Distribution of family income - Gini index:57.1 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:18.3 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)
Unemployment rate:17.4% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $24 billionexpenditures: $25.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages,chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Industrial production growth rate:4% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:42.99 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 26% hydro: 72.7% other: 1.3% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:39.81 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:210 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:40 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:614,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:252,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:1.8 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:5.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:5.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:132 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp
Exports:$12.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, coffee, coal, apparel, bananas, cut flowers
Exports - partners:US 44.8%, Venezuela 9.4%, Ecuador 6.8% (2002)
Imports:$12.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods,chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity
Imports - partners:US 32.6%, Venezuela 7%, Mexico 5.3%, Japan 5.3%, Brazil 5.2%,Germany 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:$38.4 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency:Colombian peso (COP)
Currency code:COP
Exchange rates:Colombian pesos per US dollar - 2,504.24 (2002), 2,299.63 (2001),2,087.9 (2000), 1,756.23 (1999), 1,426.04 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Colombia
Telephones - main lines in use:5,433,565 (December 1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,800,229 (December 1998)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system in many respectsdomestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domesticsatellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking50 citiesinternational: satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat; 3fully digitalized international switching centers; 8 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations:AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)
Radios:21 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:60 (includes seven low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions:4.59 million (1997)
Internet country code:.co
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):18 (2000)
Internet users:1.15 million (2002)
Transportation Colombia
Railways:total: 3,304 kmstandard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 3,154 km 0.914-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 110,000 kmpaved: 26,000 kmunpaved: 84,000 km (2000)
Waterways:18,140 km (navigable by river boats) (April 1996)
Pipelines:gas 4,360 km; oil 6,134 km; refined products 3,140 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Bahia de Portete, Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia,Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo
Merchant marine:total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 51,445 GRT/55,930 DWTships by type: bulk 5, cargo 6, container 1, petroleum tanker 3note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Germany 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:1,050 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 96 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 11 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 38
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 954 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 51 under 914 m: 587 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 315
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military Colombia
Military branches:Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, including Marinesand Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), NationalPolice (Policia Nacional)
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 11,101,719 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 7,403,433 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 392,468 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$3.3 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.4% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Colombia
Disputes - international:Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and againstColombia in 2001 at the ICJ over disputed maritime boundaryinvolving 50,000 sq km in the Caribbean Sea, including theArchipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank;maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela;Colombian drug activities penetrate Peruvian border area
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world'sleading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 2002 was 144,450hectares, a 15% decline since 2001); potential production of opiumbetween 2001 and 2002 declined by 25% to 91 metric tons; potentialproduction of heroin declined to 11.3 metric tons; the world'slargest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier ofabout 90% of the cocaine to the US market and the great majority ofcocaine to other international drug markets; important supplier ofheroin to the US market; active aerial eradication program; asignificant portion of non-US narcotics proceeds are eitherlaundered or invested in Colombia through the black market pesoexchange
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Comoros
Introduction Comoros
Background:Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups sincegaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands ofAnjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. In1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He pledged to resolvethe secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the2000 Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a newconstitution and presidential elections took place in the spring of2002. Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and anew union president was sworn in on May 26, 2002.
Geography Comoros
Location:Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of theMozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northernMadagascar and northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:12 10 S, 44 15 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 2,170 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 2,170 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:340 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain:volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use:arable land: 34.98%permanent crops: 17.94%other: 47.08% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); LeKartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
Environment - current issues:soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation onslopes without proper terracing; deforestation
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
People Comoros
Population:632,948 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.9% (male 136,060; female 135,277)15-64 years: 54.2% (male 169,121; female 173,822)65 years and over: 2.9% (male 8,863; female 9,805) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 18.6 yearsmale: 18.3 yearsfemale: 18.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.96% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:38.5 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:8.86 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 79.51 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 70.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 88.32 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 61.18 yearsmale: 58.92 yearsfemale: 63.5 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.21 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.12% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Comoran(s)adjective: Comoran
Ethnic groups:Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions:Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
Languages:Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahiliand Arabic)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 56.5%male: 63.6%female: 49.3% (2003 est.)
