Map of Democratic Republic of the Congo | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

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Background: Since 1994 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 of refugees from the fighting in Rwanda and Burundi. Troops from Uganda Rwanda Zimbabwe Angola and Namibia have intervened in this devastating conflict. A cease-fire was signed on 10 July 1999 but skirmishing continues.


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Location: Central Africa, northeast of Angola

Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 2,345,410 km²
Land: 2,267,600 km²
Water: 77,810 km²
Comparative: slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US

Land boundaries
Total: 10,271 km
Border countries: (8) Angola 2,511 km; , Burundi 233 km; , Central African Republic 1,577 km; , Republic of the Congo 2,410 km; , Rwanda 217 km; , Sudan 628 km; , Uganda 765 km; , Zambia 1,930 km

Coastline: 37 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors
Territorial sea: 12 nm

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
Extremes 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 potential, timber

Land use
Arable land: 3%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 7%
Forests and woodland: 77%
Other: 13% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 100 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: periodic droughts in south; volcanic activity

Geography
Note: straddles Equator; 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


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Population: 50,481,305 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 2.96% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

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

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

Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and traditional beliefs 10%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 48% (male 12,200,532; female 12,136,372)
15-64 years: 49% (male 12,135,901; female 12,692,057)
65 years and over: 3% (male 564,084; female 752,359) (1999 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 2.96% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 46.37 births/1000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 14.99 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.78 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Note: in 1994, about a million refugees fled into Zaire (now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo or DROC), to escape the fighting between the Hutus and the Tutsis in Rwanda and Burundi; the outbreak of widespread fighting in the DROC between rebels and government forces in October 1996 spurred about 875,000 refugees to return to Rwanda in late 1996 and early 1997; additionally,the DROC is host to 200,000 Angolan, 110,000 Burundi, 100,000 Sudanese, and 15,000 Ugandan refugees; renewed fighting in the DROC in August 1998 resulted in more internal displacement and refugee outflows

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees who arrived in mid-1994 were responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching in the eastern part of the country (most of those refugees were repatriated in November and December 1996)
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Air pollutants

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: 0.75 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 99.45 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 49.44 years
Male: 47.28 years
Female: 51.67 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba
Total population: 77.3%
Male: 86.6%
Female: 67.7% (1995 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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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: 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

Dependent areas

Independence: 30 June 1960 (from Belgium)

National holiday: anniversary of independence from Belgium, 30 June (1960)

Constitution: 24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978, amended April 1990; transitional constitution promulgated in April 1994; following successful rebellion the new government announced on 29 May 1997 a program of constitutional reform and, in November 1998, a draft constitution was approved by President KABILA and awaits ratification by national referendum

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

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch
Chief of state: Laurent Desire KABILA (since 17 May 1997); note_the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: Laurent Desire KABILA (since 17 May 1997); note_the president is both chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: National Executive Council, appointed by the president
Elections: before Laurent Desire KABILA seized power, the president was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 29 July 1984 (next was to be held in May 1997); formerly, the prime minister was elected by the High Council of the Republic; note_the term of the former government expired in 1991, elections were not held, and former president MOBUTU continued in office until his government was militarily defeated by KABILA on 17 May 1997
Election results: MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984 without opposition
Note: Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga was president from 24 November 1965 until forced into exile on 16 May 1997 when his government was overturned militarily by Laurent Desire KABILA, who immediately assumed governing authority; in his 29 May 1997 inaugural address, President KABILA announced a two-year time table for political reform leading to elections by April 1999; subsequently, in December 1998, President KABILA announced that elections would be postponed until all foreign military forces attempting his overthrow had withdrawn from the country

Legislative branch: legislative activity has been suspended pending the establishment of KABILA's promised constitutional reforms and the elections to be held by April 1999 (now postponed indefinitely)
Elections: the country's first multi-party presidential and legislative elections had been scheduled for May 1997 but were not held; instead KABILA overthrew the MOBUTU government and seized control of the country

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU
In the us chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 234-7,690, 7,691
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 236-0748
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador William Lacy SWING
From the us embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
From the us mailing address: Unit 31,550, APO AE 9,828
From the us telephone: [243] (12) 21,028, 21,959
From the us FAX: [243] (88) 43,805 43,467

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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo_a nation endowed with vast potential wealth_has declined significantly since the mid-1980s. The new government instituted a tight fiscal policy that initially curbed inflation and currency depreciation, but these small gains were quickly reversed when the foreign-backed rebellion in the eastern part of the country began in August 1998. The war has dramatically reduced government revenue, and increased external debt. Foreign businesses have curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict and because of increased government harassment and restrictions. Poor infrastructure, an uncertain legal framework, corruption, and lack of transparency in government economic policy remain a brake on investment and growth. A number of IMF and World Bank missions have met with the new government to help it develop a coherent economic plan but associated reforms are on hold.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: -3.5% (1998 est.)

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 59%
Industry: 15%
Services: 26% (1995 est.)

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

Industries: mining, mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, diamonds

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 14.51 million (1993 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 65%
By occupation industry: 16%
By occupation services: 19% (1991 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $269 million
Expenditures: $244 million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (1996 est.)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Commodities: diamonds, copper, coffee, cobalt, crude oil
Partners: Benelux 43%, US 22%, South Africa 8%, France, Germany, Italy, UK, Japan (1997)

Imports: $819 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Commodities: consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels
Partners: South Africa 21%, Benelux 14%, China 8%, Netherlands, US, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK (1997)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $15 billion (1997 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Congolese francs (CF) per US$1_2.5 (January 1999); new zaires (Z) per US$1_115,000 (January 1998), 83,764 (October 1996), 7,024 (1995), 1,194 (1994)
Note: on 30 June 1998 the Congolese franc (CF) was introduced, replacing the new zaire; 1 Congolese franc (CF)=100,000 new zaires


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Electricity access

Electricity production: 6.4 billion kWh (1996)
By source fossil fuel: 6.25%
By source hydro: 93.75%
By source nuclear: 0%
By source other: 0% (1996)

Electricity consumption: 6.265 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity exports: 195 million kWh (1996)

Electricity imports: 60 million kWh (1996)

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system
Domestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations
International: satellite earth station_1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $250 million (1997)
Percent of gdp: 4.6% (1997)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 233 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 23
With paved runways over 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 14
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 210
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 21
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 95
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 94 (1998 est.)

Airports with paved runways
Total: 23
Over 3047 m: 4
2438 to 3047 m: 3
15-24 to 2437 m: 14
914 to 1523 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports with unpaved runways
Total: 210
15-24 to 2437 m: 21
914 to 1523 m: 95
Under 914 m: 94 (1998 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines: petroleum products 390 km

Railways
Total: 5,138 km (1995); note_severely reduced route-distance in use because of damage to facilities by civil strife
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

Roadways

Waterways: 15,000 km including the Congo, its tributaries, and unconnected lakes

Merchant marine: none

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: the Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the grip of a civil war that has drawn in military forces from neighboring states, with Uganda and Rwanda supporting the rebel movement which occupies much of the eastern portion of the state; most of the Congo River boundary with the Republic of the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the river or its islands, except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption