SPAMfighter information about
Democratic Republic of the Congo
| The data on this page is obtained from The World Factbook. |
 Communications information
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| SPAMfighters: | 210 |
| Internet users: | 140,600 (2005) |
| Internet hosts: | 1,778 (2006) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 1 (2001) |
| Internet country code: | .cd |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 10,600 (2005) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 2.746 million (2005) |
| Telephone system: |
general assessment: poor domestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations international: country code - 243; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001) |
| Radios: | 18.03 million (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 4 (2001) |
| Televisions: | 6.478 million (1997) |
 Geographical information
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| Location: | Central Africa, northeast of Angola |
| Geographic coordinates: | 0 00 N, 25 00 E |
| Map references: | Africa |
| Area: |
total: 2,345,410 sq km land: 2,267,600 sq km water: 77,810 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US |
| Land boundaries: |
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 |
| Coastline: | 37 km |
| Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors |
| 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 |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m |
| Natural resources: | cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber |
| Land use: |
arable land: 2.86% permanent crops: 0.47% other: 96.67% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 110 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in the east, in the Great Rift Valley, there are active volcanoes |
| Environment - current issues: | 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 |
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification |
| Geography - note: | 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 |
 People information
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| Population: |
62,660,551 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 2006 est.) |
| Age structure: |
0-14 years: 47.4% (male 14,906,488/female 14,798,210) 15-64 years: 50.1% (male 15,597,353/female 15,793,350) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 632,143/female 933,007) (2006 est.) |
| Median age: |
total: 16.2 years male: 16 years female: 16.4 years (2006 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 3.07% (2006 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 43.69 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
| Death rate: | 13.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
| Net migration rate: |
0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: fighting between the Congolese Government and Uganda- and Rwanda-backed Congolese rebels spawned a regional war in DRC in August 1998, which left 2.33 million Congolese internally displaced and caused 412,000 Congolese refugees to flee to surrounding countries (2006 est.) |
| Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: |
total: 88.62 deaths/1,000 live births male: 96.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 80.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 51.46 years male: 50.01 years female: 52.94 years (2006 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 6.45 children born/woman (2006 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 4.2% (2003 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 1.1 million (2003 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 100,000 (2003 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese or Congo |
| Ethnic groups: | 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 |
| Religions: | Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs 10% |
| Languages: | French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba |
| Literacy: |
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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Governmental information
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| Country name: |
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo conventional short form: none local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo local short form: none former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire abbreviation: DRC |
| Government type: | transitional government |
| Capital: |
name: Kinshasa geographic coordinates: 4 18 S, 15 18 E time difference: UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions: | 10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and 1 city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu |
| Independence: | 30 June 1960 (from Belgium) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 30 June (1960) |
| Constitution: | 18 February 2006 |
| Legal system: | a new constitution was adopted by referendum 18 December 2005; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| Executive branch: |
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: under the new constitution the president is elected by popular vote to a five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held 30 July 2006 with a second round held on 29 October 2006 (next to be held in 2011) election results: results of 29 October 2006 elections (second round); Joseph KABILA 58%, Jean-Pierre BEMBA Gombo 42% 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 held on 30 July 2006 and 29 October 2006 where the poplar vote confirmed Joseph KABILA as president |
| Legislative branch: |
bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly (500 seats; 60 elected by majority vote and 440 by open list proportional representation; members serve 5-year terms) and a Senate (120 seats; members elected by indirect vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: NA; members of the National Assembly were appointed by leaders in the factions integrated into the new government; elections scheduled for 30 July 2006 will establish a new legislature under the February 2006 constitution |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court or Cour Supreme |
| Political parties and leaders: | 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]) |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA |
| International organization participation: | ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009: note - Consular Office at 1726 M Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691 FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Roger MEECE embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828 telephone: [243] (88) 43608 FAX: [243] (88) 43467 |
| Flag description: | sky blue field divided diagonally from the lower hoist corner to upper fly corner by a red stripe bordered by two narrow yellow stripes; a yellow, five-pointed star appears in the upper hoist corner |
 Economical information
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| Economy - overview: | 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, dramatically reduced national output and government revenue, increased external debt, and resulted in the deaths of perhaps 3.5 million people from violence, famine, and disease. Foreign businesses curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating environment. Conditions improved in late 2002 with the withdrawal of a large portion of the invading foreign troops. The transitional government has reopened relations with international financial institutions and international donors, and President KABILA has begun implementing reforms. Much economic activity lies outside the GDP data. Economic stability improved in 2003-05, although an uncertain legal framework, corruption, and a lack of openness in government policy continues to hamper growth. In 2005, renewed activity in the mining sector, the source of most exports, boosted Kinshasa´s fiscal position and GDP growth. Business and economic prospects are expected to improve once a new government is installed after elections. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $40.67 billion (2005 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | $7.328 billion (2005 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 7.1% (2005 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | $700 (2005 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 55% industry: 11% services: 34% (2000 est.) |
| Labor force: | 14.51 million |
| Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% |
| Unemployment rate: | NA% |
| Population below poverty line: | NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 9% (2004 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $700 million expenditures: $750 million; including capital expenditures of $24 million (2004 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products |
| Industries: | mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, commercial ship repair |
| Industrial production growth rate: | NA% |
| Electricity - production: | 6.036 billion kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 1.8% hydro: 98.2% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 4.324 billion kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - exports: | 1.3 billion kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - imports: | 10 million kWh (2003) |
| Oil - production: | 22,000 bbl/day (2003) |
| Oil - consumption: | 8,300 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | NA bbl/day |
| Oil - imports: | NA bbl/day |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2003 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2003 est.) |
| Exports: | $1.108 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | diamonds, copper, crude oil, coffee, cobalt |
| Exports - partners: | Belgium 38.2%, United States 17.9%, China 11.7%, France 8%, Finland 7.8%, Chile 4.3% (2005) |
| Imports: | $1.319 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels |
| Imports - partners: | South Africa 16.5%, Belgium 16.1%, France 9.1%, Zambia 6.9%, Kenya 5.7%, Germany 4.6%, United States 4.5%, Cote d´Ivoire 4.3%, Netherlands 4.1% (2005) |
| Debt - external: | $10.6 billion (2003 est.) |
| Currency (code): | Congolese franc (CDF) |
| Currency code: | CDF |
| Exchange rates: | Congolese francs per United States dollar - 437.86 (2005), 401.04 (2004), 405.34 (2003), 346.49 (2002), 206.62 (2001) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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Transportations information
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| Airports: | 234 (2006) |
| Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 25 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2006) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 209 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 94 under 914 m: 97 (2006) |
| Pipelines: | gas 54 km; oil 78 km (2006) |
| Railways: |
total: 5,138 km narrow gauge: 3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge (2005) |
| Roadways: | total: 157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways) (1999) |
| Waterways: | 15,000 km (2005) |
| Merchant marine: |
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,004 GRT/1,640 DWT by type: petroleum tanker 1 foreign-owned: 1 (Congo, Republic of the 1) (2006) |
| Ports and terminals: | Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka |
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Military information
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| Military branches: | Army, Navy, Air Force |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18-45 years of age for military service |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 18-49: 11,365,610 (2005 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 18-49: 6,464,223 (2005 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $103.7 million (2005 est.) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.5% (2005 est.) |
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Information about transnational issues
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| Disputes - international: | heads of the Great Lakes states and UN pledge to end conflict but unchecked tribal, rebel, and militia fighting continues unabated in the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, drawing in the neighboring states of Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda; the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) has maintained over 14,000 peacekeepers in the region since 1999; thousands of Ituri refugees from the Congo continue to flee the fighting primarily into Uganda; 90,000 Angolan refugees were repatriated by 2004 with the remainder in the DRC expected to return in 2005; in 2005, DRC and Rwanda established a border verification mechanism to address accusations of Rwandan military supporting Congolese rebels and the DRC providing rebel Rwandan "Interhamwe" forces the means and bases to attack Rwandan forces; the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons: |
refugees (country of origin): 5,277 (Republic of Congo) 11,816 (Rwanda) 18,953 (Uganda) 19,400 (Burundi) 45,226 (Sudan) 98,383 (Angola) IDPs: 2.33 million (fighting between government forces and rebels since mid-1990s; most IDPs are in eastern provinces) (2005) |
| Illicit drugs: | 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 |