Government Comoros
Country name:conventional long form: Union of the Comorosconventional short form: Comoroslocal short form: Comoreslocal long form: Union des Comores
Government type:independent republic
Capital:Moroni
Administrative divisions:3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli(Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni,Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou
Independence:6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution:23 December 2001note: a Transitional National Unity Government (GUNT) was formed on20 January 2002 following the passing of the new constitution; theGUNT governed until the presidential elections on 14 April 2002
Legal system:French and Sharia (Islamic) law in a new consolidated code
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002); note- following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed president; in January2002 he resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO wasappointed interim president until replaced again by AZALI in May2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense andTerritorial Security; the president is both the chief of state andthe head of governmentelection results: President AZALI Assoumani elected president with75% of the voteelections: as defined by the 2001 constitution, the presidencyrotates every four years among the elected presidents from the threemain islands in the Union; election last held 14 April 2002 (next tobe held NA April 2007); prime minister appointed by the president;note - AZALI has not appointed a Prime Minister since he was sworninto office in May 2002head of government: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002);note - following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed president; inJanuary 2002 he resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO wasappointed interim president until replaced again by AZALI in May2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense andTerritorial Security; the president is both the chief of state andthe head of governmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly of the Union (30 seats; half the deputies areselected by the individual islands' local assemblies and the otherhalf by universal suffrage; deputies serve for five years) note -elections for the former legislature, the Federal Assembly,dissolved in 1999, where held on 1 and 8 December 1996; the nextelections for the Assembly of the Union were scheduled to be held inApril 2003 but have yet to occur
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by thepresident, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one electedby the Council of each island, and others are former presidents ofthe republic)
Political parties and leaders:Forces pour l'Action Republicaine or FAR [Col. AbdourazakABDULHAMID]; Forum pour la Redressement National or FRN (alliance of12 parties); Front Democratique or FD [Moustoifa Said CHEIKH]; FrontNational pour la Justice or FNJ (Islamic party in opposition) [AhmedRACHID]; Movement des Citoyens pour la Republique or MCR [MahamoudMRADABI]; Mouvement Populaire Anjouanais or MPA (Anjouan separatistmovement) [leader NA]; Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progressor MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Movement pour le Socialisme et laDemocratie or MSD (splinter group of FD) [Abdou SOEFOU]; PartiComorien pour la Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE];Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND (party of thegovernment) [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO,IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory),UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mahmoud M. ABOUD (ambassador to the USand Canada and permanent representative to the UN)chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Union ofthe Comoros to the United Nations, 420 East 50th Street, New York,NY 10022telephone: [1] (212) 972-8010 and 223-2711FAX: [1] (212) 983-4712 and 715-0699
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador toMauritius is accredited to Comoros
Flag description:four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and bluewith a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered withinthe triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facing thehoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a linebetween the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and thefour stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago -Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity ofFrance, but claimed by Comoros); the crescent, stars, and colorgreen are traditional symbols of Islam
Economy Comoros
Economy - overview:One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of threeislands that have inadequate transportation links, a young andrapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The loweducational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistencelevel of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavydependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture,including fishing, hunting, and forestry, contributes 40% to GDP,employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports.The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, themain staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government -which is hampered by internal political disputes - is struggling toupgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercialand industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversifyexports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high populationgrowth rate. Increased foreign support is essential if the goal of4% annual GDP growth is to be met. Remittances from 150,000 Comoransabroad help supplement GDP.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $441 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 4% services: 56% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:60% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force:144,500 (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 80%
Unemployment rate:20% (1996 est.)
Budget:revenues: $27.6 millionexpenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Industries:tourism, perfume distillation
Industrial production growth rate:-2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:21.27 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.6% hydro: 9.4% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:19.78 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Exports:$16.3 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra
Exports - partners:France 32.4%, Germany 19.4%, US 17.6%, Singapore 11.5%, Netherlands6.5% (2002)
Imports:$39.8 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products,cement, transport equipment
Imports - partners:France 34.3%, South Africa 12%, Japan 6.1%, Kenya 5.9%, UAE 5.8%,Mauritius 4.9%, Thailand 4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:$232 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$10 million (2001 est.)
Currency:Comoran franc (KMF)
Currency code:KMF
Exchange rates:Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 522.74 (2002), 549.78 (2001),533.98 (2000), 461.78 (1999), 442.46 (1998)note: prior to January 1999, the official rate was pegged to theFrench franc at 75 Comoran francs per French franc; since 1 January1999, the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677Comoran francs per euro
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Comoros
Telephones - main lines in use:7,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HFradiotelephone communication stationsdomestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relayinternational: HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar andReunion
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:90,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:NA
Televisions:1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.km
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:2,500 (2002)
Transportation Comoros
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 880 km paved: 673 km unpaved: 207 km (1999 est)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou
Merchant marine:total: 28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 432,132 GRT/796,734 DWTships by type: bulk 4, cargo 15, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker5, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 2note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Malta 1, Pakistan 1, Turkey 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:4 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 42,438 to 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Military Comoros
Military branches:Comoran Security Force
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 150,079 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 89,090 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$6 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Comoros
Disputes - international: claims French-administered Mayotte
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Introduction Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Background:Since 1997, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC; formerlycalled Zaire) has been rent by ethnic strife and civil war, touchedoff by a massive inflow in 1994 of refugees from the fighting inRwanda and Burundi. The government of former president MOBUTU SeseSeko was toppled by a rebellion led by Laurent KABILA in May 1997;his regime was subsequently challenged by a Rwanda- andUganda-backed rebellion in August 1998. Troops from Zimbabwe,Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened to support the Kinshasaregime. A cease-fire was signed on 10 July 1999 by the DROC,Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda, Namibia, Rwanda, and Congolese armed rebelgroups, but sporadic fighting continued. KABILA was assassinated on16 January 2001 and his son Joseph KABILA was named head of stateten days later. In October 2002, the new president was successful ingetting occupying Rwandan forces to withdraw from eastern Congo; twomonths later, an agreement was signed by all remaining warringparties to end the fighting and set up a government of nationalunity.
Geography Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Location:Central Africa, northeast of Angola
Geographic coordinates:0 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 2,345,410 sq kmwater: 77,810 sq kmland: 2,267,600 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
Land boundaries:total: 10,730 kmborder countries: Angola 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundaryof Angola's discontiguous Cabinda Province), Burundi 233 km, CentralAfrican Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda217 km, Sudan 628 km, Tanzania 459 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km
Coastline:37 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighborsterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drierin southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; northof Equator - wet season April to October, dry season December toFebruary; south of Equator - wet season November to March, dryseason April to October
Terrain:vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110m
Natural resources:cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds,gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium,bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower, timber
Land use:arable land: 2.96%permanent crops: 0.52%other: 96.52% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:110 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in theeast, in the Great Rift Valley, there are active volcanoes
Environment - current issues:poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution;deforestation; refugees responsible for significant deforestation,soil erosion, and wildlife poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - amineral used in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causingenvironmental damage
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, NuclearTest Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:straddles equator; has very narrow strip of land that controls thelower Congo River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; densetropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands
People Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Population:56,625,039note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 48.3% (male 13,734,706; female 13,624,579)15-64 years: 49.2% (male 13,648,155; female 14,203,077)65 years and over: 2.5% (male 583,366; female 831,156) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 15.8 yearsfemale: 16.1 years (2002)male: 15.4 years
Population growth rate:2.9% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:45.12 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:14.87 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.26 migrant(s)/1,000 populationnote: fighting between the Congolese Government and Uganda- andRwanda-backed Congolese rebels spawned a regional war in DROC inAugust 1998, which left 1.8 million Congolese internally displacedand caused 300,000 Congolese refugees to flee to surroundingcountries (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 96.56 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 87.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 105.15 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 48.93 yearsmale: 46.83 yearsfemale: 51.09 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.69 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:4.9% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1.3 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:120,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Congolese (singular and plural)adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic groups:over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; thefour largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and theMangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population
Religions:Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%,other syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs 10%
Languages:French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language),Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala,Kingwana, or Tshilubatotal population: 65.5%male: 76.2%female: 55.1% (2003 est.)
