Page last updated on February 3, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the then-Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but its early years were marred by political and social instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years through several sham elections, as well as through brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA. He renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but in August 1998 his regime was itself challenged by a second insurrection again backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervened to support KABILA's regime. In January 2001, KABILA was assassinated and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state. In October 2002, the new president was successful in negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying the eastern DRC; two months later, the Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. A transitional government was set up in July 2003; it held a successful constitutional referendum in December 2005 and elections for the presidency, National Assembly, and provincial legislatures took place in 2006. In 2009, following a resurgence of conflict in the eastern DRC, the government signed a peace agreement with the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP), a primarily Tutsi rebel group. An attempt to integrate CNDP members into the Congolese military failed, prompting their defection in 2012 and the formation of the M23 armed group - named after the 23 March 2009 peace agreements. Renewed conflict has lead to the displacement of large numbers of persons and significant human rights abuses. As of February 2013, peace talks between the Congolese government and the M23 were on-going. In addition, the DRC continues to experience violence committed by other armed groups including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda and Mai Mai groups. In the most recent national elections, held in November 2011, disputed results allowed Joseph KABILA to be reelected to the presidency.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Central Africa, northeast of Angola
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Africa
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 2,344,858 sq km
country comparison to the world: 11
land: 2,267,048 sq km
water: 77,810 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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, South Sudan 628 km, Tanzania 459 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
37 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 2.9%
permanent crops: 0.32%
other: 96.78% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
105 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,283 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 0.68 cu km/yr (68%/21%/11%)
per capita: 11.25 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); active volcanoes in the east along the Great Rift Valley
volcanism: Nyiragongo (elev. 3,470 m), which erupted in 2002 and is experiencing ongoing activity, poses a major threat to the city of Goma, home to a quarter million people; the volcano produces unusually fast-moving lava, known to travel up to 100 km /hr; Nyiragongo has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; its neighbor, Nyamuragira, which erupted in 2010, is Africa's most active volcano; Visoke is the only other historically active volcano
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
straddles equator; has 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; second largest country in Africa (after Algeria)
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 10%
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
75,507,308 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 43.5% (male 16,549,895/female 16,303,497)
15-24 years: 21.3% (male 8,055,525/female 8,014,205)
25-54 years: 29.1% (male 10,955,261/female 11,003,910)
55-64 years: 3.5% (male 1,247,479/female 1,420,102)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 822,168/female 1,135,266) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 91.9 %
youth dependency ratio: 86.4 %
elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 %
potential support ratio: 18.2 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 17.7 years
male: 17.5 years
female: 17.9 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.54% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
36.34 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.54 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 34.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 4.19% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
KINSHASA (capital) 8.798 million; Lubumbashi 1.543 million; Mbuji-Mayi 1.488 million; Kananga 878,000; Kisangani 812,000 (2011)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
20.2 (2007 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
540 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 18
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 74.87 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 12
male: 78.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 71.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 56.14 years
country comparison to the world: 200
male: 54.66 years
female: 57.66 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.95 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17.7% (2010)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.5% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 52
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.11 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.8 beds/1,000 population (2006)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Major infectious diseases:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and trypanosomiasis-gambiense (African sleeping sickness)
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.7% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 185
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
28.2% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 20
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.5% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 159
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba
total population: 66.8%
male: 76.9%
female: 57% (2010 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 8 years
male: 10 years
female: 7 years (2011)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total number: 8,284,395
percentage: 42 % (2010 est.)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: DRC
local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo
local short form: RDC
former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire
abbreviation: DRC
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
republic
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Kinshasa
geographic coordinates: 4 19 S, 15 18 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and 1 city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo (Lower Congo), Equateur, Kasai-Occidental (West Kasai), Kasai-Oriental (East Kasai), Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu (North Kivu), Orientale, Sud-Kivu (South Kivu)
note: according to the Constitution adopted in December 2005, the current administrative divisions were to be subdivided into 26 new provinces by 2009 but this has yet to be implemented
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day, 30 June (1960)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
several previous; latest adopted 13 May 2005, approved by referendum 18-19 December 2005, promulgated 18 February 2006; revised 2011 (2011)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
