Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

NA

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)

Radios [time series]

341,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

21,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

NA

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (1999)

Televisions [time series]

33,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external [time series]

$5 billion (1997)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$159.1 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 [time series]

588 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

120 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

503 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

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

Exchange rates [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

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

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

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

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities [time series]

petroleum products, capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Imports - partners [time series]

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

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

NA

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Montana

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

169 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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 [time series]

1 00 S, 15 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them

Irrigated land [time series]

10 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

seasonal flooding

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, natural gas, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Brazzaville

Constitution [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

CF

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

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 (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

15 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

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 [time series]

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Legal system [time series]

based on French civil law system and customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

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 [time series]

Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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 [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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 and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Air Force, Navy, Gendarmerie

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$110 million (FY93)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

3.8% (FY93)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

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

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

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

Military manpower - military age [time series]

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 30,775 (2000 est.)

Age structure [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

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

Ethnic groups [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

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

Population [time series]

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 [time series]

2.23% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

Sex ratio [time series]

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 [time series]

5.06 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

36 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

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

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 25 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire

Railways [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

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

Congo, Republic of the