Government Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Country name:conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congoconventional short form: nonelocal short form: noneformer: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville,Congo/Kinshasa, Zairelocal long form: Republique Democratique du Congoabbreviation: DROC
Government type:dictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition to representativegovernment
Capital:Kinshasa
Administrative divisions:10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and one city*(ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental,Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale,Sud-Kivu
Independence:30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
National holiday:Independence Day, 30 June (1960)
Constitution:24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978,amended April 1990; transitional constitution promulgated in April1994; in November 1998, a draft constitution was approved by formerPresident Laurent KABILA but it was not ratified by a nationalreferendum; one outcome of the ongoing inter-Congolese dialogue isto be a new constitution
Legal system:based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001);note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent DesireKABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to thepresidency; the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001);note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent DesireKABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to thepresidency; the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: National Executive Council, appointed by the presidentelections: prior to the overthrow of MOBUTU Sese Seko, the presidentwas elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election lastheld 29 July 1984 (next was scheduled to be held in May 1997);formerly, there was also a prime minister who was elected by theHigh Council of the Republic; note - a Transitional Government isdrafting a new constitution with free elections scheduled to be heldin NA 2005note: Joseph KABILA succeeded his father, Laurent Desire KABILA,following the latter's assassination in January 2001, negotiationswith rebel leaders led to the establishment of a TransitionalGovernment in July 2003 with free elections scheduled to be held inNA 2005election results: results of the last election were: MOBUTU SeseSeko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984 withoutopposition
Legislative branch:a 300-member Transitional Constituent Assembly established inAugust 2000elections: NA; members of the Transitional Constituent Assembly wereappointed by former President Laurent Desire KABILA
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Social Christian Party or PDSC [Andre BO-BOLIKO]; Forcesfor Renovation for Union and Solidarity or FONUS [JosephOLENGHANKOY]; National Congolese Lumumbist Movement or MNC [FrancoisLUMUMBA]; Popular Movement of the Revolution or MPR (three factions:MPR-Fait Prive [Catherine NZUZI wa Mbombo]; MPR/Vunduawe [FelixVUNDUAWE]; MPR/Mananga [MANANGA Dintoka Mpholo]); Unified LumumbastParty or PALU [Antoine GIZENGA]; Union for Democracy and SocialProgress or UDPS [Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba]; Union ofFederalists and Independent Republicans or UFERI (two factions:UFERI [Lokambo OMOKOKO]; UFERI/OR [Adolph Kishwe MAYA])
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), PCA, SADC,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691 chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Aubrey HOOKS embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828 telephone: [243] (88) 43608 FAX: [243] (88) 43467
Flag description:light blue with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center anda columnar arrangement of six small yellow five-pointed stars alongthe hoist side
Economy Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Economy - overview:The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nationendowed with vast potential wealth - has declined drastically sincethe mid-1980s. The war, which began in August 1998, has dramaticallyreduced national output and government revenue, has increasedexternal debt, and has resulted in the deaths from war, famine, anddisease of perhaps 3.5 million people. Foreign businesses havecurtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of theconflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operatingenvironment. The war has intensified the impact of such basicproblems as an uncertain legal framework, corruption, inflation, andlack of openness in government economic policy and financialoperations. Conditions improved in late 2002 with the withdrawal ofa large portion of the invading foreign troops. A number of IMF andWorld Bank missions have met with the government to help it developa coherent economic plan, and President KABILA has begunimplementing reforms. Much economic activity lies outside the GDPdata.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $34 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 55%industry: 11%services: 34% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):16% (2002 est.)
Labor force:14.51 million (1993 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:NA
Unemployment rate:NA%
Budget:revenues: $269 millionexpenditures: $244 million, including capital expenditures of $24million (1996 est.)
Industries:mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumerproducts (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foodsand beverages), cement
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:5.243 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.8% hydro: 98.2% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:3.839 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:1.097 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:60 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:14,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:1.538 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:104.8 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products
Exports:$1.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:diamonds, copper, crude oil, coffee, cobalt
Exports - partners:Belgium 64.4%, US 13.4%, Zimbabwe 6.7%, Finland 4.9% (2002)
Imports:$890 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners:Belgium 14.6%, South Africa 14.2%, Nigeria 10.3%, France 9.5%,Germany 7.3%, Netherlands 5.3%, Kenya 5.2% (2002)
Debt - external:$12.9 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$195.3 million (1995)
Currency:Congolese franc (CDF)
Currency code:CDF
Exchange rates:Congolese francs per US dollar - 346.49 (2002), 206.62 (2001),21.82 (2000), 4.02 (1999), 1.61 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Telephones - main lines in use:20,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:15,000 (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: poordomestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service inand between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earthstationsinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:18.03 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4 (2001)
Televisions:6.478 million (1997)
Internet country code:.cd
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2001)
Internet users:6,000 (2002)
Transportation Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Railways:total: 4,772 kmnarrow gauge: 3,621 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways)paved: NA kmunpaved: NA km (1999 est.)
