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, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis. 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.
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)
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
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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
General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC
Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women or URFC
Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSC
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
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
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
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.)
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)
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 km
country 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
total: 0.05 cu km/yr (69%/26%/4%)
per capita: 13.99 cu m/yr (2005)
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
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:
4,662,446
country 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.)
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
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2011-12 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
560 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 16
Infant mortality rate:
total: 59.34 deaths/1,000 live births
country 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 years
country 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)
country comparison to the world: 186
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:
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)
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:
total number: 252,171
percentage: 25 % (2005 est.)
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.)
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)
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
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 km
country comparison to the world: 94
narrow gauge: 886 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 17,289 km
country 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
