Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/55.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 12KB | 323 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Congo.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Congo"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Congo, click {z,"9.718555,-5.326649,21.605210,3.751187",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 342,000 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 341,500 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly smaller than Montana

{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 5,504 km
{3}border countries:{4} Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km, Gabon
1,903 km, Zaire 2,410 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 169 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}territorial sea:{4} 200 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} long segment of boundary with Zaire along the Congo River is indefinite (no
division of the river or its islands has been made)

{2}Climate:{4} tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); constantly high
temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator

{2}Terrain:{4} coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
{3}lowest point:{4} Atlantic Ocean 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Mount Berongou 903 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, natural
gas

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 2%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 0%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 29%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 62%
{3}other:{4} 7%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} 40 sq km (1989)

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw
sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation

{2}natural hazards:{4} seasonal flooding

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical
Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea,
Tropical Timber 94

{2}Geographic note:{4} about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire, or along the
railroad between them


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 2,527,841 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 43% (male 550,971; female 545,096)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 53% (male 657,035; female 688,441)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 4% (male 34,973; female 51,325) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 2.19% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 39.19 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 17.35 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.03 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.01 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 0.95 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.68 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 108.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 45.77 years
{3}male:{4} 44.21 years
{3}female:{4} 47.37 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 5.15 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Congolese (singular and plural)
{3}adjective:{4} Congolese or Congo

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4}
south: Kongo 48%
north: Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%
center: Teke 17%, Europeans 8,500 (mostly French)

{2}Religions:{4} Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

{2}Languages:{4} French (official), African languages (Lingala and Kikongo are the most widely used)

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 74.9%
{3}male:{4} 83.1%
{3}female:{4} 67.2%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Republic of the Congo
{3}conventional short form:{4} Congo
{3}local long form:{4} Republique Populaire du Congo
{3}local short form:{4} Congo
{3}former:{4} Congo/Brazzaville

{2}Type of government:{4} republic

{2}Capital:{4} Brazzaville

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza,
Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha

{2}Independence:{4} 15 August 1960 (from France)

{2}National holiday:{4} Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)

{2}Constitution:{4} new constitution approved by referendum March 1992

{2}Legal system:{4} based on French civil law system and customary law

{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} President Pascal LISSOUBA (since August 1992); elected for a five-year term by
universal suffrage; election last held NA August 1992 (next to be held NA August 1997); results -
President Pascal LISSOUBA won 61% of the vote
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister Jacques Joachim YHOMBI-OPANGO (since 23 June 1993)
appointed by the president
{3}cabinet:{4} Council of Ministers appointed by the president

{2}Legislative branch:{4} bicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): election last held 3 October 1993 (next to be held NA);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (125 total) UPADS 64, URD/PCT 58, others 3
Senate: election last held 26 July 1992 (next to be held NA July 1998); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (60 total) UPADS 23, MCDDI 14, RDD 8, RDPS 5, PCT 2, others 8

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} of Congo's many political parties, the most important are Congolese
Labor Party (PCT), Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president; Association for Democracy and
Development (RDD), Joachim Yhombi OPANGO, president; Association for Democracy and
Social Progress (RDPS), Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president; Congolese Movement for
Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI), Bernard KOLELAS, leader; Pan-African Union for
Social Development (UPADS), Pascal LISSOUBA, leader; Union of Democratic Forces (UFD),
David Charles GANAO, leader; Union for Democratic Renewal (URD); Union for Development and
Social Progress (UDPS), Jean-Michael BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA, leader

{2}Other political or pressure groups:{4} Union of Congolese Socialist Youth (UJSC); Congolese Trade
Union Congress (CSC); Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women (URFC); General Union of
Congolese Pupils and Students (UGEEC)

{2}International organization participation:{4} ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO,
FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
ITU, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Daniel MOUELLET
{3}chancery:{4} 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador William C. RAMSEY
{3}embassy:{4} Avenue Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville
{3}mailing address:{4} B. P. 1015, Brazzaville
{3}telephone:{4} [242] 83 20 70
{3}FAX:{4} [242] 83 63 38

{2}Flag:{4} 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


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} Congo's 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
about 90% of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues
enabled Congo to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5%
annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. Subsequently, falling oil prices cut GDP growth by
half. Moreover, the Congolese Government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings,
contributing to the government's shortage of revenues. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc
Zone currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994. Recent efforts to implement
economic reforms have begun to show progress; the IMF has recommended approval of an
Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility agreement in 1996.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $7.7 billion (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 3.3% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $3,100 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 11.4%
{3}industry:{4} 35.2%
{3}services:{4} 53.4% (1993)

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 61% (1994 est.)

{2}Labor force:{4} 79,100 wage earners
{3}by occupation:{4} agriculture 75%, commerce, industry, and government 25%

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} NA%

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $2.18 billion (1994 est.)
{3}expenditures:{4} $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

{2}Industries:{4} petroleum extraction, cement kilning, lumbering, brewing, sugar milling, palm oil, soap,
cigarette making

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} 3.7% (estimated average annual growth rate for 1980-92)

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 120,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 400 million kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 201 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} cassava (tapioca) accounts for 90% of food output, sugar, rice, corn, peanuts,
vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products

{2}Exports:{4} $1 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
{3}commodities:{4} crude oil 90%, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds
{3}partners:{4} Italy, France, Spain, other EU countries, US, Taiwan

{2}Imports:{4} $600 million (c.i.f., 1995)
{3}commodities:{4} intermediate manufactures, capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs,
petroleum products
{3}partners:{4} France, Italy, other EU countries, US, Japan, Thailand

{2}External debt:{4} $5 billion (1993)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $NA

{2}Currency:{4} 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

{2}Exchange rates:{4} CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January 1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20
(1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991)
{3}note:{4} beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from
CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

{2}Fiscal year:{4} calendar year


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 795 km (1995 est.)
narrow gauge: 795 km 1.067-m gauge (includes 285 km that are privately owned)

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 12,745 km
{3}paved:{4} 1,236 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 11,509 km (1992 est.)

{2}Waterways:{4} the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) Rivers provide 1,120 km of commercially navigable
water transport; other rivers are used for local traffic only

{2}Pipelines:{4} crude oil 25 km

{2}Ports:{4} Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,218 GRT/4,100 DWT (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 34
{3}with paved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 3
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 9
{3}with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 7
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 14 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 18,000 (1983 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4} services adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville,
Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo
{3}domestic:{4} primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable
{3}international:{4} satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} NA

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 4 (1987 est.)

{2}Televisions:{4} 8,500 (1993 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, National Police

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 582,103
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 296,602
males reach military age (20) annually: 25,247 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $110 million, 3.8% of GDP (1993)