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Republic of Congo |
Capital: Brazzaville
Languages: French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Background: Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and Oil. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. The Republic of Congo was once one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.
PEOPLE
Population: 3,800,610 (July 2007 est.); 4,125,916
Life expectancy at birth:
2007
Total Population: 53.29 years
Male: 52.1 years
Female: 54.52 years (2007 est.)
2010
Total population: 54.54 years
Male: 53.27 years
Female: 55.84 years (2010 est.)
Age structure:
2007
0-14 years: 46.3% (male 885,039/female 873,753)
15-64 years: 50.8% (male 958,992/female 973,445)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 44,994/female 64,387) (2007 est.)
2010
0-14 years: 45.9% (male 927,599/female 915,540)
15-64 years: 51.2% (male 1,021,975/female 1,034,119)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 46,687/female 66,889) (2010 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.639% (2007 est.); 2.807% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: N/A
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 5.3% (2006 est.); 3.5% (2007 est.)
People living with HIV/AIDS: 120,000 (2006 est.); 79,000 (2007 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total Population: 83.8 %
Male: 89.6 %
Female: 78.4 % (2003 est.)
Refugees and Internally Displaced People:
Refugees (country of origin): 56,380 (Democratic Republic of Congo), 6,478 (Rwanda) (2006)
Refugees (country of origin): 46,341 (Democratic Republic of Congo); 6,564 (Rwanda) (2007)
IDPs: 48,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992; most IDPs are ethnic Lari) (2006)
IDPs: 48,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992; most IDPs are ethnic Lari) (2007)
ECONOMY
Unemployment rate: N/A
Labour force by Occupation: N/A
Agricultural Products: cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products
Industries: petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes
Exports - Commodities: petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds
Exports - Partners:
US 38%, China 33.2%, Taiwan 10.5%, South Korea 6.2% (2006)
US 40.08%, China 30.18%, France 8.17%, Taiwan 6.4%, India 4.2% (2009)
Imports - Commodities: capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs
Imports - Partners:
France 23.4%, China 13.1%, US 7.5%, India 6.9%, Italy 5.5%, Belgium 5.2% (2006)
France 20.64%, China 14.54%, Italy 9.56%, US 9.02%, India 5.55%, Belgium 4.51% (2009)
ENVIRONMENT
Environment - Current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation
Natural hazards: seasonal flooding
Source: CIA World Factbook
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