2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and 1 city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu

Age structure

0-14 years: 48.1% (male 14,513,779/female 14,396,952) 15-64 years: 49.4% (male 14,579,101/female 15,121,297) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 597,776/female 876,099) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products

Airports

230 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

206 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 92 under 914 m: 97 (2004 est.) Military Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Area

land

2,267,600 sq km

total

2,345,410 sq km

water

77,810 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US

Background

Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but its early years were marred by political and social instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years through several subsequent sham elections as well as through the use of brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion led by Laurent KABILA. He renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC), but in August 1998 his regime was itself challenged by an insurrection backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened to support the Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed in July 1999 by the DROC, Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda, Namibia, Rwanda, and Congolese armed rebel groups, but sporadic fighting continued. Laurent KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and his son Joseph KABILA was named head of state. In October 2002, the new president was successful in negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying eastern Congo; two months later, the Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. A transitional government was set up in July 2003; Joseph KABILA remains as president and is joined by four vice presidents representing the former government, former rebel groups, and the political opposition. Geography Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Birth rate

44.38 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$244 million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (1996 est.)

revenues

$269 million

Capital

Kinshasa

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

Coastline

37 km

Constitution

new constitution adopted 17 July 2003

Country name

abbreviation

DROC

conventional long form

Democratic Republic of the Congo

conventional short form

none

former

Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire

local long form

Republique Democratique du Congo

local short form

none

Currency (code)

Congolese franc (CDF)

Currency code

CDF

Death rate

14.43 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$11.6 billion (2000 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Aubrey HOOKS

embassy

310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa

FAX

[243] (88) 43467

mailing address

Unit 31550, APO AE 09828

telephone

[243] (88) 43608

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009: note - Consular Office at 1726 M Street, NW, Wasington, DC, 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Faida MITIFU

FAX

[1] (202) 234-2609

telephone

[1] (202) 234-7690, 7691

Disputes - international

heads of the Great Lakes states and UN pledge to end conflict but unchecked tribal, rebel, and militia fighting continues unabated in the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, drawing in the neighboring states of Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda; the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) has maintained over 14,000 peacekeepers in the region since 1999; thousands of Ituri refugees from the Congo continue to flee the fighting primarily into Uganda; 90,000 Angolan refugees were repatriated by 2004 with the remainder in the Democratic Republic of the Congo expected to return in 2005; in 2005, DROC and Rwanda established a border verification mechanism to address accusations of Rwandan military supporting Congolese rebels and the DROC providing rebel Rwandan "Interhamwe" forces the means and bases to attack Rwandan forces; the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area

Economic aid - recipient

$195.3 million (1995)

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, dramatically reduced national output and government revenue, increased external debt, and resulted in the deaths of perhaps 3.5 million people from war, famine, and disease. Foreign businesses curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating environment. 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 2003-04, although an uncertain legal framework, corruption, and a lack of openness in government policy continues to hamper growth. In 2005, renewed activity in the mining sector, the source of most exports, could boost Kinshasa's fiscal position and GDP growth.

Electricity - consumption

4.168 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

1.5 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

8 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

6.086 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

1.8%

hydro

98.2%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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

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

Exchange rates

Congolese francs per US dollar - 401.04 (2004), 405.34 (2003), 346.49 (2002), 206.62 (2001), 21.82 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet

National Executive Council, appointed by the president

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

election results

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

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

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

Exports

$1.417 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

diamonds, copper, crude oil, coffee, cobalt

Exports - partners

Belgium 47.8%, Finland 21%, US 10.9%, China 7.6% (2004)

Federalists and Independent Republicans or UFERI (two factions

UFERI [Lokambo OMOKOKO]; UFERI/OR [Adolph Kishwe MAYA])

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Congo, Democratic Republic of the

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 Economy Congo, Democratic Republic of the

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

55%

industry

11%

services

34% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $700 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.5% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$42.74 billion (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

0 00 N, 25 00 E

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 People Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Government type

dictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition to representative government

Highways

paved

NA km

total

157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways)

unpaved

NA km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

4.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

100,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.1 million (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leaves the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

$933 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners

South Africa 18.5%, Belgium 15.5%, France 10.8%, Kenya 6.3%, US 6%, Germany 5.8% (2004)

Independence

30 June 1960 (from Belgium)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, commercial ship repair

Infant mortality rate

female

84.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

101.25 deaths/1,000 live births

total

92.87 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

14% (2003 est.)

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, MIGA, NAM, OPCW (signatory), PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Internet country code

.cd

Internet hosts

153 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2001)

Internet users

50,000 (2002) Transportation Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Irrigated land

110 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Labor force

14.51 million (1993 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

NA

Land boundaries

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

total

10,730 km

Land use

arable land

2.96%

other

96.52% (2001)

permanent crops

0.52%

Languages

French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba

Legal system

based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

52.56 years (2005 est.)

male

49.68 years

total population

51.1 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba

female

55.1% (2003 est.) Government Congo, Democratic Republic of the

male

76.2%

total population

65.5%

Location

Central Africa, northeast of Angola

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria, plague, and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations

water contact disease

schistosomiasis (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 11,052,696 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 5,851,292 (2005 est.)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

boundaries with neighbors

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

16.2 years (2005 est.)

male

15.4 years

total

15.8 years

Merchant marine

registered in other countries

1

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$93.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.5% (2004) Transnational Issues Congo, Democratic Republic of the

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 June (1960)

Nationality

adjective

Congolese or Congo

noun

Congolese (singular and plural)

Natural gas - proved reserves

104.8 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Natural hazards

periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in the east, in the Great Rift Valley, there are active volcanoes

Natural resources

cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber

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 (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

14,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

1.538 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Pipelines

gas 54 km; oil 71 km (2004)

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

60,085,804 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 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Population growth rate

2.98% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios

18.03 million (1997)

Railways

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 (2004)

total

5,138 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

2.33 million (fighting between government forces and rebels since mid-1990s; most IDPs are in eastern provinces) (2004)

refugees (country of origin)

45,060 (Sudan) 100,000 (Angola) 19,552 (Burundi) 6,626 (Republic of Congo) 19,743 (Rwanda) 18,953 (Uganda)

Religions

Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs 10%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.01 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Telephone system

domestic

barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations

general assessment

poor

international

country code - 243; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

10,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1 million (2003)

Television broadcast stations

4 (2001)

Televisions

6.478 million (1997)

Terrain

vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east

Total fertility rate

6.54 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA (2003 est.)

Waterways

15,000 km (navigation on the Congo curtailed by fighting) (2004)