Facts and Figures

Full name: Republic of Congo
 
Nationality
        noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
        adjective: Congolese or Congo

Flag:

Area 
        total: 342,000 sq km
        water: 500 sq km
        land: 341,500 sq km

Population: 3,039,126

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 2005 est.)

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

Note: Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before the 1997 civil war; may be half that in 1998, following the widespread destruction of foreign businesses in 1997

Capital:  Brazzaville (950,000)

Largest Cities
        Loubomo (85,000)
        Mossendjo (20,000)

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

Religion
        Christian 50%
        animist 48%
        Muslim 2%

Political system:  Republic

GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.324 billion (2004 est.) 

GDP per head: purchasing power parity - $800 (2004 est.) 

GDP - composition by sector
        agriculture: 7.4%
        industry: 52%
        services: 40.6% (2004 est.) 

Annual growth: 3.7% (2004 est.)

Inflation:  1.8% (2004 est.)

© Copyright 2005 Discover - The World.com.  See also Disclaimer.