chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726–5500
FAX: [1] (202) 726–1860
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Allan EASTHAM
embassy: Boulevard de la Revolution, BDEAC Building, 4th Floor, Brazzaville; note - a new embassy is expected to open in 2009
mailing address: B.P. 1015, Brazzaville
telephone: [242] 281–1481, 281–3368; note - until the new embassy in Brazzaville becomes operational, some duties will still be handled in the US embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Flag description:
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
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National anthem:
name: "La Congolaise" (The Congolese)
lyrics/music: Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE
note: originally adopted 1959, restored 1991
Economy ::Congo, Republic of the
Economy - overview:
The economy is a mixture of subsistence agriculture, an industrial sector based largely on oil and support services, and government spending. 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. Characterized by budget problems and overstaffing, 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. The drop in oil prices during the global crisis reduced oil revenue by about 30%, but the subsequent 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, receiving $1.9 billion in debt relief under the program in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$17.45 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 $15.79 billion (2009 est.)
$14.67 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$11.88 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
10.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 4 7.6% (2009 est.)
5.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 $3,900 (2009 est.)
$3,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.4%
industry: 63.7%
services: 32% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.514 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 129
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 37.1% (2005)
Investment (gross fixed):
41.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 2
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 4.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 102 4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$2.403 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 118 $1.887 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$2.746 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 136 $2.178 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.58 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 133 $1.889 billion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products
Industries:
petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate:
12% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Electricity - production:
400 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Electricity - consumption:
471 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
449 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
274,400 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39
Oil - consumption:
10,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 150
Oil - exports:
241,100 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 48
Oil - imports:
2,136 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 175
Oil - proved reserves:
1.6 billion bbl (1 January