Waterways:15,000 km (including the Congo and its tributaries, and unconnectedlakes)
Pipelines:gas 54 km; oil 71 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa,Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:229 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 24 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 205 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 95 under 914 m: 91 (2002)
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Security Battalion
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 12,292,933 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 6,267,752 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$250 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.6% (FY97)
Transnational Issues Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Disputes - international:Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the grip of a civil war thathas drawn in military forces from neighboring states, with Ugandaand Rwanda supporting the rebel movements that occupy much of theeastern portion of the state - Tutsi, Hutu, Lendu, Hema and otherconflicting ethnic groups, political rebels, and various governmentforces continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending theboundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, andUganda - heads of the Great Lakes states pledge to end conflict, butlocalized violence continues despite UN peacekeeping efforts; mostof the Congo River boundary with the Republic of the Congo isindefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of theriver or its islands, except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area)
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption;while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leaves thebanking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of awell-developed financial system limits the country's utility as amoney-laundering center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Congo, Republic of the
Introduction Congo, Republic of the
Background:Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congobecame the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century ofexperimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and ademocratically elected government installed in 1992. A brief civilwar in 1997 restored former Marxist President SASSOU-NGUESSO, butushered in a period of ethnically based unrest. Southern-based rebelgroups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. The Republic ofCongo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers withsignificant potential for offshore development.
Geography Congo, Republic of the
Location:Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angolaand Gabon
Geographic coordinates:1 00 S, 15 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 342,000 sq kmwater: 500 sq kmland: 341,500 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:total: 5,504 kmborder countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central AfricanRepublic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon1,903 km
Coastline:169 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 200 NM
Climate:tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June toOctober); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularlyenervating climate astride the Equator
Terrain:coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
Natural resources:petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates,natural gas, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 0.5% permanent crops: 0.13% other: 99.37% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:seasonal flooding
Environment - current issues:air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from thedumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, oralong the railroad between them
People Congo, Republic of the
Population:2,954,258note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 38.4% (male 570,491; female 563,079)15-64 years: 58% (male 844,655; female 868,851)65 years and over: 3.6% (male 44,166; female 63,016) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 20.2 yearsmale: 19.8 yearsfemale: 20.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.53% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:29.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:14.2 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 95.34 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 89.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 101.45 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 50.02 yearsmale: 49.04 yearsfemale: 51.02 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.65 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:7.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:110,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:11,000 (2001 est.)
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%note: Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before the 1997civil war; may be half that in 1998, following the widespreaddestruction of foreign businesses in 1997
Religions:Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Languages:French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca tradelanguages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo hasthe most users)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 83.8%male: 89.6%female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
Government Congo, Republic of the
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of the Congoconventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville)local short form: noneformer: Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congolocal long form: Republique du Congo
Government 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:Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
Constitution:constitution approved by referendum 20 January 2002
Legal system:based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected presidentPascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both the chief of stateand head of governmenthead of government: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected presidentPascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both the chief of stateand head of governmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term(eligible for a second seven-year term); election last held 10 March2002 (next to be held NA 2009)election results: Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected president; percentof vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO 89.4%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU2.7%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (66 seats; members areelected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the NationalAssembly (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 11 July 2002 (next to be held NA July2007); National Assembly - last held 27 May and 26 June 2002 (nextto be held by NA May 2007)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - FDP 56, other 10; National Assembly - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - FDP 83, UDR 6, UPADS 3, other 45
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:the most important of the many parties are the Democratic andPatriotic Forces or FDP (an alliance of Convention for AlternativeDemocracy, Congolese Labor Party or PCT, Liberal Republican Party,National Union for Democracy and Progress, Patriotic Union for theNational Reconstruction, and Union for the National Renewal) [DenisSASSOU-NGUESSO, president]; Congolese Movement for Democracy andIntegral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Pan-African Unionfor Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Rally for Democracyand Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA,president]; Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR [RaymondDamasge NGOLLO]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [leaderNA]; Union of Democratic Forces or UFD [Sebastian EBAO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC; General Union of CongolesePupils and Students or UGEEC; Revolutionary Union of Congolese Womenor URFC; Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSC
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULIFAX: [1] (202) 726-1860telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Robin R. SANDERSembassy: NAmailing address: NAtelephone: [243] (88) 43608note: the embassy is temporarily collocated with the US Embassy inthe Democratic Republic of the Congo (US Embassy Kinshasa, 310Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa)
Flag description:divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; theupper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red;uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Congo, Republic of the
Economy - overview:The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, anindustrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and agovernment characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oilhas supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing amajor share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s,rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to financelarge-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5%annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government hasmortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing toa shortage of revenues. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of FrancZone currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994, butinflation has subsided since. Economic reform efforts continued withthe support of international organizations, notably the World Bankand the IMF. The reform program came to a halt in June 1997 whencivil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power whenthe war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in movingforward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewingcooperation with international financial institutions. However,economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and theresumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened therepublic's budget deficit. The current administration presides overan uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic problems ofstimulating recovery and reducing poverty.