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$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--