Legend:  Definition
 Field
Listing  Rank
Order
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Background:
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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. |
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Location:
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Central Africa, northeast of Angola |
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Geographic coordinates:
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0 00 N, 25 00 E |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 2,345,410 sq km
water: 77,810 sq km
land: 2,267,600 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US |
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Land boundaries:
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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 |
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Coastline:
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37 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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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 |
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Terrain:
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vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley)
5,110 m |
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Natural resources:
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cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds,
gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium,
bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower, timber |
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.96%
permanent crops: 0.52%
other: 96.52% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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110 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in the
east, in the Great Rift Valley, there are active volcanoes |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification |
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Geography - note:
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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
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| |
People |
Congo,
Democratic Republic of the |
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Population:
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56,625,039
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: 48.3% (male 13,734,706; female 13,624,579)
15-64 years: 49.2% (male 13,648,155; female 14,203,077)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 583,366; female 831,156) (2003
est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 15.8 years
female: 16.1 years (2002)
male: 15.4 years |
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Population growth rate:
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2.9% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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45.12 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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14.87 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-1.26 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
(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: 0.96 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: 96.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 87.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 105.15 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 48.93 years
male: 46.83 years
female: 51.09 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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6.69 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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4.9% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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1.3 million (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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120,000 (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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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 |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%,
other syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs 10% |
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Languages:
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French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana
(a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba |
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Literacy:
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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.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: none
local short form: none
former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville,
Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire
local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo
abbreviation: DROC |
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Government type:
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dictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition to representative
government |
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Capital:
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Kinshasa |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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30 June 1960 (from Belgium) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 30 June (1960) |
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Constitution:
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24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978, amended
April 1990; transitional constitution promulgated in April 1994;
in November 1998, a draft constitution was approved by former President
Laurent KABILA but it was not ratified by a national referendum;
one outcome of the ongoing inter-Congolese dialogue is to be a new
constitution |
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Legal system:
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based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
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Executive branch:
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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
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
election results: results of the last election were: MOBUTU
Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984 without
opposition |
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Legislative branch:
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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 |
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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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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]) |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), PCA,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, 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 Faida MITIFU
FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691
chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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 |
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy |
Congo,
Democratic Republic of the |
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Economy - overview:
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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. A number of 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. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $34 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3.5% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 55%
industry: 11%
services: 34% (2000 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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16% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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14.51 million (1993 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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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: $269 million
expenditures: $244 million, including capital expenditures
of $24 million (1996 est.) |
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Industries:
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mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumer products
(including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages),
cement |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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5.243 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 1.8%
hydro: 98.2%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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3.839 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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1.097 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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60 million kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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14,000 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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1.538 billion bbl (37257) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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104.8 billion cu m (37257) |
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca),
palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products |
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Exports:
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$1.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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diamonds, copper, crude oil, coffee, cobalt |
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Exports - partners:
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Belgium 64.4%, US 13.4%, Zimbabwe 6.7%, Finland 4.9% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$890 million f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels
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Imports - partners:
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Belgium 14.6%, South Africa 14.2%, Nigeria 10.3%, France 9.5%, Germany
7.3%, Netherlands 5.3%, Kenya 5.2% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$12.9 billion (2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$195.3 million (1995) |
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Currency:
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Congolese franc (CDF) |
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Currency code:
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CDF |
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Exchange rates:
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Congolese francs per US dollar - 346.49 (2002), 206.62 (2001), 21.82
(2000), 4.02 (1999), 1.61 (1998) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Railways:
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total: 4,772 km
narrow gauge: 3,621 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified);
125 km 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge (2002) |
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Highways:
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total: 157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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15,000 km (including the Congo and its tributaries, and unconnected
lakes) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 54 km; oil 71 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani,
Matadi, Mbandaka |
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Merchant marine:
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none (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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229 (2002) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 24
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 205
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 91 (2002) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2002)
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Military |
Congo,
Democratic Republic of the |
|
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Disputes - international:
|
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 movements that occupy much of the
eastern portion of the state - Tutsi, Hutu, Lendu, Hema and other
conflicting ethnic groups, political rebels, and various government
forces continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending the
boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda,
and Uganda - heads of the Great Lakes states pledge to end conflict,
but localized violence continues despite UN peacekeeping efforts;
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) |
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Illicit drugs:
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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
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This page was last updated on 18 December,
2003
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