Congo, Republic of the

Congo, Republic of the

Introduction

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 took office in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis. The Republic of Congo was once one of Africa’s largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

1 00 S, 15 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 342,000 sq km
country comparison to the world: 64 land:341,500 sq km
water:500 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Montana

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

Coastline

169 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate

tropical

rainy season (March to June)

dry season (June to October)

persistent high temperatures and humidity

particularly enervating climate astride the Equator

Terrain

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land: 1.45%
permanent crops:0.15%
other:98.4% (2005)

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

832 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.03cu km/yr (59%/29%/12%)
per capita:8cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

seasonal flooding

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

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

People and Society

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M’Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%

Languages

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

Religions

Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

Population

4,243,929 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Age structure

0-14 years: 45.6% (male 973,332/female 960,100)
15-64 years:51.7% (male 1,091,531/female 1,101,057)
65 years and over:2.8% (male 48,383/female 69,526) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 17 years
male:16.8 years
female:17.2 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.835% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

Birth rate

40.55 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11

Death rate

11.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34

Net migration rate

-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145

Urbanization

urban population: 62% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

BRAZZAVILLE (capital) 1.292 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.7 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

580 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 19

Infant mortality rate

total: 76.05 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 18 male:81.46 deaths/1,000 live births
female:70.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 54.91 years
country comparison to the world: 199 male:53.62 years
female:56.25 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.68 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10

Health expenditures

3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 179

Physicians density

0.095 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 166

Hospital bed density

1.6 beds/1,000 population (2005)
country comparison to the world: 119

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 95% of population
rural: 34% of population
total: 71% of population
unimproved:
urban: 5% of population
rural: 66% of population
total: 29% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 31% of population
rural: 29% of population
total: 30% of population
unimproved:
urban: 69% of population
rural: 71% of population
total: 70% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

3.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

77,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46

HIV/AIDS – deaths

5,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:malaria and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
animal contact disease:rabies
water contact disease:schistosomiasis (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.8% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 61

Education expenditures

1.9% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 157

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years
male:11 years
female:10 years (2005)

Government

Country name

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

Government type

republic

Capital

name: Brazzaville
geographic coordinates:4 15 S, 15 17 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

10 regions (regions, singular – region) and 1 commune*

Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha

Independence

15 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

Constitution

approved by referendum 20 January 2002

Legal system

mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

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)

note – the position of prime minister was abolished in September 2009
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term)

election last held on 12 July 2009 (next to be held in 2016)
election results:Denis SASSOU-Nguesso reelected president

percent of vote – Denis SASSOU-Nguesso 78.6%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU 7.5%, Nicephore Fylla de SAINT-EUDES 7%, other 6i.9%

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (72 seats

members elected by indirect vote to serve five-year terms) and the National Assembly (137 seats

members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:Senate – last held on 5 August 2008 (next to be held in 2013)

National Assembly – last held on 24 June and 5 August 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results:Senate – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – RMP 33, FDU 23, UPADS 2, independents 7, other 7

National Assembly – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – PCT 46, MCDDI 11, UPADS 11, MAR 5, MSD 5, independents 37, other 22

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders

Action Movement for Renewal or MAR

Congolese Labour Party or PCT

Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]

Movement for Solidarity and Development or MSD

Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]

Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR [Raymond Damasge NGOLLO]

Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]

Rally of the Presidential Majority or RMP

Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR

United Democratic Forces or FDU [Sebastian EBAO]

many smaller parties

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

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI
chancery:4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone:[1] (202) 726-5500
FAX:[1] (202) 726-1860

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher W. MURRAY
embassy:70-83 Section D, Maya-Maya Boulevard, Brazzaville;
mailing address:B.P. 1015, Brazzaville
telephone:[242] 612 6000

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

green symbolizes agriculture and forests, yellow the friendship and nobility of the people, red is unexplained but has been associated with the struggle for independence
note:uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

National symbol(s)

lion

elephant

National anthem

name: “La Congolaise” (The Congolese)
lyrics/music:Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE
note:originally adopted 1959, restored 1991

