Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis. 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.

Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

slightly smaller than Montana

tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation

about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them

41.37 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

12.01 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

-1.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

5.77 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%

Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)

10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha

15 August 1960 (from France)

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

approved by referendum 20 January 2002

based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (72 seats; members elected by indirect vote to serve five-year terms) and the National Assembly (137 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Action Movement for Renewal or MAR; Congolese Labour Party or PCT; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Movement for Solidarity and Development or MSD; Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR [Raymond Damasge NGOLLO]; Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]; Rally of the Presidential Majority or RMP; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR; United Democratic Forces or FDU [Sebastian EBAO]; many less important parties

Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC; General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC; Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women or URFC; Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSC

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; green symbolizes agriculture and forests, yellow the friendship and nobility of the people, red is unexplained but has been associated with the struggle for independence

The economy is a mixture of subsistence agriculture, an industrial sector based largely on oil, and support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings through oil-backed loans that have contributed to a growing debt burden and chronic revenue shortfalls. Economic reform efforts have been undertaken with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. However, the reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. Economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. Recovery of oil prices has boosted the economy's GDP and near-term prospects. In March 2006, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) treatment for Congo.

$15.58 billion (2009 est.)

$14.48 billion (2008 est.)

$13.71 billion (2007 est.)

$9.532 billion (2009 est.)

1.514 million (2007)

40.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

4.75% (31 December 2008)

5.25% (31 December 2007)

NA% (31 December 2008)

15% (31 December 2007)

$1.811 billion (31 December 2008)

$1.4 billion (31 December 2007)

$268.4 million (31 December 2008)

$204.3 million (31 December 2007)

cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products

petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes

400 million kWh (2007 est.)

471 million kWh (2007 est.)

449 million kWh (2007 est.)

274,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)

10,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

241,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)

2,136 bbl/day (2007 est.)

1.6 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

180 million cu m (2008 est.)

90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

-$405 million (2009 est.)

-$463 million (2008 est.)

$8.181 billion (2009 est.)

$9.712 billion (2008 est.)

petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds

US 40.08%, China 30.18%, France 8.17%, Taiwan 6.4%, India 4.2% (2009)

$3.253 billion (2009 est.)

$3.476 billion (2008 est.)

capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

France 20.64%, China 14.54%, Italy 9.56%, US 9.02%, India 5.55%, Belgium 4.51% (2009)

$3.938 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$3.873 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$5 billion (2000 est.)

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 483.21 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 483.6 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005)

1.807 million (2008)

1 state-owned TV and 3 state-owned radio stations; several privately-owned TV and radio stations; satellite TV service is available; rebroadcasts of several international broadcasters are available (2007)

gas 7 km; oil 211 km (2009)

1,120 km (commercially navigable on Congo and Oubanqui rivers) (2008)

Brazzaville, Djeno, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire

Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army (Armee de Terre), Navy, Congolese Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise), Gendarmerie, Special Presidential Security Guard (GSSP) (2009)

18 years of age for voluntary military service; women allowed to serve (2007)

the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area