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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.cg

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

46 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

15,000 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: 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: country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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

7,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

330,000 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (2002)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.025 billion expenditures: $946.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

XAF

Current account balance [time series]

$139.2 million (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$5 billion (2000 est.)

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. The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing to a 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 and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic problems of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

633 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

300 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

358.1 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 581.2 (2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$2.293 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

China 28.6%, Taiwan 19.3%, US 16%, South Korea 12.9% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $2.148 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 6.9% industry: 53.9% services: 39.2% (2003 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $700 (2003 est.)

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

1.3% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$666.9 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Imports - partners [time series]

France 22.2%, US 6.8%, Italy 6.2%, China 5.1%, Belgium 4.6%, India 4.4% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

0% (2002 est.)

Industries [time series]

petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.4% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

31.3% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

NA (2000 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

495.5 million cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption [time series]

5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

275,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

93.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$44.53 million (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA (2003)

Geography

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 (1998 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: 0.51% permanent crops: 0.13% other: 99.36% (2001)

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Brazzaville

Constitution [time series]

constitution approved by referendum 20 January 2002

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Robin R. SANDERS embassy: NA mailing address: NA telephone: [243] (88) 43608 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: Ambassador 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 seven-year term (eligible for a second seven-year term); election last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2009) election results: Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected president; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO 89.4%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU 2.7%

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, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Legal system [time series]

based on French civil law system and customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (66 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the National Assembly (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 11 July 2002 (next to be held NA July 2007); National Assembly - last held 27 May and 26 June 2002 (next to be held by NA May 2007) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FDP 56, other 10; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FDP 83, UDR 6, UPADS 3, other 45

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

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

the most important of the many parties are the Democratic and Patriotic Forces or FDP (an alliance of Convention for Alternative Democracy, Congolese Labor Party or PCT, Liberal Republican Party, National Union for Democracy and Progress, Patriotic Union for the National Reconstruction, and Union for the National Renewal) [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president]; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]; Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR [Raymond Damasge NGOLLO]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [leader NA]; 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

Introduction

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, but ushered in a period of ethnic unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. The Republic of Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers with significant potential for offshore development.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Congolese Armed Forces (FAC): Army, Air Force, Navy

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$68.6 million (2003)

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

2.8% (2003)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 773,790 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 390,884 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 31,964 (2004 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 37.9% (male 571,224; female 563,723) 15-64 years: 58.5% (male 865,596; female 888,125) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 45,093; female 64,279) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

28.66 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

14.49 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3% note: Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before the 1997 civil war; may be half that in 1998, following the widespread destruction of foreign businesses in 1997

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

4.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

9,700 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

90,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 93.86 deaths/1,000 live births male: 99.95 deaths/1,000 live births female: 87.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 49.51 years male: 48.51 years female: 50.55 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83.8% male: 89.6% female: 78.4% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 20.4 years male: 20 years female: 20.9 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

2,998,040 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 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.42% (2004 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: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.54 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

IDPs: 60,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992; most IDPs are ethnic Lari) (2004)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

32 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 28 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 12,800 km paved: 1,242 km unpaved: 11,558 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 53 km; oil 646 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire

Railways [time series]

total: 894 km narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2003)

Waterways [time series]

4,385 km (on Congo and Oubanqui rivers) (2004)

Congo, Republic of the