merchant Marine
None
Airports
- Total: 34
- With paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
- With paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
- With paved runways under 914 m: 9
- With unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 7
- With unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14 (1995 est.)
COMMUNICATIONS
Telephone System
18,000 telephones (1983 est.); 7 telephones/1,000 persons; services adequate for government use; key centers are Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo
- Local: NA
- Intercity: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable
- International: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Radio
- Broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0
- Radios: NA
Television
- Broadcast stations: 4
- Televisions: 8,500 (1993 est.)
DEFENSE FORCES
Branches
Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, National Police
Manpower Availability
Males age 15-49 582,103; males fit for military service 296,602; males reach military age (20) annually 25,247 (1996 est.)
Defense Expenditures
Exchange rate conversion - $110 million, 3.8% of GDP (1993)
History
World Atlas