Economy

Economy – overview

The economy is a mixture of subsistence agriculture, an industrial sector based largely on oil and support services, and government spending. 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. Characterized by budget problems and overstaffing, the government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings through oil-backed loans that have contributed to a growing debt burden and chronic revenue shortfalls. Economic reform efforts have been undertaken with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. However, 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. 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 challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. The drop in oil prices during the global crisis reduced oil revenue by about 30%, but the subsequent recovery of oil prices has boosted the economy’s GDP and near-term prospects. In March 2006, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) treatment for Congo, receiving $1.9 billion in debt relief under the program in 2010.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$17.11 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132 $15.68 billion (2009 est.)
$14.59 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$11.53 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

9.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9 7.5% (2009 est.)
5.6% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$4,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157 $3,900 (2009 est.)
$3,700 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 4.3%
industry:73%
services:22.8% (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.514 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 128

Unemployment rate

NA%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%:37.1% (2005)

Investment (gross fixed)

36.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13

Budget

revenues: $3.262 billion
expenditures:$2.376 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

28.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

7.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152 5% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 81 4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.8% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55 15% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.55 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115 $1.957 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.882 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136 $2.259 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.982 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130 $1.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

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

forest products

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

12% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17

Electricity – production

452 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162

Electricity – consumption

534 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

436 million kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

302,200 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

Oil – consumption

11,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151

Oil – exports

211,800 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53

Oil – imports

2,832 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

Oil – proved reserves

1.6 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36

Natural gas – production

530 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69

Natural gas – consumption

530 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99

Natural gas – proved reserves

90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Current account balance

$596.2 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53 -$828.2 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$9.621 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89 $6.404 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

US 31.1%, China 29%, France 6.8%, India 6.1%, Spain 4.4% (2010)

Imports

$3.186 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137 $2.457 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Imports – partners

France 19.6%, China 11.7%, US 8.5%, Italy 8%, India 7.9% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.465 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89 $3.806 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$5 billion (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs per US dollar -
507.71 (2010)
472.19 (2009)
447.81 (2008)
483.6 (2007)
522.59 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

25 (2010)
country comparison to the world:130

Airports – with paved runways

total: 6
over 3,047 m:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:3 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m:8
914 to 1,523 m:10
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 65 km

oil 273 km (2010)

Railways

total: 886 km
country comparison to the world: 94 narrow gauge:886 km 1.067-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 17,289 km
country comparison to the world: 117 paved:864 km
unpaved:16,425 km (2004)

Waterways

1,120 km (commercially navigable on Congo and Oubanqui rivers above Brazzaville

there are many ferries across the river to Kinshasa

the Congo south of Brazzaville-Kinshasa to the coast is not navigable because of rapids, thereby necessitating a rail connection to Pointe Noire

other rivers are used for local traffic only) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 62

Merchant marine

registered in other countries: 1 (Democratic Republic of the Congo 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 151

Ports and terminals

Brazzaville, Djeno, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire

Military

Military branches

Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army (Armee de Terre), Navy, Congolese Air Force (Armee de l’Air Congolaise)

Gendarmerie

Special Presidential Security Guard (GSSP) (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service

women allowed to serve (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 928,664
females age 16-49:914,265 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 577,944
females age 16-49:566,587 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 50,000
female:49,641 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 142

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

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

refugees (country of origin): 46,341 (Democratic Republic of Congo)

6,564 (Rwanda)
IDPs:48,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992

most IDPs are ethnic Lari) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Republic of the Congo is a source and destination country for children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor or, to a lesser extent, sex trafficking

most child trafficking victims are from Benin, though Togo, Mali, Guinea, Cameroon, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are also sources of victims subjected to forced domestic labor, market vending, and fishing, as well as commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating:Tier 2 Watch List – the Republic of the Congo is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons

the government enacted the Child Protection Code in June 2010, informally referred victims to foster care, and continued implementation of its 2009-10 National Action Plan

a lack of trained law enforcement personnel and adequate, consistent funding for prevention efforts seriously limited the government’s ability to address trafficking and assist victims (2011)