The following data were originally taken from the CIA World Factbook, as we
found its structure accurate.
The original URL is
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/factbook/cf.htm.
The data were then updated from other sources, corrected with the knowledge we have and
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Congo (Brazzaville)GeographyLocation:West of Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon Geographic coordinates: 1°00 S, 15°00 E Area: total area: 342,000 sq km land area: 341,500 sq km comparative area: 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 Congo (Zaïre) 2,410 km, Gabon 1,903 km, Coastline: 169 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm International disputes: long segment of boundary with Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) along the Congo River is indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has been made) Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator Terrain: coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m Natural resources: petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, natural gas Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 29% forest and woodland: 62% other: 7% Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989) Environment: current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation natural hazards: seasonal flooding international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94 Geographic note: about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire, or along the railroad between them PeoplePopulation: 2,527,841 (July 1996 est.)Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 550,971; female 545,096) 15-64 years: 53% (male 657,035; female 688,441) 65 years and over: 4% (male 34,973; female 51,325) (July 1996 est.) Population growth rate: 2.19% (1996 est.) Birth rate: 39.19 births/1,000 population (1996 est.) Death rate: 17.35 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.) Infant mortality rate: 108.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.77 years male: 44.21 years female: 47.37 years (1996 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.15 children born/woman (1996 est.) Nationality: noun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese or Congo Ethnic divisions: south: Kongo 48% north: Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12% center: Teke 17%, Europeans 8,500 (mostly French) Religions: Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2% Languages: French (official), African languages (Lingala and Kikongo are the most widely used) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 74.9% male: 83.1% female: 67.2% GovernmentName of country:conventional long form: Republic of the Congo conventional short form: Congo local long form: République du Congo local short form: Congo former: Congo/Brazzaville, République Populaire du Congo Data code: CF Type of government: republic Capital: Brazzaville Administrative divisions: 10 regions (régions, singular - région): Bouenza (Madingou), Cuvette (Owando), Cuvette ouest (Ewo),Kouilou (Pointe-Noire), Lékoumou (Sibiti), Likouala (Impfondo) Niari (Dolisie), Plateaux (Djambala), Pool (Kinkala), Sangha (Ouesso) 6 communes (cities with elected council): Brazzaville, Dolisie, Mossendjo, Nkayi, Owando, Pointe-Noire Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha the regions are divided into 76 districts Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France) National holiday: Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960) Constitution: new constitution approved by referendum March 1992 Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Pascal LISSOUBA (August 1992 - elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage) finished his mandate the 31st August 1997 during a Civil War. A very contested decision ruled by the Cosntitutional Court prolongated this mandate until "next elections". Mr Lissouba fled the country in October 1997. Mr Denis SASSOU NGUESSO took the power at that time. He has been recognised by the neighbouring countries. Election last held NA August 1992 (next to be held NA August 1997); results - President Pascal LISSOUBA won 61% of the vote head of government: Prime Minister Bernard KOLELAS appointed by president Lissouba fled the country. President Sassou Nguesso also leads the government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): election last held 3 October 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (125 total) UPADS 64, URD/PCT 58, others 3 Senate: election last held 26 July 1992 (next to be held NA July 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total) UPADS 23, MCDDI 14, RDD 8, RDPS 5, PCT 2, others 8 Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme) Political parties and leaders: of Congo's many political parties, the most important are Congolese Labor Party (PCT), Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president; Association for Democracy and Development (RDD), Joachim Yhombi OPANGO, president; Association for Democracy and Social Progress (RDPS), Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI), Bernard KOLELAS, leader in exile - Michel MAMPOUYA leads the branch of MCDDI which accepted Mr Nguesso's leadership; Pan-African Union for Social Development (UPADS), Pascal LISSOUBA, leader in exile - Martin