civil legal system based on Belgian version of French civil law
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: President Joseph KABILA (since 17 January 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Augustin MATATA PONYO Mapon (since 18 April 2012)
cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: under the new constitution the president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 28 November 2011 (next to be held in November 2016); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Joseph KABILA reelected president; percent of vote - Joseph KABILA 49%, Etienne TSHISEKEDI 32.3%, other 18.7%; note - election marred by serious voting irregularities
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 a run-off on 29 October 2006 confirming Joseph KABILA as president
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
bicameral legislature consists of a Senate (108 seats; members elected by provincial assemblies to serve five-year terms) and a National Assembly (500 seats; 61 members elected by majority vote in single-member constituencies, 439 members elected by open list proportional-representation in multi-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 19 January 2007 (next scheduled for 5 June 2013; though likely to be delayed); National Assembly - last held on 28 November 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPRD 22, MLC 14, FR 7, RCD 7, PDC 6, CDC 3, MSR 3, PALU 2, independents 26, others 18 (political parties that won a single seat); National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPRD 62, UDPS 41, PPPD 29, MSR 27, MLC 22, PALU 19, UNC 17, ARC 16, AFDC 15, ECT 11, RRC 11, independents 16, others 214 (includes numerous political parties that won 10 or fewer seats and 2 constituencies where voting was halted); note - the November 2011 elections were married by violence including the destruction of ballots in two constituencies resulting in the closure of polling sites; election results were delayed three months, stongly contested, and continue to be unresolved
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (organized into legislative and judiciary sections and consists of 26 justices); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Justice judges nominated by the Judicial Service Council, an independent body of public prosecutors and selected judges of the lower courts; judges tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by the president, 3 by the Judicial Service Council, and 3 by the legislature; judges appointed by the president to serve 9-year non-renewable terms
subordinate courts: State Security Court; Court of Appeals (organized into administrative and judiciary sections); Tribunal de Grande; magistrates' courts; customary courts
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Christian Democrat Party or PDC [Jose ENDUNDO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
FARDC (Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo) - Army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which commits atrocities on citizens
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Faida Maramuke MITIFU (since 3 February 2000)
chancery: Suite 601, 1726 M Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690 through 7691
FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador James C. SWAN (since 5 September 2013)
embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
mailing address: Unit 2220, DPO AE 09828
telephone: [243] (081) 556-0151
FAX: [243] (081) 556-0175
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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; blue represents peace and hope, red the blood of the country's martyrs, and yellow the country's wealth and prosperity; the star symbolizes unity and the brilliant future for the country
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
leopard
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "Debout Congolaise" (Arise Congolese)
lyrics/music: Joseph LUTUMBA/Simon-Pierre BOKA di Mpasi Londi
note: adopted 1960; the anthem was replaced during the period in which the country was known as Zaire, but was readopted in 1997
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation endowed with vast natural resource wealth - is slowly recovering after decades of decline. Systemic corruption since independence in 1960, combined with country-wide instability and conflict that began in the mid-90s has dramatically reduced national output and government revenue and increased external debt. With the installation of a transitional government in 2003 after peace accords, economic conditions slowly began to improve as the transitional government reopened relations with international financial institutions and international donors, and President KABILA began implementing reforms. Progress has been slow to reach the interior of the country although clear changes are evident in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. An uncertain legal framework, corruption, and a lack of transparency in government policy are long-term problems for the mining sector and for the economy as a whole. Much economic activity still occurs in the informal sector and is not reflected in GDP data. Renewed activity in the mining sector, the source of most export income, has boosted Kinshasa's fiscal position and GDP growth in recent years. The global recession cut economic growth in 2009 to less than half its 2008 level, but growth returned to around 7% per year in 2010-12. The DRC signed a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility with the IMF in 2009 and received $12 billion in multilateral and bilateral debt relief in 2010, but the IMF at the end of 2012 suspended the last three payments under the loan facility - worth $240 million - because of concerns about the lack of transparency in mining contracts. In 2012, the DRC updated its business laws by adhering to OHADA, the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa. The country marked its tenth consecutive year of positive economic expansion in 2012.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$27.29 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$17.01 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$400 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 227
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 65.9%
government consumption: 12.5%
investment in fixed capital: 28.2%
investment in inventories: 1%
exports of goods and services: 57.2%
imports of goods and services: -63.8%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 46.3%
industry: 20.8%
services: 32.9% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, cotton, cocoa, quinine, cassava (manioc), bananas, plantains, peanuts, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mining (copper, cobalt, gold, diamonds, coltan, zinc, tin, tungsten), mineral processing, consumer products (textiles, plastics, footwear, cigarettes), metal products, processed foods and beverages, timber, cement, commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
34.12 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
71% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 34.7% (2006)
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $5.104 billion
expenditures: $5.537 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
30% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-2.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
28.45% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$986.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$3.087 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.708 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-2.254 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$8.872 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
