Congo, Republic of the

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 users

total: 89,500 | percent of population: 1.9% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)

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)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 16,300 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 4.9 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $5.791 billion | expenditures: $6.838 billion (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7.7% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009) | 4.75% (31 December 2008) | country comparison to the world: 95

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.8% (31 December 2014 est.) | 14.8% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42

Current account balance

-$1.273 billion (2014 est.) | -$601 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Debt - external

$3.763 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $3.452 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Economy - overview

The economy is a mixture of subsistence farming and hunting, 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, which 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 recent drop in oil prices has constrained government spending; lower oil prices forced the government to cut more than $1 billion in planned spending. 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.

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - | 494.42 (2014 est.) | 494.42 (2013 est.) | 510.53 (2012 est.) | 471.87 (2011 est.) | 495.28 (2010 est.)

Exports

$9.12 billion (2014 est.) | $9.463 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

China 52%, Australia 8.3%, Italy 8.2%, US 4% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.55 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$28.36 billion (2014 est.) | $26.54 billion (2013 est.) | $25.69 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 130

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 40.8% | government consumption: 15.8% | investment in fixed capital: 33.8% | investment in inventories: 0% | exports of goods and services: 80.1% | imports of goods and services: -70.5% | (2014 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 4.8% | industry: 69.4% | services: 25.8% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,600 (2014 est.) | $6,200 (2013 est.) | $6,000 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 155

GDP - real growth rate

6.8% (2014 est.) | 3.3% (2013 est.) | 3.8% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Gross national saving

32.8% of GDP (2014 est.) | 26.5% of GDP (2013 est.) | 23.6% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$4.939 billion (2014 est.) | $4.789 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Algeria 47.8%, China 10.6%, France 9%, Italy 4.3% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

5.1% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.9% (2014 est.) | 4.6% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54

Labor force

1.807 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

46.5% (2011 est.)

Public debt

36.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | 32.1% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 114

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.939 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $5.26 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Stock of broad money

$5.119 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | $4.795 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Stock of domestic credit

$44.13 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $-1.136 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183

Stock of narrow money

$4.223 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $4.192 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 108

Taxes and other revenues

42.7% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

Unemployment rate

53% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 202

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

6.691 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

Crude oil - exports

278,400 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171

Crude oil - production

250,000 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Crude oil - proved reserves

1.6 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37

Electricity - consumption

740 million kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity - from fossil fuels

12.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

87.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Electricity - imports

55 million kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Electricity - installed generating capacity

238,000 kW (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Electricity - production

1.303 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Natural gas - consumption

1.65 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Natural gas - exports

39 million cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas - production

1.65 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 60

Natural gas - proved reserves

90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Refined petroleum products - consumption

15,000 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Refined petroleum products - exports

5,160 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,571 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Refined petroleum products - production

17,740 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Montana

Climate

tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator

Coastline

169 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.05 cu km/yr (69%/26%/4%) | per capita: 13.99 cu m/yr (2005)

Geographic coordinates

1 00 S, 15 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 5,008 km | border countries (5): Angola 231 km, Cameroon 494 km, Central African Republic 487 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,229 km, Gabon 2,567 km

Land use

agricultural land: 31.1% | arable land 1.6%; permanent crops 0.2%; permanent pasture 29.3% | forest: 65.6% | other: 3.3% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

seasonal flooding

Natural resources

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

Terrain

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Total renewable water resources

832 cu km (2011)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Republic of the Congo | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Constitution

previous 1992; latest approved by referendum 20 January 2002 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of the Congo | conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville) | local long form: Republique du Congo | local short form: Congo | former: French Congo, Middle Congo, People's Republic of the Congo, Congo/Brazzaville

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] 06 612-2000

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

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/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-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 (FDU) 78.6%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU (independent) 7.5%, Nicephore Fylla de SAINT-EUDES 7%, other 6.9%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

15 August 1960 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, 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

