 Definition  Field Listing  Rank
Order
|
Background: |
Since 1997, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DROC; formerly called Zaire) has been rent by ethnic strife and
civil war, touched off by a massive inflow in 1994 of refugees from
the fighting in Rwanda and Burundi. The government of former
president MOBUTU Sese Seko was toppled by a rebellion led by Laurent
KABILA in May 1997; his regime was subsequently challenged by a
Rwanda- and Uganda-backed rebellion in August 1998. Troops from
Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened to support the
Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed on 10 July 1999 by the
DROC, Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda, Namibia, Rwanda, and Congolese armed
rebel groups, but sporadic fighting continued. KABILA was
assassinated on 16 January 2001 and his son Joseph KABILA was named
head of state ten days later. In October 2002, the new president was
successful in getting occupying Rwandan forces to withdraw from
eastern Congo; two months later, an agreement was signed by all
remaining warring parties to end the fighting and set up a
government of national unity. Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
|
Location: |
Central
Africa, northeast of Angola |
|
Geographic coordinates: |
0 00 N, 25
00 E |
|
Map references: |
Africa
|
|
Area: |
total:
2,345,410 sq km
land: 2,267,600 sq km
water:
77,810 sq km |
|
Area - comparative: |
slightly
less than one-fourth the size of the US |
|
Land boundaries: |
total: 10,730 km
border countries: Angola
2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of Angola's discontiguous
Cabinda Province), Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic 1,577
km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km,
Tanzania 459 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km |
|
Coastline: |
37 km |
|
Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic
zone: boundaries with neighbors |
|
Climate: |
tropical;
hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in
southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of
Equator - wet season April to October, dry season December to
February; south of Equator - wet season November to March, dry
season April to October |
|
Terrain: |
vast central
basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east |
|
Elevation extremes: |
lowest
point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pic
Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m |
|
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% (2001) |
|
Irrigated land: |
110 sq km
(1998 est.) |
|
Natural hazards: |
periodic
droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in the east, 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 - a mineral used
in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing environmental
damage |
|
Environment - international agreements: |
party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone
Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
|
|
Geography - note: |
straddles
equator; has very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo
River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical
rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands
Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
| |
People |
Congo, Democratic Republic of
the |
|
|
Population: |
58,317,930
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 and death rates,
lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution
of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2004 est.) |
|
Age structure: |
0-14
years: 48.2% (male 14,122,237; female 14,008,654)
15-64
years: 49.3% (male 14,097,301; female 14,646,285)
65
years and over: 2.5% (male 590,262; female 853,191) (2004 est.)
|
|
Median age: |
total: 15.8 years
male: 15.4 years
female: 16.2 years (2004 est.) |
|
Population growth rate: |
2.99% (2004
est.) |
|
Birth rate: |
44.73
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
|
Death rate: |
14.64
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
|
Net migration rate: |
-0.17
migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: fighting between the
Congolese Government and Uganda- and Rwanda-backed Congolese rebels
spawned a regional war in DROC in August 1998, which left 1.8
million Congolese internally displaced and caused 300,000 Congolese
refugees to flee to surrounding countries (2004 est.) |
|
Sex ratio: |
at
birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01
male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65
years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate: |
total:
94.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 103.18 deaths/1,000
live births
female: 85.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2004
est.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 49.14 years
male: 47.06 years
female: 51.28 years (2004 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate: |
6.62 children
born/woman (2004 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
4.2% (2003
est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
1.1 million
(2003 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
100,000 (2003
est.) |
|
Nationality: |
noun:
Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or
Congo |
|
Ethnic groups: |
over 200
African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four
largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the
Mangbetu-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 Tshiluba
total population: 65.5%
male: 76.2%
female: 55.1% (2003 est.)
Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
|
Country name: |
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: none
local long form:
Republique Democratique du Congo
local short form: none
former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo,
Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire
abbreviation:
DROC |
|
Government type: |
dictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition to
representative government |
|
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: |
a new
constitution was adopted 17 July 2003 |
|
Legal system: |
based on
Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory
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 Desire KABILA, on
16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the presidency; the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Joseph KABILA (since 26
January 2001); note - following the assassination of his father,
Laurent Desire KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded
to the presidency; the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
cabinet: National Executive Council,
appointed by the president
elections: prior to the
overthrow of MOBUTU Sese Seko, the president was elected by popular
vote for a seven-year term; election last held 29 July 1984 (next
was scheduled to be held in May 1997); formerly, there was also a
prime minister who was elected by the High Council of the Republic;
note - a Transitional Government is drafting a new constitution with
free elections scheduled to be held in NA 2005
election
results: results of the last election were: MOBUTU Sese Seko
Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984 without
opposition
note: Joseph KABILA succeeded his father,
Laurent Desire KABILA, following the latter's assassination in
January 2001, negotiations with rebel leaders led to the
establishment of a transitional government in July 2003 with free
elections scheduled to be held in NA 2005 |
|
Legislative branch: |
a 300-member
Transitional Constituent Assembly established in August 2000
elections: NA; members of the Transitional Constituent
Assembly were appointed 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]; Forces for
Renovation for Union and Solidarity or FONUS [Joseph OLENGHANKOY];
National Congolese Lumumbist Movement or MNC [Francois LUMUMBA];
Popular Movement of the Revolution or MPR (three factions: MPR-Fait
Prive [Catherine NZUZI wa Mbombo]; MPR/Vunduawe [Felix VUNDUAWE];
MPR/Mananga [MANANGA Dintoka Mpholo]); Unified Lumumbast Party or
PALU [Antoine GIZENGA]; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or
UDPS [Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba]; Union of Federalists 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, AU, CEPGL, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, 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
chancery: 1800 New
Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1]
(202) 234-7690, 7691
FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609 |
|
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 and a columnar
arrangement of six small yellow five-pointed stars along the hoist
side Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
| |
Economy |
Congo, Democratic Republic of
the |
|
|
Economy - overview: |
The economy
of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation endowed with vast
potential wealth - has declined drastically since the mid-1980s. The
war, which began in August 1998, has dramatically reduced national
output and government revenue, has increased external debt, and has
resulted in the deaths from war, famine, and disease of perhaps 3.5
million people. Foreign businesses have curtailed operations due to
uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of
infrastructure, and the difficult operating environment. The war has
intensified the impact of such basic problems as an uncertain legal
framework, corruption, inflation, and lack of openness in government
economic policy and financial operations. Conditions improved in
late 2002 with the withdrawal of a large portion of the invading
foreign troops. Several IMF and World Bank missions have met with
the government to help it develop a coherent economic plan, and
President KABILA has begun implementing reforms. Much economic
activity lies outside the GDP data. Economic stability, aided by
international donors, improved in 2003. New mining contracts have
been approved, which - combined with high mineral and metal prices -
could improve Kinshasa's fiscal position and GDP growth. |
|
GDP: |
purchasing
power parity - $40.05 billion (2003 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate: |
6.5% (2003
est.) |
|
GDP - per capita: |
purchasing
power parity - $700 (2003 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): |
14% (2003
est.) |
|
Labor force: |
14.51 million
(1993 est.) |
|
Labor force - by occupation: |
NA |
|
Unemployment rate: |
NA (2003
est.) |
|
Budget: |
revenues: $269 million
expenditures: $244
million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (1996 est.)
|
|
Agriculture - products: |
coffee,
sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil,
bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products |
|
Industries: |
mining
(diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumer products
(including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and
beverages), cement |
|
Industrial production growth rate: |
NA |
|
Electricity - production: |
5.243 billion
kWh (2001) |
|
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 (1 January 2002) |
|
Natural gas - proved reserves: |
104.8 billion
cu m (1 January 2002) |
|
Exports: |
$1.417
billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities: |
diamonds,
copper, crude oil, coffee, cobalt |
|
Exports - partners: |
Belgium
55.6%, US 15.6%, Zimbabwe 11.2%, Finland 4.9% (2003 est.) |
|
Imports: |
$933 million
f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities: |
foodstuffs,
mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels |
|
Imports - partners: |
South Africa
16.1%, Belgium 14.1%, France 11.9%, Nigeria 10.7%, Germany 6.5%,
Kenya 5.1% (2003 est.) |
|
Debt - external: |
$11.6 billion
(2000 est.) |
|
Economic aid - recipient: |
$195.3
million (1995) |
|
Currency: |
Congolese
franc (CDF) |
|
Currency code: |
CDF |
|
Exchange rates: |
Congolese
francs per US dollar - NA (2003), 346.485 (2002), 206.617 (2001),
21.82 (2000), 4.02 (1999) |
|
Fiscal year: |
calendar
year Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
|
Railways: |
total:
5,138 km
narrow gauge: 3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km
electrified); 125 km 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge (2003)
|
|
Highways: |
total:
157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1999 est.) |
|
Waterways: |
15,000 km
(navigation on the Congo has been curtailed by fighting) (2004)
|
|
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 |
|
Airports: |
230 (2003
est.) |
|
Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to
3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523
m: 2 (2003 est.) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 206
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to
1,523 m: 92
under 914 m: 97 (2003 est.)
Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
| |
Military |
Congo, Democratic Republic of
the |
|
Large portions of this information is from the US government open source publication "The World Factbook", other content copyright © Stratus-Pikpuk, Inc. You may use this information without permission for educational or other non-profit purposes if you refer to us as the source, contact us if you want to use this commercially.
|