diamonds, copper, gold, cobalt, wood products, crude oil, coffee
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
China 54.3%, Zambia 22.6%, Belgium 5.7% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$8.187 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
South Africa 22.3%, China 15.3%, Belgium 8%, Zambia 6.9%, Zimbabwe 5.6%, France 4.9%, Kenya 4.7% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.633 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$6.087 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Congolese francs (CDF) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.804 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.197 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
916 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
161 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.437 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
98.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
20,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
22,240 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
180 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 61
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10,240 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16,200 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
991.1 million cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 103
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.721 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
58,200 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 161
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19.487 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 52
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations; inadequate fixed line infrastructure
domestic: state-owned operator providing less than 1 fixed-line connection per 1000 persons; given the backdrop of a wholly inadequate fixed-line infrastructure, the use of mobile-cellular services has surged and mobile teledensity is roughly 20 per 100 persons
international: country code - 243; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
state-owned TV broadcast station with near national coverage; more than a dozen privately owned TV stations with 2 having near national coverage; 2 state-owned radio stations are supplemented by more than 100 private radio stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.cd
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2,515 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 159
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
290,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 132
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
198 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 27
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 172
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 87
under 914 m:
Heliports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 (2013)
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
gas 62 km; oil 77 km; refined products 756 km (2013)
Railways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 4,007 km
country comparison to the world: 43
narrow gauge: 3,882 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 153,497 km
country comparison to the world: 32
paved: 2,794 km
unpaved: 150,703 km (2004)
Waterways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15,000 km (including the Congo, its tributaries, and unconnected lakes) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 8
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 151
by type: petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Republic of the Congo 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Banana
river or lake port(s): Boma, Bumba, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka (Congo); Kindu (Lualaba); Bukavu, Goma (Lake Kivu); Kalemie (Lake Tanganyika)
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Forces d'Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo, FARDC): Army, National Navy (La Marine Nationale), Congolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Congolaise, FAC) (2011)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18-45 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 15,980,106 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 10,168,258
females age 16-49: 10,331,693 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 877,684
female: 871,880 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.72% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 155
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
heads of the Great Lakes states and UN pledged in 2004 to abate tribal, rebel, and militia fighting in the region, including northeast Congo, where the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), organized in 1999, maintains over 16,500 uniformed peacekeepers; members of Uganda's Lords Resistance Army forces continue to seek refuge in Congo's Garamba National Park as peace talks with the Uganda government evolve; 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; Uganda and DRC dispute Rukwanzi Island in Lake Albert and other areas on the Semliki River with hydrocarbon potential; boundary commission continues discussions over Congolese-administered triangle of land on the right bank of the Lunkinda River claimed by Zambia near the DRC village of Pweto; DRC accuses Angola of shifting monuments
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
refugees (country of origin): 50,736 (Rwanda); 9,368 (Burundi) (2012); 47,000 (Central African Republic) (2013)
IDPs: 2,669,069 (fighting between government forces and rebels since mid-1990s; most IDPs are in eastern provinces) (2012)
Trafficking in persons:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
current situation: Democratic Republic of the Congo is a source, destination, and possibly a transit country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the majority of this trafficking is internal, and much of it is perpetrated by armed groups and government forces outside government control within the country's unstable eastern provinces; Congolese women and children have been exploited internally as domestic servants, while others migrate to Angola, South Africa, Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan, as well as East African, Middle Eastern, and European nations where they are subjected to forced prostitution, domestic servitude, and forced labor in agriculture and diamond mines; indigenous and foreign armed groups (including the Lord's Resistance Army) abduct and forcibly recruit Congolese adults and children to serve as laborers, porters, domestics, combatants, and sex slaves; some commanders of the Congolese national army also recruit, at times through force, men and children for use as combatants, escorts, and porters
tier rating: Tier 3 - The Democratic Republic of the Congo does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government signed a UN-backed action plan to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers within its armed forces but has not applied legal sanctions against those who recruit and use child soldiers and has not reported any law enforcement efforts to combat any other forms of trafficking; besides child soldiers, the government has not reported identifying any other victims of forced labor or sex trafficking or providing protective services or referrals to NGO-operated care facilities; NGOs continue to provide the vast majority of the limited shelter, legal, medical, and psychological services available to victims (2013)