MBERI leads the branch of UPADS which accepted Mr Nguesso's leadership; Union of Democratic Forces (UFD), David Charles GANAO, leader; Union for Democratic Renewal (URD); Union for Development and Social Progress (UDPS), Jean-Michael BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA, leader Other political or pressure groups: Union of Congolese Socialist Youth (UJSC); Congolese Trade Union Congress (CSC); Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women (URFC); General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students (UGEEC) International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO Flag: 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 EconomyEconomic overview: Congo's 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 about 90% of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled Congo to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. Subsequently, falling oil prices cut GDP growth by half. Moreover, the Congolese Government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing to the government's shortage of revenues. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc Zone currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994. Recent efforts to implement economic reforms have begun to show progress; the IMF has recommended approval of an Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility agreement in 1996.GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.7 billion (1995 est.) GDP real growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.) GDP per capita: $3,100 (1995 est.) GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 11.4% industry: 35.2% services: 53.4% (1993) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 61% (1994 est.) Labor force: 79,100 wage earners by occupation: agriculture 75%, commerce, industry, and government 25% Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $2.18 billion (1994 est.) expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Industries: petroleum extraction, cement kilning, lumbering, brewing, sugar milling, palm oil, soap, cigarette making Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (estimated average annual growth rate for 1980-92) Electricity: capacity: 120,000 kW production: 400 million kWh consumption per capita: 201 kWh (1993) Agriculture: cassava (tapioca) accounts for 90% of food output, sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products Exports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: crude oil 90%, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds partners: Italy, France, Spain, other EU countries, US, Taiwan Imports: $600 million (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: intermediate manufactures, capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, petroleum products partners: France, Italy, other EU countries, US, Japan, Thailand External debt: $5 billion (1993) Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA Currency: 1 Franc CFA (CFA = Coopération Financière en Afrique centrale - Finance cooperation in Central Africa) = 100 centimes. ISO code: XAF. The west african CFA franc (XOF) has the same value. Fixed rates: 1 FRF (French Franc) = 100 XAF 1 XPF (Pacific Franc) = 5.5 XAF 1 KMF (Comoros Franc) = 1.5 XAF note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948 Since the 31st December 1998: 1 euro = 655,957 XAF 1 PTE (portuguese escudo) = 3.2719 XAF 1 ATS (austrian schilling) = 47.9875 XAF 1 NLG (dutch guilder) = 297.66 XAF 1 BEF (belgian franc) = 16.3796 XAF 1 ITL (italian lira) = 0.338774 XAF 1 DEM (german mark) = 335.385 XAF 1 IEP (irish punt) = 832.894 XAF 1 FIM (finnish markka) = 110.324 XAF 1 ESP (spanish peseta) = 3.94238 XAF Exchange rates: CFA francs (XAF) per US$1 - 565.89 (January 1999), 500.56 (January 1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991) XAF per 1 Yen - 5.07798 (January 1999). Fiscal year: calendar year TransportationRailways:total: 795 km (1995 est.) narrow gauge: 795 km 1.067-m gauge (includes 285 km that are privately owned) Highways: total: 12,745 km paved: 1,236 km unpaved: 11,509 km (1992 est.) Waterways: the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) Rivers provide 1,120 km of commercially navigable water transport; other rivers are used for local traffic only Pipelines: crude oil 25 km Ports: Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire Merchant marine: total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,218 GRT/4,100 DWT (1995 est.) Airports: total: 34 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3 with paved runways under 914 m: 9 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 14 (1995 est.) CommunicationsTelephones: 18,000 (1983 est.)Telephone system: services adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0 Radios: NA Television broadcast stations: 4 (1987 est.) Televisions: 8,500 (1993 est.) DefenseBranches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, National PoliceManpower availability: males age 15-49: 582,103 males fit for military service: 296,602 males reach military age (20) annually: 25,247 (1996 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $110 million, 3.8% of GDP (1993) |
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Last update: 10.07.2000 E-mail: congo.brazzaville@free.fr
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