Country Guide

Congo Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Central 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 kmcountry comparison to the world: 64
land:341,500 sq km
water:500 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Montana


Land boundaries:
total:5,008 km
border countries:Angola 231 km, Cameroon 494 km, Central African Republic 487 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,229 km, Gabon 2,567 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:1.46%
permanent crops:0.18%
other:98.36% (2011)


Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
832 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
832 cu km (2011)

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:
Roman Catholic 33.1%, Awakening Churches/Christian Revival 22.3%, Protestant 19.9%, Salutiste 2.2%, Muslim 1.6%, Kimbanguiste 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3% (2010 est.)


Population:
4,662,446country comparison to the world: 125
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 (July 2014 est.)



Age structure:
0-14 years:41.1% (male 966,852/female 950,411)
15-24 years:17.7% (male 411,263/female 413,594)
25-54 years:34.2% (male 808,181/female 787,554)
55-64 years:4% (male 90,795/female 94,837)
65 years and over:2.7% (male 60,400/female 78,559) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:85 %
youth dependency ratio:78.7 %
elderly dependency ratio:6.3 %
potential support ratio:16 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:19.8 years
male:19.7 years
female:20 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.94% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 55


Birth rate:
36.59 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 18


Death rate:
10.17 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 47


Net migration rate:
-7.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 204


Urbanization:
urban population:63.7% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:2.84% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
BRAZZAVILLE (capital) 1.611 million; Pointe-Noire 834,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years:0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.69 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
19.8


    Maternal mortality rate:
560 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:59.34 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 24
male:64.49 deaths/1,000 live births
female:54.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:58.52 yearscountry comparison to the world: 198
male:57.38 years
female:59.7 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
4.73 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 23


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
44.7% (2011/12)


Health expenditures:
2.5% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2007)


Hospital bed density:
1.6 beds/1,000 population (2005)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 95.7% of population
rural: 38.8% of population
total: 75.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4.3% of population
rural: 61.2% of population
total: 24.7% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 19.6% of population
rural: 5.6% of population
total: 14.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 80.4% of population
rural: 94.4% of population
total: 85.4% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.8% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 23


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
74,500 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 52


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
5,200 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 37


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
4.7% (2008)country comparison to the world: 163


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
11.8% (2005)country comparison to the world: 61


Education expenditures:
6.2% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 39

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:11 years
male:11 years
female:11 years (2012)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:

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:
12 departments (departments, singular - department); Bouenza, Brazzaville, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha


Independence:
15 August 1960 (from France)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 August (1960)


Constitution:
previous 1992; latest approved by referendum 20 January 2002 (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 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
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 6.9%


Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (72 seats; members elected by indirect vote to serve five-year terms) and the National Assembly (139 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections:Senate - last held on 5 August 2008 (next to be held in July 2014); National Assembly - last held on 15 July and 5 August 2012 (next to be held in 2018)
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 (and allies) 117, UPADS 7, independents 12, vacant 3


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges)
note - the High Court of Justice, outside the judicial authority, tries cases involving treason by the president of the republic
judge selection and term of office:judges elected by parliament and serve until retirement age
subordinate courts:courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts


    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


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


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI (since 31 July 2001)
chancery:1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:[1] (202) 726-5500
FAX:[1] (202) 726-1860


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Stephanie S. Sullivan (since 12 August 2013)
embassy:70-83 Section D, Maya-Maya Boulevard, Brazzaville;
mailing address:B.P. 1015, Brazzaville
telephone:[242] 06 612-200


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


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 hunting and 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. Natural gas is increasingly being converted to electricity rather than being flared, greatly improving energy prospects. New mining projects, particularly iron ore, that entered production in late 2013 may add as much as $1 billion to annual government revenue. Economic reform efforts have been undertaken with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF, including recently concluded Article IV consultations. The current administration 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 boosted the economy's GDP from 2009-13. Officially the country became a net external creditor as of 2011, with external debt representing only about 16% of GDP and debt servicing less than 3% of government revenue.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$20.26 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
$19.15 billion (2012 est.)
$18.44 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$14.25 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
5.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
3.8% (2012 est.)
3.4% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,800 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
$4,700 (2012 est.)
$4,600 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
61.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
56.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
61.3% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:24.8%
government consumption:11.1%
investment in fixed capital:55.4%
investment in inventories:0.9%
exports of goods and services:91.8%
imports of goods and services:-84.1%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:3.3%
industry:73.9%
services:22.9% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
cassava (manioc, 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:
2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Labor force:
2.89 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105


Unemployment rate:
53% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

Population below poverty line:
46.5% (2011 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:2.1%
highest 10%:37.1% (2005)


    Budget:
revenues:$6.608 billion
expenditures:$4.618 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
46.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
14% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3


Public debt:
32.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
31.8% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
3.9% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 75
4.75% (31 December 2008)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.8% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
14.8% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$4.678 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
$4.403 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$5.119 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$4.795 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$-1.053 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
$-1.448 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA


Current account balance:
$638.2 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$187.9 million (2012 est.)


Exports:
$9.912 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$10.53 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds


Exports - partners:
China 39%, US 13%, France 9.5%, Australia 8.8%, Netherlands 6.8%, Spain 5.3%, India 5.2% (2012)


Imports:
$4.297 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
$4.45 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs


Imports - partners:
France 19.5%, China 13.5%, Brazil 9.1%, US 6.1%, India 5.8%, Italy 4.8%, Belgium 4.4% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$5.239 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$5.568 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$3.274 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
$2.999 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
500.7 (2013 est.)
510.53 (2012 est.)
495.28 (2010 est.)
472.19 (2009)
447.81 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
559 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160


Electricity - consumption:
588 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117


Electricity - imports:
495 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
559,000 kW (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
51.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
48.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165


Crude oil - production:
291,900 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35


Crude oil - exports:
290,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
1.6 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37


Refined petroleum products - production:
13,820 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
10,710 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152


Refined petroleum products - exports:
4,288 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93


Refined petroleum products - imports:
4,156 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161


Natural gas - production:
946 million cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65


Natural gas - consumption:
930 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89


Natural gas - exports:
39 million cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173


Natural gas - proved reserves:
90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
6.858 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
14,900 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 196


Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.283 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 118


Telephone system:
general assessment:primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable with services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order
domestic:fixed-line infrastructure inadequate providing less than 1 connection per 100 persons; in the absence of an adequate fixed line infrastructure, mobile-cellular subscribership has surged to 90 per 100 persons
international:country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)



    Broadcast media:
1 state-owned TV and 3 state-owned radio stations; several privately owned TV and radio stations; satellite TV service is available; rebroadcasts of several international broadcasters are available (2007)


Internet country code:
.cg


Internet hosts:
45 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 215


Internet users:
245,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 136

Transportation

Airports
27 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 125


Airports - with paved runways
total:8
over 3,047 m:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:5 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:19
1,524 to 2,437 m:8
914 to 1,523 m:9
under 914 m:
2 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 232 km; liquid petroleum gas 4 km; oil 982 km (2013)


Railways
total:886 kmcountry comparison to the world: 94
narrow gauge:886 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)


    Roadways
total:17,289 kmcountry comparison to the world: 118
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) (2011)
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: 155


Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Pointe-Noire
river port(s):Brazzaville (Congo); Impfondo (Oubangi); Ouesso (Sangha); Oyo (Alima)
oil/gas terminal(s):Djeno

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) (2013)


Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; women can serve in the Armed Forces (2012)


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.)
Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook