Legend:  Definition
 Field
Listing  Rank
Order
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Background:
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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 installed in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored
former Marxist President SASSOU-NGUESSO, but ushered in a period
of ethnically based 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 with significant potential
for offshore development. |
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Location:
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Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola
and Gabon |
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Geographic coordinates:
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1 00 S, 15 00 E |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 342,000 sq km
water: 500 sq km
land: 341,500 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Montana |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 5,504 km
border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central
African Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410
km, Gabon 1,903 km |
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Coastline:
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169 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October);
constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating
climate astride the Equator |
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Terrain:
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coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates,
natural gas, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0.5%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 99.37% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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10 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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seasonal flooding |
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Environment - current issues:
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air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping
of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
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Geography - note:
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about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire,
or along the railroad between them
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Population:
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2,954,258
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
2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 38.4% (male 570,491; female 563,079)
15-64 years: 58% (male 844,655; female 868,851)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 44,166; female 63,016) (2003
est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 20.2 years
male: 19.8 years
female: 20.7 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.53% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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29.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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14.2 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 95.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 89.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 101.45 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 50.02 years
male: 49.04 years
female: 51.02 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.65 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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7.2% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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110,000 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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11,000 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo |
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Ethnic groups:
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Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other
3%
note: Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before
the 1997 civil war; may be half that in 1998, following the widespread
destruction of foreign businesses in 1997 |
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Religions:
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Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2% |
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Languages:
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French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages),
many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo has the most
users) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville)
local short form: none
former: Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo
local long form: Republique du Congo |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Brazzaville |
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Administrative divisions:
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9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza,
Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux,
Pool, Sangha |
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Independence:
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15 August 1960 (from France) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 15 August (1960) |
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Constitution:
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constitution approved by referendum 20 January 2002 |
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Legal system:
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based on French civil law system and customary law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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 the chief
of state and head of government
head of government: 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 the chief
of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term (eligible for a second seven-year term); election last held
10 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected president;
percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO 89.4%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia
MBOUNGOU 2.7% |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (66 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the National
Assembly (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 July 2002 (next to be held
NA July 2007); National Assembly - last held 27 May and 26 June
2002 (next to be held by NA May 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - FDP 56, other 10; National Assembly - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FDP 83, UDR 6, UPADS 3, other
45 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or Cour Supreme |
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Political parties and leaders:
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the most important of the many parties are the Democratic and Patriotic
Forces or FDP (an alliance of Convention for Alternative Democracy,
Congolese Labor Party or PCT, Liberal Republican Party, National
Union for Democracy and Progress, Patriotic Union for the National
Reconstruction, and Union for the National Renewal) [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO,
president]; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development
or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Pan-African Union for Social Development
or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Rally for Democracy and Social Progress
or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]; Rally for Democracy
and the Republic or RDR [Raymond Damasge NGOLLO]; Union for Democracy
and Republic or UDR [leader NA]; Union of Democratic Forces or UFD
[Sebastian EBAO] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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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 |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860
telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500
chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Robin R. SANDERS
embassy: NA
mailing address: NA
telephone: [243] (88) 43608
note: the embassy is temporarily collocated with the US Embassy
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (US Embassy Kinshasa, 310
Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa) |
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Flag description:
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divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the
upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
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Economy - overview:
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The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts,
an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and
a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing.
Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing
a major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s,
rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale
development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one
of the highest rates in Africa. The government has mortgaged a substantial
portion of its oil earnings, contributing to a shortage of revenues.
The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc Zone currencies by 50%
resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994, but inflation has subsided
since. Economic reform efforts continued with the support of international
organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. The reform program
came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO,
who returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publicly
expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization
and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions.
However, economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices
and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened
the republic's budget deficit. The current administration presides
over an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic problems
of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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0% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $900 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 10%
industry: 48%
services: 42% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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4% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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NA |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $870 million
expenditures: $970 million, including capital expenditures
of $NA (1997 est.) |
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Industries:
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petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil,
soap, flour, cigarettes |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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0% (2002 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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358.1 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 0.3%
hydro: 99.7%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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633 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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300 million kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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275,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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93.5 million bbl (37257) |
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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495.5 million cu m (37257) |
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Agriculture - products:
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cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee,
cocoa; forest products |
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Exports:
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$2.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds |
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Exports - partners:
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Taiwan 28.1%, South Korea 20.4%, China 9.3%, US 8.4%, Germany 6.6%,
France 5.2% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$730 million f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs |
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Imports - partners:
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France 22.1%, Italy 8.5%, Belgium 6%, US 5.2%, India 4.1% (2002)
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Debt - external:
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$5 billion (2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$159.1 million (1995) |
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Currency:
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Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States |
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Currency code:
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XAF |
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Exchange rates:
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Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 697
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Railways:
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total: 894 km
narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2002) |
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Highways:
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total: 12,800 km
paved: 1,242 km
unpaved: 11,558 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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1,120 km
note: the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) rivers provide 1,120
km of commercially navigable water transport; other rivers are used
for local traffic only |
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Pipelines:
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gas 53 km; oil 673 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire |
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Airports:
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31 (2002) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2002) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
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Disputes - international:
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most of the Congo River boundary with the Democratic Republic of
the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division
of the river or its islands, except in the Stanley Pool/Pool Malebo
area)
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This page was last updated on 18 December,
2003
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