$Unique_ID{COW04154} $Pretitle{267} $Title{Zaire Statistical Profile on Zaire} $Subtitle{} $Author{Central Intelligence Agency} $Affiliation{United States Government} $Subject{km zaire rate total million national population billion congo land} $Date{1990} $Log{National Anthem*77200010.aud Map of Zaire*0415401.scf Flag of Zaire*0415402.scf } Country: Zaire Book: CIA World Factbook Author: Central Intelligence Agency Affiliation: United States Government Date: 1990 [Hear National Anthem] [See Map of Zaire] [See Flag of Zaire] Statistical Profile on Zaire Geography Total area: 2,345,410 km2; land area: 2,267,600 km2 Comparative area: slightly more than one-quarter the size of US Land boundaries: 10,271 km total; Angola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic 1,577 km, Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km Coastline: 37 km Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it is reported that the indefinite section of the Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled; long section with Congo along the Congo River is indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has been made) 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 Natural resources: cobalt, copper, cadmium, crude oil, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower potential Land use: 3% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 4% meadows and pastures; 78% forest and woodland; 15% other; includes NEGL% irrigated Environment: dense tropical rainforest in central river basin and eastern highlands; periodic droughts in south Note: straddles Equator; very narrow strip of land is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean People Population: 36,589,468 (July 1990), growth rate 3.3% (1990) Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1990) Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1990) Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1990) Infant mortality rate: 103 deaths/1,000 live births (1990) Life expectancy at birth: 51 years male, 55 years female (1990) Total fertility rate: 6.2 children born/woman (1990) Nationality: noun--Zairian(s); adjective--Zairian Ethnic divisions: over 200 African ethnic groups, the majority are Bantu; four largest tribes--Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population Religion: 50% Roman Catholic, 20% Protestant, 10% Kimbanguist, 10% Muslim, 10% other syncretic sects and traditional beliefs Language: French (official), Lingala, Swahili, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba Literacy: 55% males, 37% females Labor force: 15,000,000; 75% agriculture, 13% industry, 12% services; 13% wage earners (1981); 51% of population of working age (1985) Organized labor: National Union of Workers of Zaire (UNTZA) is the only trade union Government Long-form name: Republic of Zaire Type: republic with a strong presidential system Capital: Kinshasa Administrative divisions: 8 regions (regions, singular--region) and 1 town* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Zaire, Equateur, Haut-Zaire, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Kinshasa*, Kivu, Shaba; note--there may now be 10 regions with the elimination of Kivu and addition of Maniema, Nord-Kivu, and Sud-Kivu Independence: 30 June 1960 (from Belgium; formerly Belgian Congo, then Congo/ Leopoldville, then Congo/Kinshasa) Constitution: 24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978 Legal system: based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Anniversary of the Regime (Second Republic), 24 November (1965) Executive branch: president, prime minister, Executive Council (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral National Legislative Council (Conseil Legislatif National) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme) Leaders: Chief of State--President Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga (since 24 November 1965); Head of Government--Prime Minister LUNDA Bululu (since 25 April 1988) Political parties and leaders: only party--Popular Movement of the Revolution (MPR) Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 Elections: President--last held 29 July 1984 (next to be held July 1991); results--President Mobutu was reelected without opposition; National Legislative Council--last held 6 September 1987 (next to be held September 1992); results--MPR is the only party; seats--(210 total) MPR 210 Communists: no Communist party Member of: ACP, AfDB, APC, CCC, CIPEC, EAMA, EIB (associate), FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OCAM, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant), Charge d'Affaires MUKENDI Tambo a Kabila; Chancery at 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone (202) 234-7690 or 7691; US--Ambassador William C. HARROP; Embassy at 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa (mailing address is APO New York 09662); telephone (243) (12) 25881 through 25886; there is a US Consulate General in Lubumbashi Flag: light green with a yellow disk in the center bearing a black arm holding a red flaming torch; the flames of the torch are blowing away from the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia Economy Overview: In 1988, in spite of large mineral resources and one of the most developed and diversified economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, Zaire had a GDP per capita of $195, one of the lowest on the continent. Agriculture, a key sector of the economy, employs 75% of the population but generates under 30% of GDP. The main impetus for economic development has been the extractive industries. Mining and mineral processing account for about one-third of GDP and two-thirds of total export earnings. During the period 1983-88 the economy experienced slow growth, high inflation, a rising foreign debt, and a drop in foreign exchange earnings. Recent increases in foreign prices for copper--a key export earner--and other minerals offer some hope of reversing the economic decline. Zaire is the world's largest producer of diamonds. GDP: $6.5 billion, per capita $195; real growth rate 2.8% (1988) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 82% (1988) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $856 million; expenditures $2.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $655 million (1988) Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--copper 37%, coffee 24%, diamonds 12%, cobalt, crude oil; partners--US, Belgium, France, FRG, Italy, UK, Japan Imports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels; partners--US, Belgium, France, FRG, Italy, Japan, UK External debt: $8.6 billion (December 1989 est.) Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 2,574,000 kW capacity; 5,550 million kWh produced, 160 kWh per capita (1989) Industries: mining, mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, and cigarettes), processed foods and beverages, cement, diamonds Agriculture: cash crops--coffee, palm oil, rubber, quinine; food crops--cassava, bananas, root crops, corn Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $998 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $6.0 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $35 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $263 million Currency: zaire (plural--zaire); 1 zaire (Z) = 100 makuta Exchange rates: zaire (Z) per US$1--465.000 (January 1989), 381.445 (1989), 187.070 (1988), 112.403 (1987), 59.625 (1986), 49.873 (1985) Fiscal year: calendar year Communications Railroads: 5,254 km total; 3,968 km 1.067-meter gauge (851 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-meter gauge; 136 km 0.615-meter gauge; 1,025 km 0.600-meter gauge Highways: 146,500 km total; 2,550 km bituminous, 46,450 km gravel and improved earth; remainder unimproved earth Inland waterways: 15,000 km including the Congo, its tributaries, and unconnected lakes Pipelines: refined products 390 km Ports: Matadi, Boma, Banana Merchant marine: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 41,802 GRT/60,496 DWT; includes 1 passenger cargo, 3 cargo Civil air: 38 major transport aircraft Airports: 312 total, 258 usable; 25 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 71 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: barely adequate wire and radio relay service; 31,200 telephones; stations--10 AM, 4 FM, 18 TV; satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 14 domestic Defense Forces Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Logistics Corps, Special Presidential Division Military manpower: males 15-49, 7,970,619; 4,057,561 fit for military service Defense expenditures: $67 million (1988)