The Republic of Congo (ex Zaire)

National name: République du Congo

Geography 

Capital: Brazzaville
Major Towns: Loubomo, Djambala, Ouesso, Impfondo
Location (geographical coordinates/latitude and longitude): 4°14'S, 15°14'E
Time Zone: WAT
Size (Land and Sea): 342,000 sq km
Borders with Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon 1,903 km
Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m; highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
 
Politics 

Head of State: President Denis Sassou Nguesso
Form of Government: Republic
Independancy (from France):  August 15, 1960
Currency: CFA franc (XAF)

Industry 

Main industries: Petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes
Natural resources: petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, natural gas, hydropower
Agriculture: cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products

Population and People  

Population: 3,800,610
Population density per sq mi: 29
Growth rate: 2.6%
Birth rate: 42.16 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.99 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 83.3/1000
Religion: Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Languages: French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
Ethnic groups / Tribes: Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%
Age Structure: 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.)
Life expectancy: 53.3 
Literacy (definition: age 15 and over can read and write): Total population: 83.8%; male: 89.6%, female: 78.4% (2003 est.)