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

Legal system

mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law

Legislative branch

description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate (72 seats; members indirectly elected by regional councils by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms with one-half of membership renewed every three years) and the National Assembly (139 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: Senate - last held on 12 October 2014 for 36 of the expiry seats (next to be held in 2020); National Assembly - last held on 15 July and 5 August 2012 (next to be held in July 2017) | election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RMP 33, FDU 23, UPADS 2, other 7, independent 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 89, MCDDI 7, UPADS 7, RDPS 5, MAR 4, RC 3, MUST 2, UPDP 2, CPR 1, PRL 1, PUR 1, UFD 1, UR 1, independent 12, vacant 3

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

National symbol(s)

lion, elephant; national colors: green, yellow, red

Political parties and leaders

Action Movement for Renewal or MAR [Roland BOUITI-VIAUDO] | Citizen's Rally or RC | Congolese Labour Party or PCT [Denis SASSOY-NGUESSO] | Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Guy Price Parfait KO] | Movement for Unity, Solidarity, and Work or MUST [Claudine MUNARI] | Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Pascal Tsaty MABIALA] | Party for the Unity of the Republic or PUR | Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress or UPDP [Auguste-Celestin GONGARD NKOUA | Prospects and Realities Club or CPR | Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Bernard BATCHI] | Rally of the Presidential Majority or RMP | Republican and Liberal Party or PRL | Union for the Republic or UR | Union of Democratic Forces | 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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. The Republic of Congo is 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.

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 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 may serve in the Armed Forces (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.33% (male 991,327/female 973,745) | 15-24 years: 17.48% (male 415,282/female 415,817) | 25-54 years: 34.12% (male 819,204/female 803,062) | 55-64 years: 4.08% (male 95,755/female 98,295) | 65 years and over: 3% (male 62,332/female 80,278) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

35.85 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 252,171 | percentage: 25% (2005 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.8% (2012) | country comparison to the world: 61

Contraceptive prevalence rate

44.7% (2011/12)

Death rate

10 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 86.2% | youth dependency ratio: 79.4% | elderly dependency ratio: 6.8% | potential support ratio: 14.7% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 95.8% of population | rural: 40% of population | total: 76.5% of population | urban: 4.2% of population | rural: 60% of population | total: 23.5% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

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

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.75% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

HIV/AIDS - deaths

4,400 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

80,700 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Health expenditures

4.1% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 179

Hospital bed density

1.6 beds/1,000 population (2005)

Infant mortality rate

total: 57.92 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 62.97 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 52.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 58.79 years | male: 57.64 years | female: 59.98 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 79.3% | male: 86.4% | female: 72.9% (2015 est.)

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 dengue fever | animal contact disease: rabies | water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2013)

Major urban areas - population

BRAZZAVILLE (capital) 1.888 million; Pointe-Noire 969,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

442 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16

Median age

total: 19.8 years | male: 19.6 years | female: 19.9 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

-5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.7% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 163

Physicians density

0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

4,755,097 | 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 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 125

Population growth rate

2% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

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.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 20% of population | rural: 5.6% of population | total: 15% of population | urban: 80% of population | rural: 94.4% of population | total: 85% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female | total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.68 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Urbanization

urban population: 65.4% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 3.22% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 23,376 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 9,104 (Rwanda) (2014); 29,884 (Central African Republic) (2015) | IDPs: 7,800 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2014)

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 | 2 (2013)

Merchant marine

registered in other countries: 1 (Democratic Republic of the Congo 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 148

Pipelines

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

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Pointe-Noire | river port(s): Brazzaville (Congo); Impfondo (Oubangi); Ouesso (Sangha); Oyo (Alima) | oil terminal(s): Djeno

Railways

total: 510 km | narrow gauge: 510 km 1.067-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 94

Roadways

total: 17,000 km | paved: 1,212 km | unpaved: 15,788 km (2006) | country comparison to the world: 118

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, necessitating a rail connection to Pointe Noire; other rivers are used for local traffic only) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 61